NO. 17.] THE SLEDGE-EXPEDITION. 613 



In 1895 from March IB*'' 



— — April 30 



— — June 2 



— — — 9 



— - — 28 



— — Oct. 7 



April 29*1^ Toluol B was used. 

 June 2 No. 18 — — 



— 9 - 20 — — 



— 28 - 14 — - 

 Oct. 6 Toluol B — — 



1896, June 16 Metaxylol G— - 



Regarding the observations of the temperature of the air, Professor Nansen 

 remarks : 



"During the sledge-journey from the Fram to the winter-hut, the thermo- 

 meter Toluol B was used for all minimum-temperatures. During the night' 

 or during the time when we rested, the thermometer was generally placed 

 on the deck of the canvas kayak, while the sun was low (during the first 

 week), and subsequently on the surface of the ice, well protected against tiie 

 direct sun-rays. During the former period the temperature was simply read 

 off without swinging the thermometer; during the latter the temperature was 

 taken with a sling-thermometer, and after the last mercury shng-thermometer 

 was broken (June 28*^'), with Toluol B. 



At our winter-hut, on the night of October 6*'^, 1895, the minimum- 

 thermometer Toluol B was stolen by the foxes, and after that date the other 

 minimum-thermometer, Metaxylol 0, was used for all observations of tempera- 

 ture. The same thermometer was also used for all observations during the 

 sledge-journey from our winter-hut to Cape Flora in the spring of 1896. As, 

 however, it was the only thermometer we had left, I did not then run the 

 risk of swinging it, and it was therefore only suspended in the shade. 



At our winter-hut, after the sun had disappeared, the observations were 

 taken with the minimum-thermometer, Metaxylol C, freely suspended in the 

 air at a height of about 1'6 metres above the ground. The instrument was 

 attached to one of our sledges which was raised on end, first against the 

 wall of our hut and afterwards against a big stone in the neighbourhood. 

 We had no lantern for the reading of the thermometer, and I tried in vain 

 to construct one which would not burn more oil than we could afford to use. 

 But our eyes of course became gradually trained to see in the dark, and even 

 in mid-winter, with no moonlight, there was so much light (star-light?) reflected 

 from the snow, that the column of the darkly-coloured metaxylol was dimly 



