ch. xxxvn] Greenland and its Inland Ice 335 
and whortleberry jam were taken, but Nansen was very 
strongly opposed to the use of spirits and tobacco, as 
being injurious stimulants. The instruments consisted of 
a theodolite and stand, a pocket sextant, artificial horizon, 
azimuth compass, four watches, thermometer, boiling- 
point thermometer, and aneroids. Four of the sledges 
when loaded had a weight of 200 lb. each, the fifth of 
400 lb. 
Nansen was a master of ski-travel. This method of 
winter locomotion has been used by his countrymen from 
time immemorial, and by himself from childhood, and 
truly the speed attained and the feats performed by 
Norwegian experts are marvellous. On very soft snow, 
however, the Canadian snow-shoe is preferable. 
Of his five comrades Otto Sverdrup was the son of a 
Helgeland farmer with forest property, and was born on 
October 31st, 1855. He had been 17 years at sea. Olaf 
Dietrichsen, a surgeon and a keen sportsman, was aged 25, 
and Kristian Trana, aged 24, was a forester. The others 
were two Lapps, both young men. 
The expedition started in June, 1888, and the Jason, 
a Norwegian sealer, took them to the edge of the ice on 
the east coast of Greenland and some distance into it. 
The explorers then took to their boats, but it was long 
before they could reach the land. Drifted to the south, 
they came to an Eskimo encampment at Cape Bille, and 
having reached the inner lead of water on the 15th August, 
boats were at length hauled up on the beach and the 
great journey was commenced. From the 17th to the 
20th they were detained by storms with heavy rain, but 
the 22nd saw the ascent commenced in fine weather. 
The ice was heavily crevassed and nunataks were visible 
here and there. 
By the 26th the party had reached a height of 6000 ft., 
and by the end of the month the elevation was 7930 ft. 
Hitherto they had worn Canadian snow-shoes, but on 
September 2nd it was found that ski could be used, even 
when dragging the sledges, and the national mode of 
progression was gladly adopted for the remaining nineteen 
days. The explorers were surprised at the great difference 
between the temperature of day and night on this lofty 
plateau in September. The thermometer showed - 4 0 
