< HAP. I.] 
DEPARTUEE, 
37 
Sweden^ and to make himself acquainted with its equip¬ 
ment, &c. At Gothenburg there embarked Docent Kjell- 
man, Dr. Almquist, Dr. ‘ Stuxberg, Lieutenant Nordquist, 
and an assistant to the naturalists, who had been hired in 
Stockholm; and here were taken on board the greater part 
of the scientific equipment of the expedition, and various 
stocks of provisions, clothes, &c,, that had been purchased 
in Sweden. 
On the 4th July the Vega left the harbour of Gothenburg. 
While sailing along the west coast of Norw^ay there blew a 
fresh head wind, by which the arrival of the vessel at Tromsoe 
was delayed till the l7th July. Here I went on board. Coal, 
water, reindeer furs ^ for all our men, and a large quantity of 
other stores, bought in Finmark for the expedition, were taken 
in here; and three walrus-hunters, hired for the voyage, 
embarked. 
On the 21st July the whole equipment of the Vega was on 
board, the number of its crew complete, all clear for departure, 
and the same day at 2.15 p.m. we weighed anchor, with lively 
hurrahs from a numerous crowd assembled at the beach, to 
enter in earnest on our Arctic voyage. 
1 In many Polar expeditions, sealskin has been used as clothing instead 
of reindeer skin. The reindeer skin, however, is lighter and warmer, and 
ought therefore to have an unconditional preference as a means of pro¬ 
tection against severe cold. In mild weather, clothing made of reindeer 
skin in the common way has indeed the defect that it is drenched 
through with water, and thereby becomes useless, but in such weather it 
is in general unnecessary to use furs. The coast Chukchis, who catch 
great numbers of seals, but can only obtain reindeer skins by purchase, 
yet consider clothing made of the latter material indispensable in winter. 
During this season they wear an overcoat of the same form as the Lapps’ 
the suitableness of whose cut thus appears to be well proved. On 
this account I prefer the old-world Polar dress to that of the new, which 
consists of more closely fitting clothes. The Lapp shoes of reindeer skin 
(renslmllar, homager) aie, on the other hand, if one has not opportunity 
to change them frequentl}^, nor time to take sufficient care of them, quite 
unserviceable for Arctic journeys. 
