APPENDIX NO. II. 
305 
In the early part of this winter I erected an astronomical observa¬ 
tory, and mounted our “transit” and theodolite upon pedestals of 
stone cemented by ice. Great care was taken by Mr. Son tag, the 
astronomer to the expedition, in determining our geographical position. 
The results for the determination of longitude, as based upon moon 
culminations, are in every respect satisfactory; they are corroborated 
by occultations of planets and the late solar eclipse of May, 1855. 
An occultation of Saturn simultaneously observed by Mr. Sontag and 
myself, at temperatures of minus 60° and 53°, differed but two seconds. 
This is the lowest temperature at which such an observation has ever 
been taken. 
The position of our observatory may be stated as in latitude 78° 
37' N., longitude 70° 40' 6" W. 
A room artificially heated was attached to the observatory as a mag¬ 
netic station. The observations were both absolute and relative, and 
were sustained by a corps of volunteers among the officers. 
A strong tendency to tonic spasm, probably induced by the length¬ 
ened cold and darkness, was the chief trial of our party. General 
disease was readily controlled by a careful hygiene; and the unremitting 
and intelligent exertions of Dr. I. I. IJaycs, the surgeon of the expe¬ 
dition, kept the scurvy in complete subjugation. 
But this anomalous form of spasmodic disease was encountered with 
difficulty. It extended to our dogs, assuming the aspect of tetanus: 
in spite of every effort, no less than fifty-seven perished, many of them 
with symptoms not unlike those of hydrophobia. 
The loss of these animals interfered seriously with my original 
scheme of search. They had been collected at various points of the 
coast of Greenland, and had been trained for their office with extreme 
care and labor. I had contemplated employing them in following the 
coast, and with this view had devoted the labors of the fall to the 
organization of a chain of depots. Now, however, a new system of 
operations was to be established, with different appliances. New 
sledges were to be built, and cooking-utensils aud field-equipments 
provided, suited to larger parties and of more portable character. 
The latter period of darkness was entirely occupied with these new 
preparations. 
Our party was unhappily too small for an extended system of field- 
operations by unassisted human labor; and the only remaining hope 
of continuing the search was to be found in a passage through or over 
the great ice-fields to the north, — an effort the success of which was 
rendered very doubtful by the crowded bergs and distorted ice of this 
Vol. II.—20 
