The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-19

them understand what the matter
meant But II took me several days
to make them grasp the fact that our
ship was not laden with rifles
Lieuteant Hansen and HeImer Han
sen started during August in a boat 10
examine the conditions in Simpson
Strait, and particularly in the region
around Eta Island, which spot marks
the narrowest part of the passage to
the westward. The plan of the ex-
pedition-submitted TO the Norwegian
Geographical Society at Christiania-
provided that, after the conclusion of
our magnetic observations, we were
TO turn westward instead OF going back
east The ground for this was that the
ice conditions along the west coast Of
Boothia Felix were regarded as ex-
trenely troublesome. Ny observations
since then have caused me TO think IL
impossible 10 point out any enc spot as
being more difficult than any other in
that region.
The summer had been raw ana cold,
ard the fan came early The reindeer,
which the year before had shown them
selves IN such numbers. seemed this
fall to shun the land We succeeded
IN killing only thirty animals. The Es-
kiEaos had better luck while hunting
on the coast Of North America, and
during the winter they brought US
considerable quantity Of meat. And
from them we received also large stores
Of fish. Salmon, trout Goldfish, ana
Hhitefish were furnished US in guam
titles. Thus we had plenty Of fresh
food during the second winter as we'll
The Eskimos. who had been scatter
ed about their different hunting
grounds, began 10 reappear near the
ship IN October. and helped 10 make
our existence q little livelier- But this
time we were honored with their COM
pany much longer than we cared for il.
They showed no signs of breaking up
until February, 1906. They had then
depleted their stock Of provisions so
that they had 10 seek new hunting
grounds Once more q Christmas pass I
ed by and q new year arrived Light /
days began TO prevail, and in their /
wake followed lot OF work-prepara- /
tons for an impending sledge expedi- +
ton This was started on April =. 1t .
was headed By Lieutenant Hansen. /
who had with him Peder Ristvedt- +
The object Of the trip was 10 chart the
unknown eastern coast OF Victoria
Land
We were kept very busy on board
during their absence Everything was
TO be made ready for our departure,
and the vessel had TO D. overhauIed.
The houses erected on shore were the
first 20 GO They we're pulled down in
the latter part OF May and the early
part OF June. The boxes We're carried
down 10 the storehouse, and what re-
NAMED Of provisions was Tepacked III
wooden boxes and taken on board Al
The Instruments had 70 De taken down i.
.Ia1r7a[
In the beginning Of June numerous
groups Of Eskiuos returned from their
seal hunting ana raised thei~ tents IL
,ur immediate proximity. They were
ware that We would DEPART II short
line. and that many objects OF great
-alue 20 them would Dc Jeff behind
Many interesting scenes were enacted
Z those days. We had collected in one
mass fifty empty petroleum barrels. q
arge number OF wooden boxes. much
)laRking and quantities q other
hings All this material vas divided
nto twelve equal piles 10 De divided
-moEg those who had done most 70
arm it To describe the Joy displayed :
y the twelve lucky individuals would
y difficult indeed They haz. al a.
nee. been made rich I do-1t very
much that any Enulrs-rlillioualre ever c
cit 50 wealthy as did these men after
he distribution q our gifts But even :
unHier were the scenes acca.s pzny.ng :
ne handling Of our presents - the fair !
Elk l mad II advance gathered all the :
in cans, probably numbering several T
undre5- into q Big pile All re ladies' c
rere invited for 2 certain hour-vhen
ne sun stood IL the west. With gen =
- lly marks the ending Of the days G
oil. A. the fixed time they appeared :
NJ I led them 70 the spot where The :
reat event vas 20 take place Having
ranged them II z ring close aboat ;
he Pile o. cans. tod them that, when p
gave the sign. they might garry IF /
q r-a9T cans - they could lay hold :
No sooner ~se tire sign given Z
nan Al Of rhe--old and young alike :
1-led themselves EeaEl7nz into che
&c AZ n-e rou1z sec af-e~ -Es- was r.
7~gie n arms ard legs 81 tbs midst 2
2 rain OF tin cans, ont Of which rose u