Well, I finally succeeded in getting the work executed, and it is certain that no expedition has ever had warmer and stronger clothing than this.  It was in great favour on board.

I also thought it best to provide good oilskins, and especially good sea-boots for every man.  The sea-boots were therefore made to measure, and of the very best material.  I had them made by the firm I have always regarded as the best in that branch.  How, then, shall I describe our grief when, on the day we were to wear our beautiful sea-boots, we discovered that most of them were useless?  Some of the men could dance a hornpipe in theirs without taking the boots off the deck.  Others, by exerting all their strength, could not squeeze their foot through the narrow way and reach paradise.  The leg was so narrow that even the most delicate little foot could not get through it, and to make up for this the foot of the boot was so huge that it could comfortably accommodate twice as much as its owner could show.  Very few were able to wear their boots.  We tried changing, but that was no use; the boots were not made for any creatures of this planet.  But sailors are sailors wherever they may be; it is not easy to beat them.  Most of them knew the proverb that one pair of boots that fit is better than ten pairs that you can’t put on, and had brought their own with them.  And so we got out of that difficulty.

We took three sets of linen underclothing for every man, to wear in the warm regions.  This part of the equipment was left to each individual; most men possess a few old shirts, and not much more is wanted through the tropics.  For the cold regions there were two sets of extra thick woollen underclothing, two thick hand-knitted woollen jerseys, six pairs of knitted stockings, Iceland and other lighter jackets, socks and stockings from the penitentiary.

Besides these we had a quantity of clothing from the army depots.  I owe many thanks to General Keilhau for the kind way in which he fell in with all my wishes.  From this quarter we obtained outer clothing for both cold and warm climates, underclothes, boots, shoes, wind-clothing, and cloths of different kinds.

As the last item of our personal equipment I may mention that each man had a suit of sealskin from Greenland.  Then there were such things as darning-wool, sewing-yarn, needles of all possible sizes, buttons, scissors, tapes —­ broad and narrow, black and white, blue and red.  I may safely assert that nothing was forgotten; we were well and amply equipped in every way.

Another side of our preparations which claimed some attention was the fitting up of the quarters we were to inhabit, the saloons and cabins.  What an immense difference it makes if one lives in comfortable surroundings.  For my part, I can do twice the amount of work when I see tidiness and comfort around me.  The saloons on the Fram were very handsomely and tastefully fitted.  Here we owe, in the first place, our respectful thanks