The biologist was the Rumanian, Emile Racovitza.  The immense mass of material Racovitza brought home speaks better than I can for his ability.  Besides a keen interest in his work, he possessed qualities which made him the most agreeable and interesting of companions.

Henryk Arctowski and Antoine Dobrowolski were both Poles.  Their share of the work was the sky and the sea; they carried out oceanographical and meteorological observations.

Henry Arctowski was also the geologist of the expedition —­ an all-round man.  It was a strenuous task he had, that of constantly watching wind and weather.  Conscientious as he was, he never let slip an opportunity of adding to the scientific results of the voyage.

Frederick A. Cook, of Brooklyn, was surgeon to the expedition —­ beloved and respected by all.  As a medical man, his calm and convincing presence had an excellent effect.  As things turned out, the greatest responsibility fell upon Cook, but he mastered the situation in a wonderful way.  Through his practical qualities he finally became indispensable.  It cannot be denied that the Belgian Antarctic expedition owes a great debt to Cook.

The object of the expedition was to penetrate to the South Magnetic Pole, but this had to be abandoned at an early stage for want of time.

A somewhat long stay in the interesting channels of Tierra del Fuego delayed their departure till January 13, 1898.  On that date the Belgica left Staten Island and stood to the South.

An interesting series of soundings was made between Cape Horn and the South Shetlands.  As these waters had not previously been investigated, these soundings were, of course, of great importance.

The principal work of the expedition, from a geographical point of view, was carried out on the north coast of Graham Land.

A large channel running to the south-west was discovered, dividing a part of Palmer Land from the mainland —­ Danco’s Land.  The strait was afterwards named by the Belgian authorities “Gerlache Strait.”  Three weeks were spent in charting it and making scientific observations.  An excellent collection of material was made.

This work was completed by February 12, and the Belgica left Gerlache Strait southward along the coast of Graham Land, at a date when all previous expeditions had been in a hurry to turn their faces homeward.

On the 15th the Antarctic Circle was crossed on a south-westerly course.  Next day they sighted Alexander Land, but could not approach nearer to it than twenty miles on account of impenetrable pack-ice.

On February 28 they had reached lat. 70deg. 20’ S. and long. 85deg.  W. Then a breeze from the north sprang up and opened large channels in the ice, leading southward.  They turned to the south, and plunged at haphazard into the Antarctic floes.

On March 3 they reached lat. 70deg. 30’ S., where all further progress was hopeless.  An attempt to get out again was in vain —­ they were caught in the trap.  They then had to make the best of it.