794                     ICE HAVEN   EE-VISITED.
side of the room, the halberd, and the muskets, were still in their old places. There stood the cooking-pans over the fire-place, the old clock against the wall, the arms and tools, the drinking vessels, the instruments, and the books that had beguiled the weary hours of that long night, two hundred and seventy-eight years ago. The " History of China " points to the goal which Barentz sought, while the " Manual of Navigation " indicates the knowledge which guided his efforts. Stranger evidence never told a more deeply interesting story.
On the 4th of November, 1871, Captain Carlsen completed his adventurous voyage by anchoring once more at Hammerfest. The Dutch Government have secured the numerous relics which he brought away, for preservation in the native land of the great navigator, whose countrymen feel an affectionate pride in the glorious deeds of their " Sea fathers," and will cherish these memorials of a very noble achievement with careful reverence. Many of them, like the old clock-dial, are very valuable in an antiquarian point of view; but not the least interesting are the flute, which will still give out a few notes, and the small shoes of the poor little ship's boy who died during the winter.
For several years past, Sweden and Norway have, with a skill and resolution which do the highest honor to the gallant Scandinavian nation, prosecuted scientific investigations within the Arctic Circle. The most important of their expeditions, equipped under the superintendence of Professor Nordenskiold, sailed from Tromso, July 21st, 1872. It was composed of the steamer " Polhelm," the brig " Gladan," and the steamer "Onkel Adam."   The "Polhelm"