p. 192: The life on board the “Vega” was consequently somewhat monotonous, but owing to the anything but pleasant watches in the observatory, the time passed swiftly by. A great deal of our time was occupied with studies of different kinds. Nordenskiöld brought with him an excellent library, consisting of course mostly of books of Arctic travels and scientific works. Every morning a new number of the Gothenburg Commercial and Maritime News, of which we had brought a set of last year’s numbers. Was placed upon the table, and we read again, with the greatest interest, about the war between Russia and Turkey, and discussed other well-known topics and events.
p. 197, re observatory watches: On such occasions the watches pass quickly enough; but when the sky is overcast and the snow rushes wildly past the observatory, we are obliged to keep indoors, and then the time falls heavily on our hands. At first we tried to beguile the time by reading, but the book, was it ever so entertaining had to be put aside, and we were left alone with our own thoughts, walking up and down in the passage, which was only long enough to allow of our taking six steps in each direction.