The Belgica & Beyond
amateur translations, scans, & assorted research by m.w.
actively under construction.
WRITTEN FROM THE BELGICA 1897-1899
CORRESPONDENCE
- coverage in the Belgian press, translated
- coverage in the British press
- coverage in the American press
- scientific lectures, translated
- list of Expedition publications a) Lecointe on Danco’s contributions
QUELQUES EXPÉDITIONS SUIVANTES
- de Gerlache & Charcot (the Français)
de Gerlache & the Duke of Orléans (the Belgica in the Arctic) - the failed Second Belgian Antarctic Expedition (Arctowski & Lecointe)
- the successful Second Belgian Antarctic Expedition (Gaston de Gerlache)
- the Royal Belgian Observatory
Georges Lecointe’s 20th Century
MARRIAGES & OTHER LIFE EVENTS
Lecointe Family Arctowski - de Gerlache
- Racovitza
- van Mirlo
- van Rysselberghe
ASSORTED BELGICA RESOURCES
- bibliography
- associated persons
- contemporary photographs
the sailors of the Belgica performing a “starlight concert” on Sept. 26, 1897, from Johan Koren’s diary
contact: packloafertranslations@gmail.com
Racovitza’s cartoons
Ever since the start of the voyage Racovitza had been in the habit of disappearing at the same time every evening and going to his laboratory to write up his journal and ponder the events of the day: the little disputes between two colleagues, the theories that had been developed, particular words mentioned by one or other of us. The resulting caricature that he concocted was a treat we all looked forward to with impatience.
— ADRIEN DE GERLACHE, FIFTEEN MONTHS IN THE ANTARCTIC
These caricatures were preserved by Roald Amundsen after the journey and compiled and scanned by the
translating such a good joke feels sacriligeous. the man pictured is Artocho, Racovitza’s caricature of Henryk Arctowski, the meteorologist. he’s working. his ass is fat and he’s working and you mustn’t disturb him, not even if you’re a bird or a seal or a penguin, because he’s got an enormous, swearing aurora to consider. he seems rather anxious about how he’ll record the ‘five letter word’ that appeared in the sky that day.
15 march 1898
WORDLESS TALES: STORY OF TWO SCIENTISTS AND TWO ASSISTANTS
“Arctowski, aided by his inseparable friend Dobrowolski, has planted a stake to measure the quantity of snow that has fallen. From the direction of the magnetic observatory one can see Danco’s head depicted in a corner, watching them. When Arctowski comes back on board Danco emerges from his hiding place, and followed by his assistant Dufour goes off to hammer the stake deeper into the snow with a mallet before returning once more to his observation post. Arctowski returns to measure the snowfall: dumbfounded to see the stake almost buried in the snow in such a short time he raises his arms to the heavens to indicate his stupefaction. The final scene shows him back in his laboratory compiling his report.”
— ADRIEN DE GERLACHE, FIFTEEN MONTHS IN THE ANTARCTIC
— ADRIEN DE GERLACHE, FIFTEEN MONTHS IN THE ANTARCTIC
de Gerlache’s memory is, understandably, imperfect. The comic actually shows Dobrowolski returning to find the buried stake and dropping his book “to indicate his stupefaction.” On the second page, Dobrowolski goes to wake Arctowski — note the pile of his clothing on the floor, a habit Lecointe described in ch. 23 of his In the Land of the Penguins — and Arctowski, unaware that he’s being observed by Danco and Dufour, dutifully measures the false snowfall and makes his report.
The theme of “Danco vs. Arctowski” shows up a few times throughout Raco’s cartoons. Danco is usually portrayed as a gangly, balding man with a short dark beard, eager to disturb the hard work of the small, hairy Mister Artoscho and his distinguished buttocks. In the above comic, Danco enlists his assistant, Gustave Dufour. Below, he’s chosen his fists:
DANCO ARCTOWSKI
12 march 1898
I’ve translated “gruau” as “oatmeal” here according to Gaston de Gerlache de Gomery’s translation of his father’s writing. Based on the flags, I believe Danco may have attempted to call Arctowski to breakfast before he’d finished taking his hourly observations. Coincidentally, the only mention of “gruau” I’ve found in an expedition publication to date comes from de Gerlache’s account of the excursion on Brabant Island (Danco and Arctowski were both present):
“For much of the time since we had come ashore the fog and bad weather had condemned us to idleness, and we were living a sybaritic life in our fragile home, getting up late and going to bed early, eating much and often to pass the time. Danco in particular had a ravenous appetite and the little stove was hardly ever out of work. The tent was almost constantly filled with the aromas of cocoa or the good and cheering smell of pea soup or oatmeal porridge.”
— ADRIEN DE GERLACHE, FIFTEEN MONTHS IN THE ANTARCTIC
— ADRIEN DE GERLACHE, FIFTEEN MONTHS IN THE ANTARCTIC
note: “Voici ce que c’est” could be translated in a number of ways, but it reappears as a sort of catchphrase for the Artocho character and seems to largely mean “here’s the deal,” “here’s what’s what,” or something similar.
note: “Je continue” could be translated in a number of ways, but it reappears as a sort of catchphrase for the Artocho character and seems to largely mean “I’m working,” “I’m busy,” or something similar.
note: the noun “chute” is misspelled in the original. Racovitza originally wrote “chutted,” changed it to “chuttez,” and landed on “chutte,” which is why I’ve rendered “fall” as “fal” in English.