NORDENSKIOLD AND THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE 319 



This expedition was supported by the enthusiastic approval of 

 the whole Austro-Hungarian empire, great results being looked 

 for from it. Its commander, Lieutenant Payer, was a seaman of 

 proved ability, familiar with the difficulties and dangers of Arctic 

 navigation, he having served in a German expedition of some im- 

 portance in 1868, and executed a map of its discoveries notable for 

 beauty and accuracy. 



It was his intention to round the northeastern point of Nova 1 

 Zembla and pass eastward to the most northern point of Siberia, 

 where he would pitch his winter camp. He hoped in the following 

 year to continue the voyage to Bering Strait; while, during the 

 spring, sledge-parties would be engaged in exploring the unknown 

 coasts of Wrangell Land, and otherwise advancing the bounds of 

 geographical discovery in that remote and desolate region. 



As it proved, the season of 1872 was one of exceptional 

 severity, and ice was encountered in seas which, under more favor- 

 able conditions, were generally free from obstruction. Lieutenant 

 Payer, however, bated not one jot of hope, and kept his course to 

 the eastward with resolute intrepidity; hoping to reach Cape Che- 

 lyuskin, the farthest north Siberian promontory, where he proposed 

 to pitch his winter-camp. 



He was baffled, however, as so many had been baffled before 

 him, by the forces of the Arctic winter. He was compelled to winter 

 among the ice; using his sledges when opportunity offered, for the 

 purpose of exploration, or to obtain fresh provisions. 



Both the summers of 1873 and 1874 were spent off the Siberian 

 coast; but though many interesting discoveries were made, Lieu- 

 tenant Payer did not succeed in effecting a passage through the Icy 

 Sea to Bering Strait. This navigation of the Asiatic mainland 

 remained to be accomplished. 



In August, 1873, Payer's ship, the "Tegethof," drifted north- 

 ward to the highest point yet reached in those eastern seas, land 

 being sighted at 79 degrees 43 minutes north latitude, and the drift 



