322 NORDENSKIOLD AND THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE 



harbor of Tromso, Sweden, and sailed for the North Cape, the most 

 northerly point of Europe and the true starting point of the adven- 

 turous voyage. Progress was slow on account of adverse winds, 

 the ships heading for the island of Nova Zembla. Here it passed 

 through the Yuger Schar, the strait that lies between Vaygatz 

 Island and the mainland, and entered the great Kara Sea, the vast 

 expanse of Arctic waters which lies between the extreme north of 

 Nova Zembla and Cape Chelyuskin, the northern point of the conti- 

 nent of Asia. At the end of July the several ships of the expedition 

 met in Ehabarook, the appointed rendezvous. 



Besides the "Vega" and "Lena" there were two others, the 

 "Frazer" and the "Express," which bore cargoes of iron-ware and 

 bar iron for the Yenisei River. This they were to ascend and to 

 return the same season to Norway. It will suffice to say that this 

 was successfully accomplished, these vessels reaching Hammerfest 

 in September with full cargoes of tallow, wheat, rye and oats, the 

 first shipments ever made by sea from the Yenisei region to the 

 European markets. 



Deikson Harbor, near the mouth of the Yenisei, had been 

 entered on the ist of August, and the "Vega" and "Lena" lay there 

 till the loth, when the voyage was resumed. For two days all \vent 

 well, then great masses of floating ice were encountered and heavy 

 fogs made progress slow and dangerous. The fact that the Taimyr 

 Peninsula lies farther to the west than had been supposed added to 

 their difficulties, small islands being encountered where the charts 

 promised open sea. 



On the iQth of August the "Vega" came to anchor off Cape 

 Chelyuskin, Asia's northern extremity, a new fact in the history of 

 navigation, and one which was duly celebrated by hoisting flags, 

 firing salutes, and other demonstrations of triumph. The only party 

 to observe these demonstrations was a large white bear, and he 

 plainly did not approve of them. The next day the vessels steamed 

 onward and in a week more the mouth of the Lena River was 



