3 2 4 NORDENSKIOLD AND THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE 



and reached the Pacific, then little more than a hundred miles away, 

 and escaped ten months of weary detention. As it was, navigation 

 closed more than two weeks before the date at which whaling ships 

 were usually able to leave those waters. 



There was nothing, however, to do but submit to the detention, 

 which continued until July iSth of the following year. The time 

 was spent in making meteorological observations of interest and 

 value, in digesting the results of the voyage and in visiting the 

 natives, one village of about two hundred Eskimos being in the 

 vicinity. They were also sufficiently far south as to have a visit 

 from the sun for some time every day. 



On July 1 8th the ice was found to be in motion. The fires were 

 once more lighted under the boilers of the vessel and at 3.30 P. M. 

 the "Vega" glided away from her place of imprisonment. Two 

 days later the Northeast Passage, for which Willoughby began the 

 search 326 years before, was an accomplished fact. Again the 

 Swedish flag was raised and a salute was fired. The point had been 

 reached at which, as Nordenskiold expressed it, "the Old and the 

 New World seem to shake hands." 



The homeward voyage was made by way of Japan, Ceylon and 

 the Suez Canal, the successful navigator being received in Europe 

 with enthusiastic demonstrations and distinguished marks of honor 

 for his signal triumph. 



