8 Chapter I. 



America, had discovered, long before polar expeditions 

 had begun, another and a safer means of traversing these 

 regions to wit the sledge, usually drawn by dogs. It 

 was in Siberia that this excellent method of locomotion 

 was first applied to the service of polar exploration. 

 Already in the i/th and i8th centuries the Russians 

 undertook very extensive sledge journeys, and charted 

 the whole of the Siberian coast from the borders of 

 Europe to Bering Strait. And they did not merely 

 travel along the coasts, but crossed the drift-ice itself to 

 the New Siberian Islands, and even north of them. 

 Nowhere, perhaps, have travellers gone through so 

 many sufferings, or evinced so much endurance. 



In America too the sledge was employed by English- 

 men at an early date for the purpose of exploring- the 

 shores of the Arctic seas. Sometimes the toboggan or 

 Indian sledge was used, sometimes that of the Eskimo. 

 It was under the able leadership of M'Clintock that 

 sledge journeys attained their highest development. 

 While the Russians had generally travelled with a large 

 number of dogs, and only a few men, the English 

 employed many more men on their expeditions, and 

 their sledges were entirely, or for the most part, drawn 

 by the explorers themselves. Thus in the most ener- 

 getic attempt, ever made to reach high latitudes, Albert 

 Markham's memorable march tow r ards the north from 

 the Alerfs winter quarters, there were 33 men who had 

 to draw the sledges, though there were plenty of dogs 



