F. GEOGRAPHY. 123 



tant results which it accomplished, the total expense amount- 

 ing to only about $1000.-17 C, December, 1870,449. 



GERMAN EXPLORATIONS IN GREENLAND. 



Our readers will remember that the German exploring ex- 

 pedition which went out in 1869 for the purpose of arctic 

 discovery has lately returned home, the sailing vessel of the 

 expedition having been wrecked on the east coast of Green- 

 land, her entire crew, however, being saved. The steamer re- 

 turned in good condition. Enough of the results of the ex- 

 pedition have been published to furnish the means of judg- 

 ing, to some extent, of the advantages secured, which are 

 thought to be of great interest ; not the least being the ac- 

 quisition of a foothold of property in the north, possession 

 having been taken of a previously unoccupied portion of the 

 coast of Greenland, extending for about thirty German miles, 

 or from latitude 75 to latitude 77. An apology is made for 

 the absence of any considerable amount of actual discovery, 

 on account of the excessive rigor of the winds, this being 

 very much greater than that experienced in the neighboring 

 regions during the previous explorations on the part of En- 

 glish vessels. The portion of Greenland explored by this ex- 

 pedition is characterized by a very deep fiord, the head of 

 which was not reached in a distance of over eighty miles ; 

 and it was thought to be not impossible that it extended all 

 the way across to the water on the opposite side. 



The most interesting feature of the land, however, was the 

 occurrence of extensive meadows, starred with flowers, with 

 butterflies and bees playing about them, and having large 

 herds grazing near by of reindeer and musk-oxen. The low- 

 est temperature experienced was about 58 F.,this occur- 

 ring on the 21st of February, 1870. The wind was found to 

 be of extraordinary severity, Robinson's anemometer, indica- 

 ting a rate of velocity of sixty-seven miles in the hour, which, 

 it was believed, would render sledging parties entirely im- 

 practicable. The auroral light, to the surprise of the behold- 

 ers, who expected to see it in the west or southwest, was ac- 

 tually in the southeast. 



Among the geological discoveries were beds of brown coal 

 and numerous fossil remains. Deep-sea soundings were made, 

 and collections taken from a depth of 1500 fathoms. One 



