348 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1892. 



and all ages. I feel that this material will answer the interesting 

 question, " Whence came these strange people? " 



The mineralogical, botanical, and ornithological material is, 

 perhaps, of not more than usual interest, though there are some rare 

 specimens in the latter department, obtained by Mr. Gibson. Field 

 notes, and lists of specimens in these branches, will be sent the 

 Academy as soon as they can be put into shape. 



The meteorological and tidal observations by Mr. Verhoeff are 

 among the most complete and painstaking ever made in the Arctic 

 regions. These will be put in the Academy's possession as soon as 

 practicable. An independent set of four-hourly tidal and weather 

 observations, kept by each officer of the watch, will prove of value 

 in connection with the above. 



While I have found no time, as yet, to digest and discuss with 

 care my own observations of the inland ice, I feel justified in advanc- 

 ing even now, the following statements for the information of the 

 Academy : 



The inland ice of Greenland between the 78th and 82nd parallels is 

 identical in all its characteristics with the inland ice under the 70th 

 parallel east of Disco Bay. 



The great glaciers of the northern and northwestern Fjords, of 

 which the Academy Glacier is a magnificent example, have all the 

 external features indicating resistless force and high velocity common 

 to the glaciers of Disco Bay and Omenak Sound, as well as those of 

 Inglefield Gulf. 



Under normal conditions the wind of the great ice cap is always 

 blowing from the interior outward and downward, perpendicular to 

 the general trend of the coast. 



In all discussions of those agencies which tend to balance the 

 annual precipitation and prevent the rapid increase of the interior 

 ice cap, the agency of the wind, ceaselessly hurrying the snow from 

 the interior to the coast land-ribbon where it can melt, must be 

 placed on a par with the agency of the glacier, in evaporation and 

 sub-glacial liquefaction. 



As regards methods and .equipment, and their bearing upon future 

 Arctic work, it may be claimed that the North Greenland Exi^edi- 

 tion has demonstrated that an itinerary upon the inland ice of Green- 

 land may be laid out and carried into effect with nearly, it not quite, 

 the same precision as the time-schedule of a freight train on any of 

 our great railroads; and Professor Heilprin has shown that, with a 



