39-i ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



ward with Hans, the Esquimaux of the Kane expedition, in search of 

 Esquimaux from whom to purchase dogs. In March, 1861, a sledge 

 expedition northward, up Kennedy's Channel, was undertaken, which 

 went as far north as 81 35', a latitude which is said to have been be- 

 fore reached only by Parry, in 1827-28. On the coldest day ex- 

 perienced the thermometer fell to 68 below zero. Rensselaer Har- 

 bor, Dr. Kane's winter quarters, was visited, but no trace of his 

 abandoned vessel, the Advance, was discovered. Although thus 

 early in the season (March), the ice in Kennedy's Channel was 

 everywhere much decayed and unsafe, and in some places was en- 

 tirely gone. In one extensive pool a flock of water-fowl was dis- 

 covered. 



The chief results of this expedition may be summed up as follows : 

 the completion of the survey of Smith's Sound ; the discovery of a 

 new channel at the westward of Smith's Strait ; the determination of 

 the magnetic dip, and of the declination at many points within the 

 arctic circle ; surveys of glaciers, by which their rate of movement is 

 determined ; pendulum experiments, etc. etc. 



A Central Asiatic Expedition, projected by Capt. Blakiston of the 

 British Army, and starting from Shanghae, China, has also proved a 

 failure. Instead of penetrating from the east to the headlands of the 

 Indus and the Gauges, retracing the steps of the Abbe Hue, and ad- 

 vancing beyond the holy city of Lamaism, Capt. Blakiston found 

 himself unable, on account of the rebellion, to reach even the western 

 boundary of China proper, and returned to Shanghae, after an ab- 

 sence of five months. 



Australian Expedition. In Australia, an expedition for exploring 

 the interior of this island-continent, led by Mr. O'Hara Burke, and 

 which left Melbourne August, 1860, has resulted most disastrously. 

 Mr. Burke and many of his party died from starvation and exposure, 

 and the few who returned endured the greatest sufferings. 



In addition to these unfortunate enterprises, the several expedi- 

 tions for exploring the Upper Nile, projected or under way at the 

 commencement of the year, have all returned without being able to 

 penetrate the country as far as the limit attained to by previous ex- 

 plorers. Dr. Livingston, in Central Africa, when last heard from, had 

 also been unable to add anything of moment to his earlier discoveries. 

 Within the last few years, moreover, seven African explorers have 

 found their graves in the inhospitable regions of that country. 



But the year has not been altogether disastrous to geographical 

 explorers. An Australia expedition, under the command of John 

 McDouall Stuart, has achieved a measure of success in exploring the 

 unknown districts of this country. With his companions and thirteen 

 horses, Mr. Stuart left South Australia, lat. 29 35', in March, 1860, 

 with the intent of crossing the continent, from coast to coast. As he 

 proceeded toward the interior, instead of meeting with an arid desert, 

 he found a well-watered country, cut up by numerous rivers and 

 creeks, and covered with an abundance of grass and scrub. By the 

 middle of June the party were in the geographical centre of the 

 island-continent. Beyond this they began to encounter difficulties. 

 The soil became sandy, water was scarce, and. instead of following a 

 north-west course, they were obliged to turn somewhat to the east, in 



