494 



Naturwissenschaftliche Wochenschrif't. 



XIV. Nr. 42. 



, f Weddell, 90 W. to meridians of Cape 

 Cape Horn and Horn 



Cape of Good j Euderby o to 90 E. meridians of Cape 

 H l )e 8lde - I of Good Hope. 



The Victoria Quadrant first presents, for examination, 

 the long- series of lands sigthed from Termination island 

 in 95 E., to the Balleny islands in 162 E. It has been 

 conjectured that these lands form the coast of a con- 

 tinuous continent, because they were all sigthed on nearly 

 the same parallel, namely, the antarctic circle. A recon- 

 naissance south from Termination island, another along 

 the antarctic circle, and a thirth south-west from the 

 Balleny islands, would probably settle this question, and 

 lead to numerous scientific results. Still more important 

 work will await the explorers in Victoria Laud. It is 

 not certain whether the laud from Cape Adarc, in 71 18' S., 

 to Cape Washington, in 74 37' S., is continuous with 

 the Victioria Laud of Mounts Erebus and Terror, or 

 whether it is an island. 



At the angle in 77 S., where the great volcano was 

 seen by Ross, and near which the ice-barrier commences, 

 there is an indentation of the coast, which was named 

 McMurdo bay. It seems probable that anchorage may 

 be found there, and that a station may be established, 

 whence a travelling party or parties may explore the 

 volcanic region and the edge of the ice-cap, and even 

 undertake a journey in the direction of Ross's position 

 of the magnetic pole. The organisation of a land exploring 

 party will require very careful consideration. It is most 

 likely that the travelling will be over glaciers, with some 

 mountain climbing-. The country will be without resources, 

 and the most exact calculations must be made with regard 

 to provisions, loads to be drawn, depots, and weights. 

 Sir Clements Markham discourages the employment 

 of dogs for sledging purposes, as being ineffective and 

 cruel; the experience of the old Arctic explorers proves 

 that men are much more useful. 



With such leaders as M'Clintock and Mecham, and 

 such men as served under them, the distance af Ross's 

 magnetic pole from McMurdo bay and back could very 

 easily be covered in three months, without the cruelty 

 of killing a team of dogs by overwork and starvation. 

 The scientific value of the results obtained by such a 

 party would be very great. If, as seems probable, the 

 volcanic mass, culminating in Mount Erebus, rises from 

 the plain on which the ice-barrier rests, not only might 

 the volcanic region be explored, but the character and 

 rate of motion of the ice-cap might be ascertained by 

 borings, and other methods of measurement. The ice- 

 barrier, probably 1600 feet in perpendicular height, of 

 which 150 to 200 feet are above the sea, would receive 

 careful examination from the ship, with the aid of a 

 captive balloon. 



The Ross Quadrant (180 to 90 W.) contains the 

 continuation of the ice-barrier, and a principal aim of 

 the expedition would be to ascertain its extent, and the 

 outline of the continental land on the Pacific side; as 

 well as to make a determined effort to explore it, as far 

 as the meridian of Peter island. 



The Weddell Quadrant (90 W. to 0) invites discoveries 

 of peculiar interest, including the southern side of Graham 

 Land if it proves to be an island, and still more valuable 

 discoveries, if it is found to be a promontory extending 

 from continental land. There has been volcanic action 

 on this Cape Home side, as well as on the Australian 

 side, and Captain Larsen discovered an active volcano. 

 Still, volcanic areas may, end probably do coexist with 

 surrounding rocks of a metarmorphic or sedimentary 

 character. 



Sir Clements Markham' is himself inclined to think 

 that the continental land is mainly on the Australian side, 

 and that its northern coast is much more to the south on 

 the Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope side, tough there 

 are probably archipelagoes of islands. 



However this may be, what has been called the 

 Weddell Sea" certainly offers a splendid field for research 

 and discovery; and an expedition penetrating in this 

 direction should be prepared to land a well-equipped 

 party to explore this side of the continent. 



The Enderby Quadrant, from to 90 E., has only 

 been entered by Biscoe in February 1891, who discovered 

 Enderby Land. Captain Cook just crossed the antarctic 

 circle in 1773, as did Moore in 1845 at nearly the same 

 place, and the Challenger in 1874. All to the south of 

 the antarctic circle, in this quadrant, is absolutely un- 

 known, and invites discovery. Yet some indications of 

 the nature of the land in this quadrant were obtained by 

 the Valdivia when she approached Enderby Land this 

 year, in the shape of specimens of gneiss, granite, schist, 

 and red sandstone. ,,IIere" Sir Clements says ,,I cannot 

 refrain from offering my congratulations to my German 

 colleagues on the admirable skill and ability with which 

 the Valdivia-expedition was conducted, and on its succes". 



The vessel which prosecutes the proposed discoveries 

 will take magnetic and meteorological observations, and 

 deepsea soundings and dredgiugs as frequently as is 

 compatible with the rnaiu objects of the expedition; which 

 will be "to determine, as far as is possible, the extent 

 and nature of the south Polar laud to ascertain the nature 

 of its glaciation, and to take magnetic and meteorological 

 observations". 



Sir Clements Markham then goes on to state that 

 after years effort, the Royal Geographical Society succe- 

 ded in raising 40,000 mainly from the Fellows of the 

 Society. One generous and public-spiritet Fellow of the 

 Royal Geographical Society, Mr. Longstaff, subscribed a 

 sum of 25,000. The enterprise was cordially suppor- 

 ted by the press, and, seeing the importance that was 

 attached to it by public opinion, H. M. Government has 

 been induced to grant annual sums so as to double the 

 amount raised by private subscriptions. 



The vessel for the expedition will be built of oak, 

 with ice-casing of greenheart, or of some other harder 

 wood. She will be 172 feet long by 33 broad, with a 

 displacement of about 1525 tons. Everything will be 

 done to suit her for the special work she will have to 

 do, and precautions will be taken in her construction so 

 as to admit of a magnetic observatory being built before 

 the mainmast, which shall have no iron within 30 feet. 

 Melbourne will be the base for magnetic observations. 

 Provision will also be made for deepsea sounding and 

 dredging; and there will be a house on deck for drawing-, 

 and another for biological work. There will be accommo- 

 dation for six executive officers including two engineers, 

 three civilians for biology and geology, including the 

 surgeon and thirty-nine men. The scientific staff will 

 consist of the captain and three officers, who will have 

 charge of the navigation, celestial, meteorological, and 

 magnetic observations, surveys, and deepsea sounding 

 and dredging; and of civilian biologists and geologists. 



It is intendet that the landing-party shall consist of 

 one executive officer as leader, the geologist, who will 

 also be an experienced mountaineer, and ten men, with 

 their sledgee equipments. A house specially constructed, 

 will be sent out in case of wintering, and close attention 

 will be given to provisions ang clothing. 



Sir Cl. M. presumes that, the objects being identical, 

 the vessel and arrangements of the german expedition 



