ARCTIC ICE-TRAVELS. 469 



eling was matured, and has now, owing to the genius of McClintock, 

 Mecham, Hamilton, Osborn, and Richards, reached a high state of 

 perfection. In fact, in these days the sledge must be regarded as the 

 principal means of arctic exploration, and the ship only as the aux- 

 iliary. It is to Sir Edward Parry that the introduction of sledge-trav- 

 (4ing is due, but the very primitive and cumbrous machines used by 

 him, during his many successful voyages to the arctic regions, are no 

 more to be compared with the light and useful sledges which are being 

 constructed from the designs of Sir L. McClintock for the expedition 

 of 1875 than is a brewer's dray to a light gig. We propose to insti- 

 tute a comparison between the modes of traveling past and present, 

 and to describe the work that will fall to the lot of an exploring expe- 

 dition during the space of twelve months. The best route for polar 

 exploration is the one that has been so unanimously advocated by all 

 arctic authorities both of our own and other countries, and the one 

 that is to be adopted by the expedition about to leave our shores. 

 There are many reasons why the roiite via Smith Sound is superior 

 to and more advantageous for polar exploration than any other. 

 We know that the United States exploring-ship Polaris succeeded 

 by this route in reaching a very high northern latitude in fact, 

 the highest latitude that a ship has ever attained, and that in a 

 remarkably short space of time and with perfect ease. The shores of 

 this narrow sound are teeming with animal life. In Dr. Hayes's ex- 

 pedition upward of 200 reindeer were shot during the winter, walrus 

 and seals were abundant, and there were quantities of ducks and little 

 auks in the summer. Where the Polaris wintered herds of musk- 

 oxen found pasture, rabbits abounded, and large flocks of birds came 

 northward in the summer months. This in itself is of the lUmost im- 

 portance, as with well-organized hunting-parties, such as will be formed 

 on board our exploring-ships, the crews will be supplied with fresh 

 meat. The Smith Sound route is the best adapted for exploration by 

 sledges, and in case of mishap or any unforeseen accident befalling the 

 ships, it would simply be a matter of time for the ship's companies to 

 travel south and reach the Danish settlements, or one of the Scotch 

 whalers that annually frequent Baffin's Bay. The importance of reach- 

 ing in the ships a high latitude lies in the consideration that every ten 

 miles made good in the ship toward the north is two days' sledge- 

 traveling saved. The ships ought to leave England in the month of 

 May or June. In a fortnight Cape Farewell, the south extreme of 

 Greenland, would be reached, oif which the first ice is invariably met. 

 This in a great measure consists of small, detached fragments, probably 

 broken off the land-ice, with which Greenland at the early part of the 

 year is surrounded, by the motion of the waves. Icebergs are also 

 fallen in with in this locality. The scene on a fine clear day in Davis's 

 Straits, to one visiting these regions for the first time, is indeed very 

 grand. Huge icebergs sailing majestically along, in every conceivable 



