5 62 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



that the more we become acquainted with the area of the polar basin, 

 and the nearer we get to the pole, the fewer indications there are of the 

 existence of such a sea. I am not, therefore, very hopeful that any ves- 

 sel will be able to get much farther north than vessels have already at- 

 tained ; but I do believe, notwithstanding the result of the English expe- 

 dition, that the polar area can be traversed much farther north in that 

 direction by sledging, and that it can be done by the way of Smith's 

 Sound as effectually as between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla. The 

 plan which Dr. Hayes laid before this Society eight years ago, of estab- 

 lishing a station at Fort Foulke, where subsistence can be easily ob- 

 tained, and with which communication can be regularly kept up by sea, 

 as a base from which expeditions may be directed to the north as favor- 

 able opportunities offer, I have always thought the best plan of polar 

 exploration, and for many reasons preferable to sending out large expe- 

 ditions. It would not require a large force, would afford opportunity 

 for the training and experience in the arctic regions, which is requi- 

 site, and could be kept up at a comparatively small expense. Captain 

 H. W. Howgate, of the United States Signal Service, has recently 

 called public attention to a plan substantially of this character, and a 

 bill embodying his suggestion is now before Congress, to establish a 

 temporary station for the purpose of exploration at some point north 

 of 81 north latitude, on or near the shore of Lady Franklin's Bay ; 

 and Captain I. L. Norton, a shipmaster, who has had some experience 

 in the Antarctic, is maturing a like plan, which, he advises me, he will 

 lay before this Society." 



The several surveys instituted by our Government across the 

 American Isthmus to ascertain the most feasible route for the con- 

 struction of an interoceanic ship-canal have been completed, the result 

 showing that the Nicaragua route is the most practicable. It will 

 take ten years, at least, to construct it, and the cost is estimated at 

 about $10,000,000. 



"A cavern has been found in Cuba containing Carib remains, indi- 

 cating that the whole of that island was formerly inhabited by the 

 Caribs. 



" Prof. Weiner has been occupied during the year in ethnological 

 researches in South America, and reports from Pacha Camac that he 

 has discovered glaciers in the Andes and Chili, which had been ques- 

 tioned by Agassiz ; and Prof. Hartt, chief of the Brazilian survey, is 

 reported to have recently made important geological discoveries in 

 Brazil. The Government of Brazil has undertaken the measurement 

 of an arc on the parallel of 23 south latitude, extending over nine or 

 ten degrees of longitude, connecting the capital of the country with 

 the great meridian of Brazil. 



"The Amazon is now navigated by steamers 3,000 miles from its 

 mouth, and several of its tributary rivers have been opened up to 

 steam-navigation. I would especially call attention to the great com- 



