GEOGRAPHY AND EXPLORATION. 325 



remained at Sogere, waiting for a favorable opi)ortiinity. Their means 

 became exhausted, but not wishing to leave the island without at least 

 seeing that part of it he came to explore, Forbes, accompanied by a Mr. 

 Chambers, undertook a trip to the top of the Owen Mountains, but 

 they were deserted by their guides, and were forced to regain the coast 

 with all speed. They have returned to Australia in the hope of finding- 

 aid to enable them to undertake the trip once more. 



Dallmann and v. Schlenitz have ascended the Empress Augusta 

 Kiver some 190 miles from its mouth. 



The German ex])edition under Dr. Schrader has limited its explora- 

 tions to the neighborhood of Port Finch, the capital of their colony of 

 Kaiser Wilhelm's Land. 



Polar Regions. — Lieutenants Ryder and Block have charge of the 

 Danish expedition to Greenland. They exi)ect to visit the coast from 

 Upernavik to Melville i3ay and are accompanied by the geologist Us- 

 sing. Captain Hovgaard has started out to reach 77° north latitude on 

 the east coast at the same time, and the " Fylla" expedition has been 

 examining the coast from the extreme southern point to Upernavik the 

 last inhabited point to the northward. 



Iceland has been crossed twice this year. Dr. Labonne has traversed 

 the island from south to north in the central portion. On his way he 

 ascended Mount Hecla, to which he assigns an elevation of 5,227 feet 

 above the sea. Thoroddsen has been continuing the geological studies 

 already begun in the northwestern portion of the island, and has reached 

 Cape North. 



There is a plan on foot for an expedition to Nova Zembla, the main 

 object of which will be the measurement of the attractive force of the 

 earth, but geographical explorations will also form part of their work. 

 This effort is being made by Colonel Chamhorst. 



The Liakof of Islands and the five islands of the New Siberia group 

 have been visited hy Bunge and v. Toll, who crossed the ice which 

 unites these islands with the continent on sleds. 



But one of the many expeditions planned to reach the North Pole has 

 actually started. Colonel Gilder left Winnipeg for Hudson Bay with 

 the idea of reaching the eastern coast of Bafifln's Laud from this place 

 and then take a whaler if possible to Cape Sabine and winter there, 

 after which he intended to start directly north for the pole. Colonel 

 Gilder has returned to Winnipeg, having been unable to cross Hudson 

 Bay on account of the lateness of the season. This expedition was sent 

 out by the New York Herald. 



A very interesting expedition is being organized for the exploration 

 of the regions, somewhat neglected up to the present time, which lie 

 around the South Pole. The impulse in this direction was given by the 

 Australian Societies, and appears to have found an echo in England 

 where active steps are being taken to secure the funds necessary for 

 such an exploration. 



