326 PROMOTION OF ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC DISCOVERY. 



Osborn added, " Stick to the western shore," 1 strongly advocated the 

 dispatch of such an expedition at a meeting of this society on Decem- 

 ber 9, 1878, and my views were indorsed by several high Arctic authori 

 ties. A vessel well handled would certainly reach the threshold of the 

 unknown, and would probably establish a base on the west shore of 

 King Oscar or of Petermann lands, whence extensive and most impor- 

 tant discoveries would be made in the spring. This, no doubt, is the 

 most promising way of attempting the exploration of one of the most 

 important sections of the unknown polar region, and I believe that it 

 will be undertaken the next time the British people wake up from their 

 lethargy and become alive to the national importance of Arctic work. 

 This happens about every thirty years. 



Meanwhile we welcome the enterprise of Mr. Harmsworth and Mr. 

 F. G. Jackson, which is directed toward the Austria Sound of Payer. 

 It is highly to the credit of Mr. Harmsworth that he should have 

 determined to provide the funds for a laudable geographical under- 

 taking. It reminds one of the patriotic muniticence of the merchant 

 princes of old, and of Sir Felix Booth in more recent times. Mr. 

 Jackson has made a voyage in a whaler, and last year he went out 

 with Captain Wiggins to Waigats Island, where he was landed. He 

 then made an excursion around the island with some Samoyeds, return- 

 ing by Arcliangel; these sledge journeys being undertaken in order 

 that he might acquire experience for his future work. His plan is to 

 be landed at Eira Harbor, or at some other convenient point on the 

 southern shore of the Franz Josef Archipelago. For this purjiose a 

 whaler named the Windirard has been purchased. She will land the 

 party of six men, and return without wintering. A house, brought out 

 in pieces, will be erected, and the explorers Mill pass the winter in it 

 in order to be ready for a spring journey up Austria Sound in the foot- 

 steps of Payer. The chief drawback to the plan is that so much of 

 the traveling will be over old ground already well explored by the 

 Austrian expedition; so that the base of operations will be at least 

 IGO, and if at Eira Harbor nearer 200, miles from the point rea(;hed by 

 Payer, where Mr. Jackson's work will commence. It does not appear 

 how a second winter quarters can be established, with a sufficient stock 

 of provisions, at the forthest point reached. It will therefore be neces- 

 sary to return to the original base of operations, and to start again 

 over all the same ground, in the second spring. A well-considered 

 system of dei)ots would render this secoiul journey more rapid if the 

 explorers maintain their health, and with a good team of dogs much 

 ground might be covered. The most fortunate thing that could hap- 

 pen would be to find Austria Sound open, so that the Windivard or 

 a steam pinnace could convey the explorers northward to within a 

 shorter distance of their w^ork. Austria Sound is not the route I 

 should have recommended for reacliing Petermann Land, but, with 

 wise management and under favorable conditions of ice and weather, 



