PROMOTION OF ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC DISCOVERY. 331 



ically, would offer an exceptionally ricli field for botanical researches, 

 because its position makes it a connecting link between Greenland and 

 Arctic xVmerica. His return journey was to liave been directed either 

 to Cape Warrender or along tlie east coast of Ellesmere Land to a spot 

 wliere lie could be picked up by a returning- whaler. 



This was a well-conceived ])lan, provided that proper arrangements 

 were made with a whaler. There is no reason why geographers and 

 naturalists should not spend ten weeks of the summer on such useful 

 work, if properly equipped, and if a vessel will engage to call for them 

 before returning home, at a prearranged spot. Ujorling received a 

 grant from the Vega exploring fund and the proceeds of subscriptions, 

 and left Stockholm in the spring of 1892. 



Alfred Bjcirling was born in 1871, and always cherished an ardent 

 desire to make discoveries in the Arctic regions. In order to i)repare 

 himself for this work, he wandered through extensive tracts of the 

 mountainous region of northern Scandinavia during 1887 and 1888, and 

 he was the first to ascend the peak of Kebnekaisse, the highest mftun- 

 taiu m Sweden. In the summer of 1890 he accompanied a Swedish 

 expedition to the west coast of Spitzbergen, made valuable collections 

 of Arctic plants, and assisted in the hydrographical and topographical 

 work. In the following year Bjorling went to Greenland in one of the 

 Danish vessels, and from Upernavik he made a voyage with Eskimos 

 in an umiak along the coast of Melville Bay inshore, as far northward 

 as the Devil's Thumb. He returned to Sweden in the aiitumn. 



Bjorling was only 21 years of age when he became the leader of the 

 Ellesmere Land expedition. His companion, Evald Gustaf Kallstenius, 

 was born in 18G8, and since 1886 he had been a student of zoology at 

 the University of LIpsala, but he had not been in the Arctic regions 

 before. The two young explorers did not succeed in making an arrange- 

 ment with a whaler at St. Johns, Newfoundland, and, after much diffi- 

 culty, Bjorling bought a small schooner of 37 tons, called the Ripple^ 

 for $650. He succeeded in persuading three men to form a crew, with 

 himself and his companion. A Dane named Karl Kann entered as 

 skipper, an Eniilishman named Gilbert Dunn formed the crew, and the 

 cook was a North Briton, named Herbert Macdonald. Owing to the 

 long delay in getting the Ripple ready for sea. Cape Walsingham was 

 not sighted untd July 24, and on the 28th she arrived at Godhavn, 

 having behaved very well in the ice of Dans Strait. Bjorling purchased 

 at Godhavn a fowling x)iece and a rifle with ammunition, some provi- 

 sions and clothes, and a boat. He was provided, before leaving Stock- 

 holm, with scientific instruments. He left Godhavn on August 3. 



Some anxiety for the gallant young Swedes began to be felt when 

 Lieutenant Peary started on his second expedition last July, and he 

 was requested to obtain information respecting their proceedings, and if 

 necessary to go to their relief. In November, 1893, the whaler Aurora 

 returned from BafSn Bay with a report of the loss of the Ripple. On 



