316 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



the north-eastern termination of Asia. From some 

 parts of the coast, indeed, it is doubtful whether the 

 ice ever recedes at all ; though, in some situations, 

 near extensive promontories, a considerable north 

 latitude has been obtained. Between the meri- 

 ridians of 60° and 70° E., along the coast of Nova 

 Zembla, Barentz in 1596, observed in latitude 76" 

 15', and is supposed, in doubling the northern Cape 

 of this country, to have reached at least the latitude 

 of 77° N. ; and in a preceding voyage, undertaken 

 in the year 1594, the same navigator reached the la- 

 titude of about 77° 25', when in sight of Nova 

 Zembla, being prevented from going further by an 

 extensive field of ice. 



In longitude about 100° E., Lieutenant Pront- 

 schitscheff, in the year 1736, penetrated the ice, 

 near Cape Ceverovostochnoi, as far as latitude 77° 

 25'. And about the longitude of 175° E. a little 

 Russian vessel, being part of an expedition of seven 

 ketches, is said to have doubled the north-eastern 

 promontory of Asia, in the country of the Tchukt- 

 chi, supposed to extend into a high northern la- 

 titude, at any rate considerably beyond the extent 

 reached by Captain Cook, about 60 leagues farther 

 to the eastward. 



Hence it appears, that the nearest approach 

 towards the North Pole, between the meridians 

 of Nova Zembla and the north-eastern Cape 

 of Asia, has, as might reasonably be expect- 



