INTRODUCTION. 7 



Yacht Club. It was thus under its flag, the Sivedisk nuoi- 

 of-war fiag with a crowned in the oiiiddle. that the flrst 

 circumnavigation of Asia and Europe was carried into effect. 



The Vtya, as will be seen from the description quoted further 

 i»n, is a pretty large vessel, which during the first part of 

 the voyage was to be heavily laden with provisions and coal. 

 It would therefore be a work of some difficulty to get it afloat, 

 if, in sailing forwaid along the coast in new, unsurveyed waters, 

 it should run upon a bank of clay or sand. I therefore gladly 

 availed myself of Mr. Sibiriakoff's offer to provide for the 

 greater safety of the expedition, by placing at my disposal 

 founds for building another steamer of a smaller size, the Lena, 

 which should have the river Lena as its main destination, but, 

 during the first part of the expedition, should act as tender to 

 the Vega, being sent before to examine the state of the ice 

 and the navigable waters, when such service might be useful. 

 I had the Lena built at Motala, of Swedish Bessemer steel, 

 mainly after a drawing of Engineer R. Kuneberg of Finland. 

 The steamer answ^ered the purpose for which it was intended 

 particularly well. 



An unexpected opportunity of providing the steamers with 

 coal during the course of the voyage besides arose by my 

 receiving a commission, while preparations were making for 

 the expedition of the Vega, to fit out, also on Mr. Sibiriakoff's 

 account, two other vessels, the steamer Frase?', and the sailing 

 vessel Erpress, in order to bring to Europe from the mouth 

 of the Yenisej a cargo of grain, and to carry thither a quantity 

 of European goods. This was so much the more advantageous, 

 as, according to the plan of the expedition, the Vega and the 

 Lena were first to separate from the Fraser and the Ejypress at 

 the mouth of the Yenisej. The first-named vessels had thus 

 an opportunity of taking on board at that place as much coal 

 as there was room for. 



I intend further on to give an account of the voyages of 

 the other three vessels, each of which deserves a place in 

 the history of navigation. To avoid details I shall only 

 mention here that, at the beginrjing of the voyage which 

 is to be described here, the following four vessels were at my 

 disposal : — 



1. The Vega, commanded by Lieutenant L. Palander, of the 

 Swedisli Navy ; circumnavigated Asia and Europe. 



'1. The Lena, commanded by the walrus-hunting captain, 

 Christian Johannesen ; the first vessel that reached the river 

 Lena from the Atlantic. 



'■^. The Fraser, commanded by the merchant captain, Emil 

 ^«'ilsson. 



4. The Ej:press, commanded by the merchant captain, 



