INTRODUCTION. 25 



lo tills connection it seems to me probable that a well- 

 equipped steamer would be able without meeting too many 

 difficulties, at least obstacles from ice, to force a passage this 

 way during autumn in a few days, and thus not only solve a 

 geographical problem of several centuries' standing, but also, with 

 all the means that are now at the disposa,l of the man of science 

 in researches in geography, hydrography, geology, and natural 

 history, survey a hitherto almost unknown sea of enormous extent. 



The sea north of Behring's Straits is now visited by hundreds 

 of whaling steamers, and the way thence to American and 

 European harbours therefore forms a much-frequented route. 

 Some few decades back, this was, however, by no means the case. 

 The voyages of Behring, Cook, Kotzebue, Beechey, and others 

 were then considered as adventurous, fortunate exploring ex- 

 peditions of great value and importance in respect of science, 

 but without any direct practical utility. For nearly a hundred 

 and fifty years the same was the case with Spangberg's voyage 

 from Kamschatka to Japan in the year 1739, by which the 

 exploring expeditions of the Russians, in the northernmost part 

 of the Pacific Ocean, were connected with those of the Dutch 

 and the Portuguese to India and Japan ; and in case our expedition 

 succeeds in reaching the Suez Canal, after having circumnavi- 

 gated Asia, there will meet us there a splendid work, which, more 

 than any other, reminds us, that Avhat to-day is declared by ex- 

 perts to be impossible, is often carried into execution to-morrow. 



I am also fully convinced that it is not only possible to sail 

 along the north coast of Asia, provided circumstances are not too 

 unfavourable, but that such an enterprise will be of incalculable 

 practical importance, by no means directly, as opening a new 

 commercial route, but indirectly, by the impression which would 

 thereby be communicated of the practical utility of a com- 

 munication by sea between the ports of North Scandinavia and 

 the Obi and Yenisej, on the one hand, and between the Pacific 

 Ocean and the Lena on the other. 



Should the expedition, contrary to expectation, not succeed 

 in carrying out the programme which has been arranged in its 

 entirety, it ought not to be looked upon as having failed. In 

 such a case the expedition will remain for a considerable time 

 at places on the north coast of Siberia, suitable for scientific 

 research. Every mile beyond the mouth of the Yenisej is a step 

 forward to a complete knowledge of our globe — an object which 

 sometime or other must be attained, and towards which it is 

 a point of honour for every civilised nation to contribute in its 

 proportion. 



Men of science will have an opportunity, in these hitherto 

 unvisited waters, of answering a number of questions regarding 

 the former and present state of the Polar countries, of which 



