INTRODUCTION. 



29 



1736, in small river craft built with insufficient means reached 

 within a few minutes of this north-westernmost promontory of 

 Asia, our vessel, equipped with all modern appliances, ought 

 not to find insuperable difficulties in doubling this point, and 

 if that be accomplished, we will probably have pretty open 

 water towards Behring's Straits, which ought to be reached 

 before the end of September. 



If time, and the state of the ice permit, it would be desirable 

 that the expedition during this voyage should make some ex- 

 cursions towards the north, in order to ascertain whether land 

 is not to be found between Cape Chelyuskin and the New 

 Siberian group of islands, and between it and Wrangel's Land. 

 From Behring's Straits the course will be shaped, with such 

 stoppages as circumstances give rise to, for some Asiatic port, 

 from which accounts may be sent home, and then onwards round 

 Asia to Suez. Should the expedition be prevented from 

 forcing a passage east of Cape Chelyuskin, it will depend on 

 circumstances which it is difficult to foresee, whether it will 

 immediately return to Europe, in which case the vessel with its 

 equipment and crew may be immediately available for some 

 other purpose, or whether it ought not to winter in some suit- 

 able harbour in the bays at the mouths of the Tajmur, 

 Pjasina, or Yenisej. Again, in case obstacles from ice occur east 

 of Cape Chelyuskin, a harbour ought to be sought for at 

 some convenient place on the north coast of Siberia, from 

 which, during the following summer, opportunities would be 

 found for important surveys in the Polar Sea, and during the 

 course of the summer some favourable opening will also cer- 

 tainly occur, when southerly winds have driven the ice from 

 the coast, for reaching Behring's Straits. Probably also, if 

 it be necessary to winter, there will be opportunities of sending 

 home letters from the winter station. 



