CONCLUSION. 577 



within a fraction;' whilst again to the north of Spitz- 

 bergen so much ice was met with by the Swedish Expe- 

 dition, that they could not even reach Parry Island, 

 where they had intended wintering, so as to be ready in 

 the early spring for the sledge journeys, by which they 

 proposed to advance to the Pole. And, although this sea 

 was generally free from ice as far as 81° N.L., the expe- 

 dition was forced to pass the winter in Mossel Bay, and 

 in the spring attempted vainly to reach a higher latitude 

 by crossing the sea-ice with sledges. They did not get 

 beyond Parry Island, as the state of the drift-ice (probably 

 too uneven and lumpy) prevented them. All exploration 

 had to be confined to Spitzbergen during the winter, as 

 well as during the sledge-journeys, by which .the land 

 ice to the north-east of the country was crossed ; adding 

 a valuable amount of knowledge regarding the physical 

 condition of Arctic countries. 



The above implied variation in the position and extent 

 of the Arctic ice was particularly proved in the year 

 1872, by the different voyages undertaken, and also by the 

 Swedish Expedition ; of the Austrian we have no further 

 news. The advance on the high sea led to no other result 

 than that of proving the changeableness of the ice-border, 

 and to leisurely-made observations of temperature and 

 soundings ; which, however important and useful in them- 

 selves, without the knowledge of the extent of the 

 surrounding country and coast and their climate, can 

 only serve to assist in forming rough conjectures as 

 to the physical condition of the Pole and its vicinity. 



' It consists of one or more luiinipoitant islaiuls of no great size. 



P p 



