114 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



been seen distinctly marked upon the massive blocks 

 of ice which have pressed against her. 



Notwithstanding the dangers and difficulties of the 

 attempt, and the circumstance that no material gains 

 can reward the explorer, it seems not unlikely that 

 before many months are passed the North Pole will 

 have been reached. Last year two bold attempts were 

 made one by the Swedes, as already mentioned, the 

 other by German men of science. In each case the 

 result was so far successful as to give good promise for 

 future attempts. This year both these nations will 

 renew their attack upon the interesting problem. The 

 Xrerman expedition will consist of two vessels, the ( Ger- 

 mania' and the 'Greenland.' The former is a screw- 

 steamer of 126 tons, and well adapted to encounter the 

 buffets of the ice-masses which are borne upon the 

 arctic seas. The other is a sailing yacht of 80 tons, 

 and is intended to act as a transport-ship, by means of 

 which communication may be kept up with Europe. 

 The 'GermamV will probably winter in high northern 

 latitudes; and we should not be much surprised if 

 before her return she should have been carried to the 

 very Pole. Nor can the prospects of the Swedish 

 expedition be considered less promising, when we re- 

 member that last year, though hampered by the late- 

 ness of the season and other difficulties, they succeeded 

 in approaching the Pole within a distance only a few 

 miles greater than that which separated Parry from 

 the Pole in 1829. 



Certainly England has reason to fear that before 



