114 LIGUT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



If we examine a map of North America constructed 

 in recent times, we shall find that between Greenland 

 and Canada an immense extent of coast-line has been 

 charted. A vast archipelago covers this part of the 

 northern world. Or, if the strangely-complicated coast- 

 lines which have been laid down really belong to but 

 a small number of islands, the figures of these must be 

 of the most fantastic kind. Toward the northwest, 

 however, we find several islands whose outlines have 

 been entirely ascertained. Thus we have in succession 

 North Devon Island, Cornwallis Island, Melville Island, 

 and Port Patrick Island, all lying north of the seventy- 

 fifth parallel of latitude. But we are not to suppose 

 that these islands limit the extent of our seamen's 

 researches in this direction. Far to the northward of 

 Wellington Channel, Captain de Haven saw, in 1852, 

 the signs of an open sea in other words, he saw, be- 

 yond the ice-fields, what arctic seamen call a " water- 

 sky." In 1855 Captain Penny sailed upon this open 

 sea ; but how far it extends toward the North Pole has 

 not yet been ascertained. 



It must not be forgotten that the northwest passage 

 has been shown to be a reality, by means of voyages 

 from the Pacific as well as from the Atlantic. No arctic 

 voyager has yet succeeded in passing from one ocean 

 to the other. Nor is it likely now that any voyager 

 will pursue his way along a path so beset by dangers 

 as that which is called the northwest passage. Long 



