86 THE SEA. 



The expedition, under the command of Captain Nares, the departure of which we 

 have briefly described, was, as we all know, distinctly organised for the exploration of 

 the polar region, and with the hope of reaching the North Pole itself. One point 

 in this connection is often overlooked, thereby leading to grave mistake, and it may 

 fairly be considered before entering upon the narration of this Arctic voyage. There 

 are those among us who, being "nothing if not practical," aver that too many voyages 

 have been instigated for the discovery of the North Pole, which is to them a worthless 

 aim. The answer to such croakers is direct. Of the hundreds of expeditions, British 

 and foreign, despatched to the Arctic regions, very few indeed have been organised for that 

 discovery, or even for the exploration of the polar region proper. Those instituted with 

 that special object, as will be hereafter shown, scarcely exceed a dozen in number. Strange as 

 it may seem, commerce was for a long period almost the only motive for Arctic exploration. 

 The larger part of the earlier attempts at north-west and north-east passages were insti- 

 gated with the distinct object of reaching the Orient China, India, and the Spice 

 Islands for commercial purposes, by what seems now-a-days a most roundabout if not 

 utterly ridiculous manner, but which at the time appeared quite comprehensible and defensible. 

 The rich productions of the countries named in those days reached us overland ; and not till the 

 very close of the fifteenth century, when Vasco di Gama doubled the Cape of Good Hope, 

 was a comparatively easy sea-route found to Eastern Asia. The opening of extensive 

 fisheries, the fur-trade, reported mineral discoveries, and, in a limited degree, colonisation, 

 have been among the main causes in bygone days of hundreds of Arctic voyages, the 

 organisers whereof cared nothing for the North Pole. The many Arctic expeditions of the 

 present century have been mainly instituted for geographical discovery and scientific research ; 

 and, as we all know, a number of them would not have had their being but for the sad 

 tragedy which involved the search for Franklin and his ill-starred companions. Now-a-days, 

 indeed, as the writer has elsewhere said,* ' l we have no need for an icy route to Cathaia ; 

 we have no expectation of commercial advantage from the exploration of the North Pole." 

 The solution of a most important geographical problem was the aim of Captain Nares' 

 expedition, as it was that of several, but not, as will be proved, that of many previous 

 ones. If it ever is to be done, England should do it. 



It will be interesting, and somewhat important, to note briefly, before entering on 

 the consideration of the great Arctic voyages, just how much and how little we know about 

 the polar region proper. The undiscovered region covers an area of scarcely less than a 

 million and a half square miles; while between explored points on either side it is in 

 certain directions as much as 1,500 miles across. Parry, in 1827, reached by a mixed boat 

 and sledge journey as high a latitude as 82 45' N., while Captain Hall, the American, suc- 

 ceeded in taking Ids vessel, in 1871, as high as 82 16' N. in Smith's Sound. As we shall 

 hereafter see, both these exploits have now been beaten by the expedition under Captain 

 (now Sir George S.) Nares. In general terms, we may say that the vast tract between 70 

 and 80 of north latitude has been pretty thoroughly explored on the European and American 

 sides of the polar region, while much less is known of the same latitudes on the Asiatic 

 side. How much of the in-lying region is land, or how far covered with water, has 

 * "Heroes of the Arctic." Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. 



