March 1, 1897.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



57 



IlLUSTRATED MAGAZIN 



€E,liTERATll 



LONDON : MAECH 1, 1897. 



CONTENTS. 



Fridtjof Nansen s -'Farthest North. —Review, By 

 Hahry F. Witheeby. (Illustrated) 



The Victorian Era in Geography. By Hugh Robert 

 MiLi., P.Sc, F.B.S.E. (^Platf) 



The Origin of Some Domestic Animals. By R. 

 LyPKKKER, B.A.Cauiab., F.R.S 



On the Vegetation and Some of the Vegetable 

 Productions of Australasia.— I. By \T. Botting 

 HEirsLET, F.R.3.. F.L.S. i^Flate) 



Science Notes 



Notices of Books {Illustrated) 



Short Notices 



Books Received 



Letters : — W. H. S. Mouck ; Fred. Enock ; C. T. Htdsox ; 



n.wiD Flanbrt 



Life-History of the Common Tiger Beetle. By Feed. 



Knock, F.L.S., F.ES. {Illustrated) 



The Chemistry of the Stars. By A. Fowler, F.R.A.S. 



{Fhd.-) 



The Face of the Sky for March. By H. Sadiee, F.R.A.S. 

 Chess Column. By C. D. Locock, B.A.Oxon 



PiOE 



60 



fi3 



66 



67 



08 

 70 

 71 



77 

 7» 

 79 



FRIDTJOF HANSEN'S "FARTHEST NORTH."^ 



VERY soon after Dr. Nansen's return from his now 

 historical Polar expedition, we became acquainted, 

 through his brief narrative in the ihiihi Chronicle, 

 with the general outline of his wonderful voyage 

 and still more wonderful sledge journey. Since 

 then we have learnt from time to time a few details about 

 the expedition, and we have lately had from his own lips, 

 lectures which have taught us still more about that expe- 

 dition—ever memorable and ever of absorbing interest. 



l'>ut not until his book has been read, and the details of 

 that which took place every day of those three long years 

 are known, can be realized what a magnificent and what a 

 successful undertaking it was ; what hardships were gone 



* Fridtjof Nansen's "Farthest North: being the Record of a Voyage 

 of Exploration of the ship From, 1893-96, and of a Fifteen Montlis' 

 Sleigh Journey by Dr. Nansen and Lieut. Johansen. AVitli an Appendix 

 liy Otto Sverdrup, Captain of the Frum." About one hundred and 

 twenty fuU.]iage and numerous text illustrations, sixteen coloured 

 plates in facsimile from Dr. Nansen's own sketches, etched portrait, 

 photogravm-es, and maps. 2 vols. In all, 1181 pp. (Constable.) 428. 



through ; what difScnlties were overcome ; in what a 

 conscientious way scientific observations were performed 

 under the most ti-ying conditions ; and, above all, what a 

 hero every man of the expedition proved himself to be. 



From the first to the last word, the book is one of 

 absorbing interest. It never fails to excite the curiosity of 

 the reader. What is going to happen next '? How did 

 they get over that difficulty ? Such questions pass through 

 the mind as the simple but most graphic narrative is 

 eagerly read. 



The book opens with an introduction detailing the 

 author's theories of the currents, which he published as 

 papers to various geographical societies, and on which he 

 founded the plan of his expedition ; how he first thought 

 of drifting with the ice instead of fighting against it ; how 

 a special ship to resist the ice-pressure had to be built ; 

 how he contended that it was not to find " the exact 

 mathematical point that forms the northern extremity of 

 the earth's axis " that he was setting out, but to explore 

 the Polar regions. 



This novel and seemingly utterly reckless idea was 



SrOTT-H.\N.SKX. 



XoUIi.\HI 



OB3EBVATI02f WITH SEXTANT AND ARTinCIAL HoBIZOrf, 



-TuLT, 1895. 



ir.ijii/i'igW l!( ArcUlmU Caiislalle .t- r.i, lS9r.) 



unfavourably received by almost every eminent Arctic 

 explorer, as is well known, and it is interesting to read the 

 objections of such men as McClintock, Nares, and others, 

 when we have just lately heard these very men at the great 

 meeting in the Albert Hall congratulate Dr. Nansen in the 

 highest possible terms, and chivalrously uphold the theories 

 which, three years ago, they so emphatically condemned. 



It is not in the same terms that we can speak of General 

 Greely, who also condemned the theories, but who now, 

 although forced to acknowledge their correctness, casts a 

 reflection upon the honour of one of the most honourable 

 of men. 



The details of the building of the Vram, undoubtedly 

 the most ingenious and wonderful boat ever launched, will 

 be read with keen interest. Dr. Nansen's praise for its 

 builder, Mr. Colin Archer, a Scotchman residing m 

 Norway, is in no way exaggerated. The chapters on 

 " Preparations and Equipment " are of lasting interest, 

 and will form valuable information for future expeditions. 



The general route of the expedition is now well known, 

 and it is not necessary to refer to it again. After some 



