THE NOKTH-EAST PASSAGE. 15 



scientific companions on this occasion was somewhat 

 meagre. 



On the 4th of August we rounded the point of 

 White Island in water entirely free from ice. Here 

 Ave met a stiff breeze from the north, which, in con- 

 junction with a high cross sea in three or four fathoms 

 of water, was anything but agreeable, particularly as 

 no trustworthy chart of these regions is yet to be had. 

 The water was of a brown colour, precisely similar to 

 that of many of our own rivers in Sweden. Danger 

 of stranding, however, does not exist, even although 

 one should happen to be near the flat shores of the 

 White Island during a storm, because the powerful 

 current from the confluence of the Obi and Yenisei 

 rivers in the neighbourhood of the above island sets 

 north during the summer season with a velocity of 

 three to five knots. 



On the 6th of August we anchored beside one of 

 the group of islands which lie outside Dickson's Har- 

 bour. Two hours later the Express and the Eraser 

 anchored near us. In the afternoon, after the course 

 had been examined by the steam-launch, we went 

 farther in, and anchored in the harbour, which is 

 well protected by land on all sides. The following 

 day the Lena arrived from its exploring expedition. 



Eoth in Yugorscharr and Dickson's Harbour the 

 Lena, as well as the Vega, took coal-supplies from 

 the Express, which had carried about 400 tons of 

 coal from London instead of ballast. By these vessels 



