THE NOKTH-EAST PASSAGE. 33 



compelled to pass the winter here, but hoped for a 

 change in the weather, and for a storm which would 

 break and disperse the ice. But instead of this, 

 however, the cold increased, and the new ice which 

 connected the drift-floes daily became stronger, and 

 the weather remained quite calm. Here we were to 

 spend the winter here where the American whalers 

 find yearly quite navigable water several weeks later 

 than the 28th of September. The situation of our 

 wintering station was, according to observations, lat. 

 K 67 7', and long. W. 173 24', 4500 feet out from 

 a flat sandy beach, entirely unprotected from all winds 

 excepting the south. Between the Vega and the 

 shore were two sandbanks, the nearest having ten feet 

 of water, the other still less. 



At the outset of the expedition my impression was 

 that the greatest difficulties in making the North-east 

 Passage would be experienced in rounding Cape 

 Tchelyuskin and possibly the coasts on both sides of 

 the same namely, from Taimyr Island to Khatanga 

 Bay. All available accounts, however, agree that the 

 coast between Cape Yakan or North Cape and Behring 

 Strait is quite free of ice during the summer and 

 autumn. When we had successfully rounded Cape 

 Tchelyuskin, and had passed Cape Yakan so early as 

 the 7th of September (therefore in good time), we 

 calculated with certainty upon being able to pass 

 Behring Strait the same year. On the contrary, our 

 greatest difficulties commenced at Cape Yakan, and 



VOL. II. C 



