40 



NATURE 



[May 10, 1883 



New Systematic Researches of the Strata which in Green- 

 land contain Fossil Plants 

 From the previous Swedish Arctic expeditions, and 

 through the publications in the Journal of the Swedish 

 Academy of Sciences of articles by Prof. Oswald Heer, of 

 Zurich, we know that students of science have received 

 during the last twenty years from the sandstones and 

 slates of North Europe an additional abundant material 

 for determining the pre-historic climatic conditions of the 

 earth ; as well as a knowledge of the certainly variable, but 

 even in the last geological era copious, flora which 

 during these ages existed in the present ice-covered 

 regions of the pole. It is well known, that valuable 

 materials for the study of this phenomenon has been 

 collected in Greenland by English, Danish, and Swedish 

 explorers ; but hitherto what has been brought home 

 has been gathered under very difficult conditions, and 

 generally by men who have not been students of the 

 science in question, viz., palaeontology. I hope to attach 

 to my coming expedition one of the most celebrated 

 students of this science, and if this be the case, the 

 expedition will undoubtedly bring home novel and cir- 

 cumstantial details relating to this important chapter 

 of the history of the earth. This task is so much easier 

 to accomplish as the richest fields for the discovery 

 of such fossil objects are situated just where it is my 

 intention to invade the inland ice. During the period I 

 shall be absent wandering on the ice, the other members 

 will be occupied in this pursuit. 



The Collection of New Data Connected with the Fall of 

 Cosmic Dust 



It is clearly demonstrated by the discovery of cobalt 

 containing iron particles in fresh snow in Europe, and the 

 carbon-dust, also containing cobalt-iron, which is found on 

 the ice-fields north of Spitzbergen, as well as by the 

 appearance of metallic iron in "krykonit," a remark- 

 able dust which I brought home from the Greenland ice, 

 that the fall of a small quantity of cosmic dust always 

 takes place, regularly or periodically, most probably in 

 every part of the globe. But that there is a greater 

 variation in the nature of this fall than is generally 

 assumed, is clearly indicated by the discoveries which 

 were made in the Vega expedition, viz., of tiny yellow 

 crystals in the snow on an ice-plateau near the Taimur 

 peninsula. This certainly necessitates fresh researches 

 into this phenomenon, in order to settle questions of 

 great moment to geology and cosmology. It is very 

 difficult to investigate this feature of cosmology, in con- 

 sequence of the small quantities of dust which falls, 

 and when it takes place in closely populated dis- 

 tricts, covered by dwellings and factories, and where 

 the ground is perhaps only clad in snow during a short 

 period of the season. The Polar countries, on the other 

 hand, are particularly suited for researches of this kind, 

 both in consequence of the purity of the air and the 

 absence of terrestrial dust, and by the ease with which 

 the dark dust-particles are noticed on pure snow. The 

 coming expedition will, while steaming along the ice- 

 belts between Iceland and Greenland, and during my 

 wanderings on the ice, be able to direct a great deal of 

 attention to these captivating problems. 



Should the conditions of the ice in Baffin's Bay be 

 favourable, and the vessel, when in the vicinity of Disco 

 Island, have sufficient coals for a journey northwards, or 

 should it be possible to obtain a sufficient supply from 

 the beds found in these parts, it would be highly 

 desirable that the members remaining on board whilst 

 I am away on the inland ice make an excursion along 

 the west coast as far as Cape York. 



There are, according to statements made to the Arctic 

 explorers Ross and Sabine, lying here on a mountain, 

 Savilik, i.e., the iron mountain, lat. 76' 10', a couple 

 of large, round, solitary iron blocks, from which the 



natives obtain the little supply of iron which they re- 

 quire for hunting implements and domestic utensils. 

 The metallic constituents of these blocks are, according 

 to an analysis made of one of these utensils brought 

 home, iron and a small percentage of nickel, and, to judge 

 from the descriptions by the Eskimo, these blocks are of 

 the same nature as those which I discovered in 1870 at 

 Ovifak, on Disco Island. It is very strange that the 

 remarkable descriptions by Ross and Sabine should not 

 have been the object of investigation by the many Arctic 

 explorers who have passed this spot. An opportunity 

 is now at hand to ascertain the much-disputed nature 

 and origin of these iron blocks, while a few days' 

 sojourn on this part of the coast, which is so little known, 

 ought to be of considerable scientific value, especially as 

 the geological features here are similar to those on 

 Disco Island, — strata bearing fossil plants. 



This expedition will, as has been the case with previous 

 Swedish Arctic expeditions, be accompanied by a specially 

 selected scientific staff, whose members will individually 

 contribute to make the expedition worthy of earlier achieve- 

 ments, and who will lose no opportunity of adding to our 

 knowledge of the Polar regions. They will attempt to solve 

 some of the many problems which await investigation in 

 the far north. It is, however, impossible to detail at 

 length the researches which may be undertaken, as these 

 must depend on the nature of the special studies to 

 which the members have devoted their time. 



There is, however, one more object of research to be 

 mentioned, which should not be lost sight of by any 

 expeditions to Greenland, viz., to attempt to solve 

 the question : Where were the former Norse colonies, 

 Eriksfjord, Brattelid, Garda Cathedral, Herjolfsnaes, 

 and others situated ? This question has already been 

 answered by the most eminent students of the early history 

 of Greenland, who maintain that the ancient Osterbygd 

 lies west of the southern part of the island, between Cape 

 Farewell and lat. 61 , and the Vesterbygd, a little north 

 of the west coast. But it appears to me that, if the 

 Icelandic Sagas are examined carefully, and without any 

 preconceived opinion, it will become apparent that 

 former investigators of this problem have been led 

 astray, and that the true Eriksfjord, with its cathedral 

 and numerous parishes, has never been found, but must 

 be sought for on the inaccessible east coast north of 

 Cape Farewell. 



With the experience I have of the conditions of the ice 

 in other parts of the Polar seas, I believe that this coast 

 may be reached, without much difficulty, by sailing in the 

 autumn from the south in the ice-free channel, which I 

 have every reason to believe forms along this coast. 

 This journey will, however, not be begun until the com- 

 mencement of September, and this circumstance will 

 exactly fall in with the plan in view, viz., on returning 

 from the inland ice to attempt this voyage of discovery. 



With the premises I have here detailed before me, I 

 now have to suggest the following plan for the journey of 

 the expedition : — 



The expedition should leave Sweden near the end of May 

 in a suitable, but not too large, steamer built of Swedish 

 iron and constructed with water-tight compartments. And 

 although the journey is intended for the summer months 

 1 inly, it should be provisioned for one year, and be provided 

 with the necessary winter outfit, with the scientific 

 instruments desirable, and accoutrements which would 

 be of service for the journey on the inland ice. The 

 steamer should be navigated by a man accustomed to 

 sailing in the Arctic seas, whilst there ought also to be 

 on board as ice-master a skipper who has hunted in the 

 Arctic. The scientific staff should, besides the commander, 

 consist of four persons, the doctor included. 



From Sweden the steamer should steam to a port in 

 I Scotland, where more coals are to be taken on board, and 

 ] the journey continued to Reikiavik in Iceland. There a 



