106 



have spoken, tmd .stimulating- actual investigation of tlie facts in the tield, a 

 sufficiently satisfjxctoiy end will have been attained. 



The reports of the last few years as to the condition of the ice north of 

 Bering- Strait have been so favorable for explorations, and the ethnological 

 and geographical points to be settled by such investigations are of such 

 deep interest, that .the apathy which has prevailed among explorers is 

 surprising-. It would seem as if no part of the Arctic region offered so 

 many inducements for investigation as this, and certainly nowhere would 

 exploration be attended with less risk to life and danger to the vessels, or 

 more interesting results for the explorer. 



