TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 125 



plenty of ammunition, relying on game for food. Bush turkeys were seen every- 

 where, hut were especially numerous in the neighbourhood of the Gulf. Pigeons, too, 

 were found in thousands ; altogether they fared well on the game shot by them, and 

 had no reason to regret not having brought a supply of meat. Fish also were caught 

 in large numbers in all the creeks, the party frequently taking more than could be 

 eaten. The supposed traces of Leichhardt, discovered by Mr. M c Intyre, consist of 

 two trees, near the bank of the Flinders, marked each with a single L cut evidently 

 by a skilled hand, and two old strayed horses with illegible brands on both of them. 

 It is contended by Dr. Mueller (one of the former companions of Leichhardt) and 

 others in Melbourne, who are now taking an active part in organizing a new expe- 

 dition to search for further traces of Leichhardt, that the marked trees denote 

 undoubtedlv a Leichhardtian camp. They are situate on the western side of the 

 main east branch of Flinders River, in latitude 20° S. The bark has encroached 

 to the extent of four or rive inches on the incision of the letters, showing a much 

 greater age than that of Landsborough's camps, who also travelled in this direction. 

 The last communication from Dr. Mueller announces the successful progress of his 

 scheme for a new expedition. A " Ladies' Committee " has been organized and a 

 vigorous attempt made to raise £3000 by subscription. It is hoped that some 

 member of Leichhardt's lost expedition may be found still living in the far interior, 

 notwithstanding that seventeen years have elapsed. Under any circumstances it is 

 contended that the " Ladies' Expedition " will be likely to accomplish what 

 Leichhardt intended, namely, to open up the unknown great western half of the 

 continent. 



Arctic Exploration. By Rear- Admiral E. Ojotanxet, F.B.A.S. 



There are before the public two propositions for proceeding to the North Pole ; 

 the one making Smith's Sound the base of operations, the intention being to leave 

 the ships in a secure position, from whence it is proposed to reach the Pole by tra- 

 velling over the ice with sledges, making a sledge journey of it, on the supposition 

 that land will be found extending itself towards the Pole from Smith's Sound. The 

 other is from Dr. Petermann, who advocates in two very able and well-digested 

 papers, the course of penetrating into the icy seas between Spitzbergen and Nova 

 Zembla, on the theory that a warm current flows from the coast of Norway in that 

 direction into the Polar Sea, extending itself to the vicinity of the Pole, and that 

 the influence of this warm current of water is operative in raising the temperature 

 of the sea, thus rendered free from ice obstructions, and available for navigation 

 contiguous to the Pole. The chief obstacle to surmount, he considers to lie in the 

 outer barrier of floes and packed ice, forming a moveable band of about five degrees of 

 latitude in extent ; so that after pushing the ships through this barrier, they would 

 enter a sea easy of navigation, extending to the highest latitude, no doubt to the 

 Pole itself. Certainly, on looking at the globe, where can we find a more favour- 

 able point to enter the Polar Sea ? We have in the Spitzbergen seas the largest 

 and widest openings from the North Atlantic Oceans ; the Spitzbergen Islands have 

 been circiunnavigated, and their western shores are stated to be clear of ice in the 

 summer. On glancing at the chart, it will be observed that the Polar region to be 

 explored is that vacancy contained within the circle of the 80° parallel ; but it is 

 necessary to state that up to the present time no attempt has been made to reach 

 the Pole with suitable vessels armed with proper instructions ; for hitherto in all 

 the voyages to these regions the seas were abandoned by order at the very best 

 season for making an advance to the Pole. 



The author also called to notice the fact that we have made but one attempt in 

 this countiy to reach the North Pole, viz., that of Parry, in 1827 ; all the other 

 expeditions have been undertaken with a view to make N.W. and N.E. passages 

 to India and China. 



Of the two routes now under discussion the majority of Arctic officers are in favour 

 of making the attempt by the Spitzbergen seas. Certainly these seas offer the 

 shortest route from Great Britain to the Pole. There are so many advantages to 

 be advanced in behalf of making Spitzbergen the base of operations, that the author 

 -is induced to give that route his strongest recommendation in preference to pro- 

 ceeding via Baffin's Bay, and for the following reasons ;— 



