126 report — 1865. 



1st. The Spitzbergen seas are more free from ice than any other part of the 

 Arctic seas. 



2ndly. The Western shores are clear of ice in summer, affording an open navi- 

 gation between a depot fixed at Spitzbergen and England. 



3rdly. It affords reasonable hopes for effecting the search of the Polar region in 

 one season. 



4thly. There are good harbours in Spitzbergen ; the climate is more tem- 

 perate than that of Smith's Sound ; animal life srtnore abundant ; driftwood for 

 fuel is found on its shores. 



Hitherto no proper effort by a suitable vessel has been made to reach the Pole ; 

 we never sent an expedition in that direction provided with the means of wintering 

 and exploring at the proper season, consequently the Spitzbergen seas were aban- 

 doned at the most favourable season for exploration. 



The author made a few observations as regards the adoption of Smith's Sound 

 as a starting-point for making a sledge expedition to the Pole : it appeared to him 

 to be one of the most dangerous places in the Arctic Sea. And as he holds to the 

 belief that we can approach the Pole by ships via Spitzbergen for reasons before 

 adduced, viz., that spaces of water will be found, this state of things would render 

 it impracticable to make exploration by sledges from Smith's Sound. 



He further added that the information to be sought for in making observations 

 respecting the condition and phenomenon of the globe at its axis, will be the more 

 valuable, according to the duration of time available for scientific research. He 

 compared the advantages which would result from the visit of a ship to the Pole, 

 with those afforded by small sledge party. 



Regarding the speculation whether land will be found about the Pole, all the 

 observations and facts before us tend to show that there can be no land of any ex- 

 tent ; for at Parry's farthest north 82f° N., he sounded the sea to 500 fathoms, but 

 found no bottom. The large icebergs produced from the glaciers in Greenland are not 

 seen north of Spitzbergen. We hear of no earthy debris, stones, or boulders being 

 observed by the Spitzbergen voyagers lying on the ice-floes or fields. By the 

 comparatively mild or modified severity of the Arctic climate at Spitzbergen 80° N., 

 the isothermal curve of temperature, corresponding with that of South Greenland 

 and Hudson's Bay, shows almost conclusively that there can be no extent of land 

 near the Pole capable of bearing glaciers. 



Should circumstances involve the necessity of spending a winter at Spitzbergen, 

 either in Fair Haven or Ilecla Cove, we can find perfect security for a ship, with 

 an ample field of useful occupation for both officers and crew, in making observa- 

 tions and gathering information for scientific purposes, from the high latitude of 

 80° N. As the spring advanced, the pursuit of game would be a source of amuse- 

 ment and health. 



That the North Pole may be reached by sea is the opinion entertained by many 

 experienced Arctic navigators and eminent men of the past and present day, among 

 whom are Parry, Beecher, Ross, Belcher ; and General Sabine, one of the sur- 

 vivors of our discoverers in those seas, strongly advocates the attempt. 



On the Seyehelle Islands. By Lieut.-Col. Lewis Peixy. 



Shores of the Persian Gulf. By Lieut.-Col. L. Pellt. 



Notes on Arabia. By Lieut.-Col. L. Pellt. 



In this paper the author communicated some further details regarding Arabia, in 

 addition to those he had already made public in the ' Proceedings of the Royal 

 Geographical Society.' The most interesting related to the Selabah, Seleb, or 

 Selaib tribe, who inhabit portions of the interior. On certain festivals, particularly 

 on occasions of marriage and circumcision, they fix a wooden cross, dressed in red 

 cloth, and adorned at the top with feathers, at the door of the person married or 

 circumcised. At this signal the people collect together, and dance round the cross. 

 The word Saleb means a cross ; but some of the caste derive their name from -Es- 

 svlb-el-Arab, i. e. from the back of the Arabs, meaning that they are the pure de- 



