4 52 eeport — 1879. 



Arctic Expedition, the discovery of the unknown will never be permanently 

 abandoned, and the Arctic Regions, in common with the rest of the world, will 

 surely be discovered and explored. As regards the alleged risks and dangers, the 

 author asks why they should exercise a deterrent effect any more than the perils 

 and dangers of African or Australian travel. There will always be men ready to 

 o-o and in due time there will be sufficient support forthcoming to provide the 

 means. But it is desirable to utilize the experience of the present generation, 

 rather than wait until all experience must be obtained anew. 



On the east coast of Greenland and beyond Robeson Strait there is heavy ice 

 similar to that met with by MacOlure and Oollinson, and afterwards by Meahan 

 and McOlintock, along the coast of North America and adjacent islands, and when- 

 ever it occurs ship navigation entirely ceases, while the difficulty of sledge travelling 

 is immensely increased. It would seem that in all future work this sort of ice must 

 be reckoned upon ; and that no ship will ever get much beyond 82° north. In sledge 

 travelling it is indispensable that land should be near, and that the ice should he 

 fast, and there are few known points where these conditions can be obtained. 



Nevertheless, Commander Beaumont contended that there was nothing dis- 

 couraging in this ; nor need the work be confined to the highest latitudes, for where 

 scientific research and a practical school for future explorers are the objects, much 

 important work can be done in all parts of the unknown region. He anticipated a 

 rich harvest of valuable results from the work of the present year. The Swedish 

 Expedition is already a great success, and those who know Captain Markham feel 

 certain that his present cruise will bear good fruit. 



The author then addressed himself to the question of which route affords the 

 best promise of geographical discovery, observing that geographical discovery will 

 always embrace much that is valuable in many other branches of science. Franz 

 Joseph Land seems, at first sight, to fulfil the conditions required to ensure success. 

 Here the land extends far to the north, and if any part of the shore could be 

 reached by a ship, a sledging party might certainly attain to the 86th parallel. 

 But the disadvantages of the route are, that it is uncertain whether a vessel could 

 reach the land, while there is no alternative after starting but to succeed or fail. 

 If the main object is not gained, no lesser useful work can be done. The next 

 route, in Commander Beaumont's opinion, now that the North-east passage has been 

 achieved, is the exploration of the land about Cape Britannia, proceeding by way 

 of Smith Sound : that is — the discovery of the northern side of Greenland. He 

 prefers this route to an attempt along the eastern side, because a higher latitude can 

 be reached by Smith Sound ; and believes that a vessel might winter on the eastern 

 shore of Robeson Strait, and advance depots to Repulse Harbour in the autumn. 

 Commander Beaumont, who has seen Cape Britannia, the most northern known 

 point of Greenland, believes that to stand on its highest peak would alone throw 

 much light on Greenland geography. He then submitted calculations, derived from 

 his own experience, of the time that it would take for a sledge party to reach 

 Cape Britannia, and of the nature of the ice ; and offered several valuable sugges- 

 tions for improved appliances in travelling over soft and deep snow. 



Commander Beaumont confidently predicts important geographical discoveries, 

 and other useful scientific results for an Arctic Expedition despatched up Smith 

 Sound with Cape Britannia and coasts beyond as its principal goal. 



3. On the Interior of Greenland : the principal points of Geographical 

 Interest connected with it, and the recent Expeditions for its Exploration. 

 By Dr. H. Rink. 



This paper contains a sketch of the presumed physical conditions of the interior 

 of Greenland, as the best and largest existing illustration of the glacial epoch of 

 geologists which has had so much effect upon the surface of modern northern 

 Europe, and the only region where true icebergs can be observed in course of forma- 

 tion. Of this interior very little is actually known, the point reached by the expe- 

 dition mentioned in the present paper being the farthest hitherto attained. Even 

 of the coast some 600 miles still remain unknown ; but, supposing it not to extend 



