542 THE JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY. 



well equipped for this work as Professor Chamberlin was able 

 to undertake it. 



Lieutenant Peary's plan was to carry his outfit and provisions 

 to the summit of the ice during the winter, and cache it at 

 advanced points, so as to save time and labor when the spring 

 opened. He expected to start early in the spring, and to follow 

 very nearly his previous route northeasterly across the ice to the 

 East Greenland sea, latitude about 8i°3o', longitude about 34 

 west. Here his party was to divide. One division was to trace the 

 east coast southward to the point previously reached by explor- 

 ers from the south, and then strike westward across the inland 

 ice to headquarters. This route will carry the explorers across 

 the broadest part of the great mer de glace, and, if successful, 

 should give important data concerning the maximum height of 

 ice and snow accumulation, and concerning the conditions of 

 accumulation under these extreme conditions. Lieutenant Peary 

 himself, with one or two aids, expected to trace out the insular 

 land lying beyond the point previously reached by him. His 

 route was to be controlled more or less by what he found, as 

 well as by local conditions favoring or preventing progress. 

 Should both these parties be as successful as hoped, they will 

 bring back an essentially completed outline of Greenland, and 

 its northern insular dependencies. The Peary parties expect to 

 reach headquarters on Inglefield Gulf by the 1st of September. 

 The ship's party will have returned by that time, and Professor 

 Chamberlin's work at Inglefield Gulf will cease when the party 

 is ready to start homeward. 



The polar expedition of which Captain Cook has charge, 

 was obliged, on the point of starting, to change vessels. Among 

 those accustomed to northern seas, there was unfavorable com- 

 ment concerning the vessel — the Miranda — in which this party 

 sailed. They seem to have reached St. Johns, Newfoundland, in 

 safety. From this point they started northward. It is reported 

 that when 57 miles west of Belle Isle, the Miranda collided with 

 an iceberg, and was compelled to return to St. Johns for repairs. 



