38 National Geographic Magazine. 
should hardly be construed as more than a prediction that the 
pioneers who attempt to develop the region need not die of star- 
vation. 
We have also to record as a matter of interest in the Arctic re- 
gion, the successful establishment of the two parties sent out by 
the United States to determine the location of the 141st meridian, 
the boundary line between Alaska and the British Provinces 
north of Mt. St. Elias. The parties are located on the Yukon 
and Porcupine rivers above their confluence at Ft. Yukon. They 
are well equipped, and it is expected they will explore a consider- 
able territory and, bring back with them valuable information be- 
yond the special object of the expedition. Indeed, it may be said, 
this is but the beginning of a thorough examination of Alaskan 
territory, that will eventually form a basis for the demarkation 
of the international boundary. This country is full of surprises 
in its details, and whatever examinations are made must be thor- 
ough to be effective. Only recently, a small indentation, as it has 
been carried on the maps since Vancouver’s time, and known as 
Holkham Bay, has been found to be a considerable body of water, 
extending back from Stephen’s passage in two arms, each nearly 
thirty miles in length and nearly reaching the assumed location of 
the Alaska boundary. So perfectly is the bifurcation and exten- 
sion of the arms hidden by islands, that it was only during the 
past summer when in the regular course of work the shores of the 
bay were to be traversed, that the extent of the bay became 
known. 
The determination of the boundaries of the land areas on the — 
surface of the earth has ever been a matter of the greatest 
interest to the students of geography. It was the incentive that 
led the daring navigators of old to undertake the perilous voy- 
ages that in these days read like romances ; and in the light of 
the more perfect knowledge we now have of the hidden dangers. 
to which they were exposed, we may pass by their shortcomings 
in the admiration we must feel for their heroism and endurance. 
To these men we owe our first conception of the probable dis- 
tribution of the areas of land and water, but the lines they gave 
us were only approximate ; and had not scientific effort followed 
in their tracks we may reasonably believe the progress of civiliza- 
tion would have been retarded by generations. ‘True it is, also, 
that even to-day we have not that precise knowledge that is 
requisite for the safety of quick navigation, nor to calculate the 
