294 -Pro/. Nonlenskibld — Expedition to Greenland. 



in an American polar expedition, (as we now know through Petersen's 

 more critical description,) gave a very exaggerated account of a 

 larger opening in the ice in a part of the Polar Sea situated to the 

 north of Smith's Sound, which nevertheless was not accessible even 

 to a boat from the adjoining Eensselaer Harbour. In the observa- 

 tions of Wrangel, Kane, and Morton, I cannot discover any signs 

 of a reason for assuming the existence of an open Polar Sea. It 

 is, however, of importance in fitting out such expeditions as en- 

 deavour to approach the Pole on the ice by sledge, inasmuch as 

 it shows that one cannot, even in the midst of winter, reckon on an 

 unbroken field of ice. The travellers in these sledge-journeys will 

 thus be obliged to take with them a boat of sufficient dimensions to 

 contain the whole company, and so light as not too much to limit 

 the number of days for which iikej can carry provisions. This cir- 

 eum stance renders it necessary to choose for starting-point an easily 

 accessible spot situated as far north as possible ; and a glance at the 

 terrestrial globe shows us that only two points can be thought of 

 for such a puqDOse, viz. the northern coast of Spitzbergen, and 

 the most northerly part of the west coast of Grreenland, or per- 

 haps rather the corresponding part, G-rinnel-land, situated on the 

 other side of the narrow Smith's Sound- Each of these routes 

 has its advantages. Spitzbergen lies near Europe, and is accessible 

 all the year up to a latitude somewhat exceeding 80°, and one can 

 almost eA^ery year sail over a sea free from ice even north of the 

 Seven Islands. 



An expedition, with the north coast of Spitzbergen for its base, 

 might then choose as its starting-point a spot situated very con- 

 siderably nearer the Pole, than if it set out from Smith's Sound, 

 where it is hardly possible to reckon on penetrating by ship much 

 beyond 78°. This advantage on the side of Spitzbergen is however, 

 in a great measure, if not wholly, counterbalanced by the circum- 

 stance, that in proceeding from Smith's Sound one advances for a 

 considerable distance with land alongside, an immense advantage 

 in the establishment of depots, etc., as also, though perhaps in a less 

 degree, by the fact that the coasts at Smith's Sound are inhabited 

 by an Esquimaux tribe, which, although now since its contact with 

 Europeans thinned and dying out, can nevertheless, in spite of its 

 helplessness, during the long and dangerous winter night, offer an 

 assistance to an expedition that is to pass the v/inter there, which 

 can hardly be compensated by any outfit from home, though designed 

 with all the aids of civilization. For an expedition that can com- 

 mand unlimited pecuniary means, that is furnished with provisions 

 for several years, and can afford to lose one or two of its ships in 

 attempting to advance to winter quarters north of Eensselaer Harbour, 

 I conceive, therefore, that this route may be preferable.^ But with 



1 An expedition sent from America or England over Smith's Sound ought un- 

 doubtedly to have at its disposal several ships provided with steam, one large vessel, 

 which should never proceed to parts from which it cannot with safety return, and 

 several smaller (60 to 100 tons), which at different times and by different routes 

 should endeavour separately to advance through the ice, secure, in case of wreck, of 



