164 WORK IX THE ARCTIC AXD ANTARCTIC 



the Balekas. He saj'S the Balekas are not repulsive to look upon. Althoiiiih 

 small, they are well-built and have good features. Men and women go about 

 stark naked, and their long hair gives tliem a peculiarly wild appearance. 



A burning clifl", rising from 20 to 2,000 feet directly from the sea and 20 miles 

 long, the whole one mass of flames and smoke, is said to have been discovered 

 by Mr A. J. Stone, of the American Museum of Natural History, in his explo- 

 rations of the northernmost coast of Amerira during 1899. 



But most curious of all is the statement of a Mr La Joie, a French Canadian, 

 who claims to luive just returned from the North Pole, in the vicinity of which 

 he had lived for nearly two years. In his hunting in Canada he traveled 

 further and further northw'ard until, after a series of marvelous adventures, 

 he reached what he believes is the North Pole. Here he found a wild tribe of 

 people, who speak a language different from any known and write in hiero- 

 glyphics. Tiie climate was much milder than further southward. Finally 

 Mr La Joie effected his escape from the tribe, and by continuous traveling on 

 snowshoes succeeded in regaining the civilized world. 



WORK IN THE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC 



A Scottish exi)edition will undoubtedly be organized to cooperate with the 

 English and German Antarctic expeditions of 1901. The Weddell sea quadrant, 

 south of tlie Atlantic Ocean, will be the Scottish sphere. As previously noted 

 in the X.xtionai- GEOGUAiMric Mag.\zink (vol. X, p. 310), the British sphere will 

 be soutli of the Pacilic Ocean and the (lerman south of the Indian Ocean. 



Lieutenant Robert E. Peary has probably by this time left his winter quar- 

 ters at Cape Sabine, Ellesmere Land, and is well started on his dash for the 

 North Pole. The series of caches of stores planted by him last year will les.sen 

 the ditliculties of his advance to Cape Joseph Henry, where the real trouble 

 will l)egin. ^Ir Pe.iry planned to talce about a dozen picked Eskimo and some 

 SO dogs and as many loaded sledges as the latter can drag. When a sledge has 

 been emptied it will be sent l)ack to Cape Sabine with one of the drivers, and 

 the rest will pnsh on. Tims he hopes to reach Cape Joseph Henry with a 

 large supply of i)rovisiuns. From this point he will then set out with only two 

 companions. 



The first South Polar expedition to winter on Antarctic land has successfully 

 reached Wellington, New Zealand. Mr Borchgrevink, the leader of the jiarty, 

 reports that the south magnetic pole has been located, and that the expedition 

 reached latitude 7S° 50', the farthest south ever attained by sledge. The expe- 

 dition, whi(;li was fitted out by Sir George Newnes, ,of London, left Hobart, 

 Tasmania, on December 19, 1898. During tiie latter part of February, 1899, the 

 members landed from the Southern Cross near Cape A dare, Victoria Land, it 

 having been arranged that the steamer should leave them there with a full 

 equipment of every kind, and should retui-n for them early in 1900. Mr Borch- 

 grevink's party consisted of nine, including himself. Lieut. W. Colbeck, R. N. R., 

 was selected as first magnetic observer, to be assisted by Mr Louis Barnacchi ; 



