308 L. I. Hayes ox the Practicability 
area from Spitzbergen; and by the Americans through 
mith’s Strait. 
The lead was taken by the Russians. In 1810 Hedenstrém 
and Pschenizyn started from the mouth of the Jana with the 
dog sledges of the native Samoides, in search of a continent 
supposed to lie to the northward. Ten years later they were 
followed by Anjou and Wrangel, who were dispatched by the 
ussian government for the seein of the same interesting 
geographical problem. ‘The ice over which these several parties 
travelled was found mostly smooth, both in the outward and re- 
turn passage, but their northward progress was checked by their 
coming suddenly upon open water-—‘‘a vast immeas easurable 
ocean,” as described by Admiral Wrangel—to the northward of 
Ketelnoi, stretching eastward in the direction of Cape wees 
skoi. The time of observation was the cold months o Feb 
March, and April. 
A similar attempt was made from Spitzbergen in 1827, by Sit 
Edward Parry, using boat sledges and men, instead of dogs, for 
draught. Parry was carried by the Hecla to Hakluyt Headland 
on the northerh side of the island, and starting upon the solid 
= from. the Rocks, known as the “Seven Islands of Spitzber- 
a little above the 80th parallel, he made his descent 1m 
a dus motion Reaching to latitude 82° 45/, he discovered 
the whole aay of the ice upon which he travelled to = — 
Sawa, and finding that he was losing ground he was fo! 
to ret 
The at attempt of Dr. Kane to penetrate to an “ open Polar — 
was made from a point nearly upon an opposite meridian from 
the line of descent of Hedenstrém and Wrangel. Like the 
Russians, he used the dog sledges of the natives. Having been 
arrested with his vessel by the solid field ice, as already observed, 
he passed the winter of 185354 at Rensselaer Harbor, in lati- 
tude 78° 37’, and early in the spring commenced. his sledge rear 
aa srt 
ce of the 
of the i ice and want of provisions, to reach beyond inside 30°: ; 
a final and more successful effort was 
m: 
‘Figle by William Morton and° Hans Hendrick, an Esquimaux 
hunter. Early in June they left the brig with a single team of 
seven dogs, and replenishing their stock of provisions at a cache 
blishment ! of Humboldt Glacier, in — 
: Son Soa this point a final start. 
I re than th ual ha of ial spt dangers Po 
1 of which were overcome with manly energy 
entered on the rote a new channel open 
a the N.V of Smith's. 
