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XXI. 
ON ARCTIC SLEDGE-TRAVELLING. 
By ADMIRAL Sir F. Leopotp M‘Cuintock, K.C.B. D.C.L. LL.D. F.R.S, 
Reprinted from the Royal Geographical Society’s Proceedings, vol. xix. No. vii. p. 464. 
So widespread an interest in the subject of Arctic geographical 
research has been evinced, that I am encouraged to believe that 
some details of the means by which that research is chiefly effected 
may not be uninteresting to those who are here present. And in this 
belief I have undertaken to give an outline of sledging exploration. 
My subject has one feature peculiarly its own—it is this: whereas 
all other geographical discoveries are performed either by land or by 
water, modern Arctic exploration into the higher regions of the Frigid 
zone is prosecuted independently of either, and the ice, which arrests 
the progress of the ship, forms the highway for the sledge. 
In early Arctic voyaging, the ship alone was relied upon for pene- 
trating into unknown seas. 
In the second and third voyages of Parry, and the second voyage 
of Sir John Ross, between 1821 and 1834, sledging was commenced, 
and a number of short journeys were made, mainly by the assistance 
of the Esquimaux, whose methods were closely observed and more or 
less imitated. 
But our seamen had not yet familiarised themselves with the idea 
that it was quite possible for well-equipped Europeans not only to 
exist, but to travel in an Arctic climate, as well as the Esquimaux 
themselves; and it was not until the Franklin Searching Expeditions 
were sent out, between 1848-54, and thus a motive far stronger than 
that of geographical discovery was supplied, that men seriously 
reflected upon the possibility of any extensive exploration on foot. 
And no more powerful incentive could have been imagined to rouse 
the utmost energies of the searchers, than the protracted absence of 
the missing Expedition. 
The endurance of the hardiest was called forth, and the talent of 
invention evoked and stimulated, until at length a system of sledging 
was elaborated, such as I will now proceed to describe. 
