NOVA ZEMBLA AND LANDS BEYOND. 75 
the north point has traditionally acquired an evil reputa- 
tion amongst the walrus hunters, as being a sort of 
bewitched headland, to round which means to say farewell 
to the world; for it was believed that vessels were 
mysteriously drifted thence into the Arctic Ocean, beset 
by ice, and never heard of again. That there is some 
foundation for this tradition, is proved by the fate of the 
Austrian Polar expedition of Weyprecht and Payer in the 
steamer Tegethoff, which was beset near this Cape in 
1872, and never got free again, being drifted about the 
Arctic Ocean for two years, during which the expedition 
involuntarily discovered Franz-Josef land, and only at last 
got free by abandoning their ship, aud undertaking a most 
perilous and laborious journey over the ice with their 
boats, which lasted three months, when they had the good 
fortune to reach the shores of Nova Zembla, and to encoun- 
ter a Russian schooner which was just leaving for home. 
‘Lying between the parallels of 77° 35’ N. and 70° 40’ 
N., the two main islands, with a curved outline, cover a 
space,’ says our author, ‘of about 450 English miles, while 
their average breadth may be taken as 60 miles. The two 
islands are divided by a strait called the Matotchkin Sharr, 
which also well marks a central position in the physical 
configuration of the country; for it is in this locality that 
the highest mountains and wildest scenery are to be found, 
the land thence sinking to lower levels both to the north- 
ward and southward. Matotchkin Sharr may likewise be 
said to be a central position as to the distribution of the 
various objects of sport; for it is on the slopes of the snow 
and glacier clad mountains of this part of the country that 
reindeer are most plentiful, whilst wildfowl of all kinds 
prefer the south island. Bears, walrusses, and seals, on the 
other hand, may be looked for with greater confidence on 
the shores of the north island, and more particularly on 
the eastern and northern parts of it.’ 
Mention is made of Barents, and of the Austrian 
expedition under Payer. 
