H. G. SIMMONS. [sec. arct. exp. pram 



During the next expedition to Smitti Sound, that of Kane in 1853— 

 55, the western ("American") side was first visited, not, however, the 

 southern part, Ellesmereland proper, but the region to the north-west 

 of Kane Basin, which was now named Grinnell Land. It was Dr. 

 Hayes, who made that short trip along the shore, and on his return 

 journey, he followed the coast southwards so as to come very near to 

 the Bache Peninsula and look into Buchanan Strait of Inglefield, which 

 he took to be a sound running westwards and separating Ellesmere- and 

 Grinnell Lands. This sound, which in fact did not exist, was named 

 in honour of Hayes. Li his own expedition in 1860-61, Hayes again 

 visited the Grinnell Land coast and also Cape Isabella and Gale Point 

 to the south. 



The Polaris expedition of 1871—1873, has made important addi- 

 tions to a knowledge of the northern part of the Grinnell Land east 

 coast, but still more important are those of the English expedition of 

 1875 — 76 under the command of Nares, which visited many points from 

 Gape Sabine northwards to Floeberg Beach on the north coast, Ihe 

 winter quarters of the "Alert" and further to Gape Alfred Ernest. This 

 also was the first expedition which brought home a considerable material 

 of botanical collections and observations, especially from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Lady Franklin Bay, whei'e the "Discovery" wintered. Here 

 also, the United States' expedition, under the command of Greely worked 

 in 1881 — 83, and made very considerable additions to the knowledge of 

 the geography and natural conditions of northern Grinnell Land. Peary, 

 who wintered at Gape Hawks 1898—99, has made some corrections in 

 the map of the adjacent regions and has also gone overland to the west 

 coast. Finally the Hayes Sound region and the south and west coasts have 

 been examined by the Sverdrup expedition in 1898 — 1900. 



The different parts of the land have been differently named by 

 their explorers, the northernmost portion is called Grant Land, the (at 

 the time not visited) part between Greely Fjord and Gape Alfred Ernest 

 is called Garfield Goast by Greely; south of that fjord, and down to 

 the hypothetical Hayes Sound, we have Arthur Land; Schley Land is 

 an equally hypothetical island in that sound; the south-eastern coast is 

 called North Lincoln; and lastly, the western coast is called King Oscar 

 Land by Sverdrup. However it is shown, by the sledging work of 

 Peary (1898—99) and of the Sverdrup expedition, that the whole forms 

 one great island, for which I now, following the Geographical Board of 

 Ganada (cf. Geogr. Journ. 1904, p. 230), deem it best to adopt the oldest 

 name, Ellesmereland. 



