ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 287 



due probably to strong tidal action, that she was almost in the same 

 position on the last-named date that she occupied in April, notwith- 

 standing the fact that during those six months she was never stationary, 

 always drifting with a greater or less rapidity in one direction or 

 another, sometimes even at the rate of 4 knots an hour. During the 

 entire drift of over 400 miles the Jeannette was in a comparatively shal- 

 low sea, of a uniform depth of between 30 aud 40 fathoms, but occa- 

 sionally a depth of 70 and even 85 fathoms was recorded, the bottom 

 consisting generally of soft mud. Although Captain De Long ascribed 

 the drift of the ice in which his ship was beset to the prevailing wind, 

 which was from the southeast, I am inclined to think that it was also 

 materially influenced by the water of the Lena River emptying itself 

 in that neighborhood into the Arctic Ocean. The greatest pressure of 

 the ice was invariably experienced at the change of moon, and it was 

 considered that this pressure was in a great measure due to the action 

 of tides. Although the ice was apparently of the same massive char- 

 acter as the so-called palaeocrystic sea to the north of Smith Sound, yet 

 one of the greatest inconveniences from which the expedition suffered 

 was caused by the impurity of the ice, which was so salt as to be cpiite 

 undrinkable, and they were consequently compelled to obtain their 

 fresh water by distillation. One of the results of drinking the water 

 made from this ice was that it produced excessive diarrhea in those 

 who drank it. Dredgings were occasionally obtained during their 

 drift, but the results were comparatively valueless. 



The most important geographical work accomplished by this expedi- 

 tion was the discovery of Henrietta, Jeannette, and Bennett islands, 

 which, I think, may be regarded as part and parcel of the New Siberian 

 group. Round the shore of the last-named island a strong tide, esti- 

 mated at 3 knots an hour, was observed, and the rise and fall of the 

 tide was found to be 2£ feet. Traces of reindeer were seen on the island 

 to the eastward by Captain De Long and his party, and bituminous 

 coal, which burnt readily, was found and actually used by them, on 

 Bennett Island. Glaciers, presumably discharging ones, were also seen 

 on the island. 



One of the ships dispatched by the United States Government (the 

 Bodgers, under the command of Lieutenant Berry) to search for the 

 missing Jeannette made a very complete exploration of Wrangel Island, 

 which must be regarded as a great geographical achievement. This 

 island had long been wrapped in obscurity, if not mystery. Wrangel 

 himself endeavored, but without success, to reach it with dog sledges 

 in 1822 and 1823. Captain Kellett, in the Herald, sighted it in 1849, but 

 no one (with the exception of the captain of the Corwin, who succeeded 

 in landing on it a fortnight earlier) had ever reached it or fixed its 

 position, except approximately. Thanks to the efforts of Lieutenant 

 Berry, it is now well known, and its position accurately determined. 

 From Wrangel Island Berry pushed to the north, but was eventually 



