290 ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 



day of sledging. The weather experienced was, on the whole, mild, 

 the lowest temperature recorded being — 5° F., although at an altitude 

 of 8,000 feet. The information supplied by Peary relative to his obser- 

 vations in this part of Greenland is extremely interesting. He found, 

 beyond the glaciers and fiords that intersect the west coast of Green- 

 land, large glacial basins extending into the interior to a distance of 

 from 30 to 50 miles. These basins are separated from each other by 

 ranges of hills varying in height from 5,000 to 6,000 feet, and at least 

 2,000 feet above the basin plateau. Peary states that the north end of 

 the great inland ice cap terminates in about 82° north latitude. He 

 followed its edge some GO miles along this parallel, and observed it 

 extending in an easterly and westerly direction for a considerable dis- 

 tance. He has established the fact that musk oxen inhabit those dreary 

 regions, and he found excellent pasturage in the sheltered valleys, 

 where some 20 of these animals were observed browsing. From Inde- 

 pendence Bay to the position reached by Lockwood in Greeley's expe- 

 dition is comparatively a short distance. At Peary's most northerly 

 position, at a height of 3,800 feet, he observed laud at an estimated dis- 

 tance of about 00 miles in a northeast direction. This land showed no 

 sign of being capped by ice, and is possibly a portion of an archipelago 

 of unknown extent. It is a noteworthy fact that, in addition to the 

 well-known fauna found in high latitudes, two humblebees and several 

 butterflies were seen. 



Interesting ethnological observations were made at the winter quar- 

 ters, and much valuable information relative to glacial geology in that 

 particular locality obtained. Altogether Lieutenant Peary is to be 

 congratulated on the successful result of his exertions. 



Although Lieutenant Peary was engaged last year in continuing his 

 researches in North Greenland, he has not, from various unavoidable 

 causes, added much to his previously acquired geographical knowledge 

 of that region ; but a journey was made by Mr. Astrup, one of the 

 members of his expedition, round Melville Bay, resulting in some 

 highly interesting observations relative to the glaciology of that part 

 of Greenland, and a more accurate mapping of the coast line in that 

 vicinity. Lieutenant Peary, with praiseworthy persistency, is still 

 engaged in his valuable work of exploration, and I have no doubt in 

 a short time we shall have more interesting and valuable results to 

 chronicle. 



While treating of Greenland, we must not omit that large archipelago 

 of islands situated to the west of that great continent, and north of 

 Lancaster and Barrow strait. Here we have a most interesting region, 

 new to the explorer, and which may be regarded as virgin territory. 

 Its edge has been lightly touched by Perry, McOlure, and McOlintock 

 to the west; by Franklin, Sherard Osborn, and Belcher to the south; by 

 Greeley and Aldrich to the north, and by Kane, Hayes, Hall, and Nares 

 to the cast. It is impossible to conceive anything more interesting or 



