Winterings in the Arctic Regions during the last fifty years. 355 



which were constantly read differed at a temperature of —68° F. 

 from the mean of all readings by no less than 12° ; the difference 

 increased from —20° F. downwards, at which temperature it 

 varied between — 1 0, 2 and +1°*2 for the different thermometers. 



The mean temperatures, compared with those obtained in 

 other parts of the arctic regions, furnish interesting data for the 

 comparison of the climates, and show that the climate of Green- 

 land, from being an insular climate in the south, approximates 

 towards the north to the coast climate of the arctic archipelago 

 in the west of Baffin's Bay, the character of which is not far 

 from that of a continental climate. We shall have to speak more 

 in detail upon this point hereafter. Magnetic observations were 

 made in great numbers by Sonntag; and during the winter of 

 1854-55 six magnetic terms of 24 hours each were kept, the 

 results of which are to be found in the appendix to the Report, 

 which also contains a long list, with descriptions, of the plants 

 and animals collected by Kane upon the two expeditions. 



We have already mentioned Kane's voyages as very instructive 

 in every respect ; and they are especially instructive negatively, 

 inasmuch as they show the dangers to which arctic voyages are 

 exposed when the greatest care is not employed in their equip- 

 ment. If instead of the salted meat he had had some 1000 pounds 

 more pemmican, he would certainly not have had to undergo 

 such terrible want and suffering. He regarded the salt meat 

 as so useless and so injurious to those who were ill of scurvy, that 

 in sending out a company to bring in the provisions stored in a 

 depot, he gave the strictest orders that all salted meat should 

 be left behind, and this at a time when the expedition was in 

 danger of dying with hunger. 



It was a modest desire to spare as much as possible the means 

 of the high-spirited men who fitted out the expedition, and a 

 certain expectation that he would be able to return after the first 

 winter, that induced Kane not to provide himself with stores 

 of better quality and for a longer time, although he had under- 

 gone similar experiences on his first voyage. Far be it from us 

 to wish to reproach him with this ; his courage and perseverance, 

 and his remarkable management and scientific activity, in which 

 he far surpassed all previous arctic voyagers, place him in the 

 first rank of travellers, and the smallness of the loss of human 

 life which this expedition had to regret is to be ascribed solely 

 to his medical skill and persevering care. The hardships of this 

 second expedition threw the brave man, soon after his return, 

 upon a sick bed, from which he was never again to rise. 



His reports upon the two journeys are full of hints upon 

 the arrangements for wintering and for scientific observations, 

 which will be of the greatest service to future travellers. In 



