346 North Polar Exploration. 



system of travellings know well that such an idea would never 

 enter his head. He would probably supply each sledge with 

 a very light India-rubber boat, and narrow lanes of water would 

 never stop him. If he arrived on the shores of a great navi- 

 gable ocean in an Arctic winter, then, of course, his progress 

 would be arrested. But, at the same time, a marvellous dis- 

 covery will have been made, and his researches will be turned 

 in other directions, leading to results of equal value and inte- 

 rest. The northern side of the Greenland continent will be 

 carefully examined, as well as all the land to the westward. 

 We may rely upon it that immense results will be insured by 

 the exertions of scientific explorers wintering for two seasons 

 in Smith Sound, that every branch of science will be enriched 

 by their labours, and that, even if success is denied them in 

 their endeavours to reach the Pole, their achievements in other 

 directions will repay the expenses of the expedition a thousand- 

 fold. 



The advantages of the two routes will not bear compa- 

 rison. The Spitzbergen route offers, in the event of success, 

 a chance of reaching the Pole, and the opportunity of exploring 

 the supposed Polar basin ; but everything must be done very 

 hastily, and therefore inefficiently, during the brief navigable 

 season. In the probable event of failure the vessels will have 

 accomplished nothing. They will have been a month or two 

 struggling in the pack, and will at last be drifted out again, 

 either whole or in pieces. 



The Smith Sound route, on the other hand, offers the 

 discovery of the North Pole, of the northern side of Green- 

 land, of the land to the westward, and all the numerous 

 results in every branch of science, which are expected from a 

 North Polar expedition. Moreover, the explorations will be 

 made by sledges, and therefore carefully and thoroughly. In 

 the event of failure in securing the main object, all the other 

 results will be attained; so that, under any circumstances, 

 good and useful work will be done. 



By the Spitzbergen route there is the bare chance of 

 doing little, by the Smith Sound route there is the certainty 

 of doing much. 



Three objections have been raised to another Arctic expe- 

 dition : first, that it will be no use ; secondly, that it will be 

 dangerous; and thirdly, that it will be expensive. After 

 what has been said of the great and beneficial results, both 

 direct and collateral, which may be expected from North 

 Polar exploration, it is unnecessary to dwell upon the first 

 objection. There are many people who, with the Times, are 

 altogether incapable of comprehending that there can be any- 

 thing worth doing, which does not promise good interest oa 



