134 General Notes. [ February, 
ume of warm water into the ocean in the month of August, 
which would, from the effect of the rotation of the earth exercised 
on streams running north or south in high latitudes, be driven to 
the eastward, and open a channel along the coast 
Heretofore no vessel has succeeded in doubling Cape Chelyus- 
kin. Between the years 1735 and 1740, the expeditions sent out 
by the Russian government surveyed portions of the coast, and 
their vessels reached the mouths of the Pyasina on the west, and 
of the Khatanga on the east side of Cape Chelyuskin; but it was 
not until 1742 that Mate Chelyuskin discovered the northernmost 
point of Asia when on a sledge journey. From the Lena to 
Behring’s straits more is known of the coast, but the expeditions 
were made in small sailing vessels, and passed over, in most cases, 
but small pertions of the coast line. In 1728 Behring visited the 
straits now called after him; in 1770 the New Siberian islands 
were discovered; and in 1778 Captain Cook reached the 18oth 
degree of longitude. Our best accounts of this region are de- 
rived from the explorations of the Russian Admirals Wrangell 
and Anjou, in 1820, 21, 22, and ’23. Kellett Land and Herald 
island were discovered by the British in 1849, and in 1855 the 
United States expedition under Captain, now Admiral, Rodgers, 
reached the 176th degree of longitude. In 1867 Captain Jong, 
in an American whaling vessel, got as far as 170° E. 
At present, says the Geographical Magazine, August, 1878, we 
have no knowledge of the vegetable and animal life (consisting of 
of what animal types are of glacial and what of Atlantic origin, 
is of the greatest importance, not only for zoology and for a 
knowledge « of the geographical distribution of animals, but also as 
regards the geology of Scandinavia. Our knowledge of the ani- 
mal and vegetable types which lived at the same time with the 
mammoth is exceedingly incomplete.* 
Influenced by all these considerations, the Swedish government 
and the King and M. Sibeirakoff together contributed £8,000, to 
which Mr. Dickson added £12,000, to fit out the present expedi- 
tion. The Vega, a very strong steamer of 300 tons, was pur- 
chased, and supplied with from two to three years’ provisions, 
coal sufficient to steam 8,000 nautical miles, and a steam launch. 
The names of the officers of the Vega are: Prof. Nordenskiold; 
Captain Pallander, commander (who has had much experience in 
Arctic voyages); Doctors Kjellmann, Stuxberg, and Almgvist, 
Scientific staff; Lieut. Hovgaard, Danish Navy; Lieut. Brusevitz, 
Swedish Navy; Lieut. Bove, Italian Navy; and Lieut. Nordgvist, 
a Finnish officer and geologist. The crew consists of eighteen 
seamen and three hunters. 
The Vega departed from Tromso July 21, J 878, and arrived at 
> Ba ʻe also Petermann’s Ait. heilungen, 1878, Part 2, p. G 
AW 
