1880. | _ Geography and T ravels. 459 
the interior of Greenland, mentioned in the NaTuratist for April, 
states, that in the course of his explorations in the ice fields of 
the interior, he ascended a hill, the top of which was covered 
with flowers, and vegetation ; several kinds of small animals being 
also found there. 
We learn from the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society, 
for February, 1880, that a Norwegian Captain Kjelsen, attained a 
very high latitude on the Spitzbergen meridian last year, sail- 
ing, about the 12th of September, sixty nautical miles northward 
from the Seven islands. No ice could be seen, nor any ice blink 
on the northern horizon. The latitude is not given, but could not 
have been far short of that reached by the Swedes in 1868, 81° 
42’ N., and may possibly have exceeded it, 
While the Arctic sea was thus unusually open to the north of 
Novaya Zemlya and Spitzbergen, the Sea of Kara was full of ice 
throughout the season, and only one vessel finally succeded in 
penetrating it, and made the voyage out and back from Bremen 
to Yeniseisk. 
The Russian government established, in 1878, Karmahul har- 
bor [72° 30’ N. lat.] in Möller bay, Novaya Zemlya, a station 
on November 13, the harbor and small bays were frozen over. 
Moller bay, however, did not freeze during the whole winter, 
except among the islands. The first thaw happened in the mid- 
le of May, and by June 14 the small islands were covered with 
verdure, but the harbor was not clear of ice until July 16. The 
mean temperatures were November, 49° .64 (F.) February, 0° .04, 
March, 10° , During the five winter months, the mean tem- 
perature was 10° .o4. The wind varied considerably, sometimes 
rising to violent storms from E. S. E. A small quantity of snow fell, 
ut was blown into deep drifts. Three of the Samoyedes died from 
Scurvy, having refused to take exercise, or follow Lieut. Tiaguine’s 
recommendations. The rest returned well to Archangel in 
August, 18 9. Lieut. Tiaguine considers wintering in Novaya 
Zemlya quite practicable, but a supply of provisions is absolutely 
necessary, as it seems impossible to obtain by hunting, anything 
like a sufficient quantity of animal food during the winter. a 
_ A New edition of the “Narrative of the North Polar Expedi- _ 
tion, ”—the voyage of the /v/aris, under Capt. Hall, has been 
authorized by Congress, provided the number of subscribers shall _ 
reach 500. Orders may be sent to Mr. A. F. Childs, Government 
