CH. XXXI] 
Spitsbergen 
287 
which divides them. They found a vast accumulation of 
drift-wood on the southern shore of the strait. 
English yachts have also frequented the Spitsbergen 
seas, since Mr Lamont set the example in 1858. In 1864 the 
yachting voyage of Mr Birkbeck was of interest, because 
he was accompanied by the distinguished ornithologist 
Professor Newton of Cambridge. One of the greatest of 
Arctic yachtsmen as a scientific explorer was Mr Benjamin 
Leigh Smith, who in 1871 explored the north coast of 
Spitsbergen, the Seven Islands, and North-east Land, 
and attained the high latitude of 8i° 24' N. in 18 0 E. 
He also made voyages to Spitsbergen in 1872 and 1873. 
In the latter year he was in the Diana yacht with several 
friends, while Captain Walker took the Sampson to Cobbe 
Bay, to fall back upon in case of accidents. He also took 
several deep sea soundings, and did most useful work in 
relieving the Swedish expedition. Leigh Smith's enthu- 
siasm lay deep, and he was not without inventive talent. 
The result of his practice as a navigator was the invention 
of an instrument to facilitate the computation of time at 
sea from the usual sights taken for that purpose, and also to 
act as a check on errors when the time has been computed 
in the usual manner 1 . Such a man was likely to leave 
his mark. He did so. By his observations he corrected 
the longitudes, and considerably extended the north coast 
of North-east Land to the eastward. 
The Swedish expedition of 1872, under Professor Nor- 
denskiold, was composed of the steamer Polhem, the brig 
Gladan, and the steamer Onkel Adam. The Polhem was 
commanded by Lieut. Palander. He, with other officers 
and professors, were to remain through the winter at 
Mossel Bay in a dwelling-house of six rooms, taken out in 
pieces. Sledges and 40 reindeer were shipped at Tromso, 
with 3000 sacks of reindeer moss. Unluckily the animals 
all escaped soon after they were landed, and the two other 
vessels, detained by the ice, were obliged to winter with 
the Polhem. Six fishing vessels were also frozen in. In 
1 The instrument consists of four arcs graduated so as to read to 
30 with the verniers. Two of these arcs, representing the altitude and 
latitude, are moveable. The two others, which represent the declination 
and hour circle, are fixed. In using it the verniers of the proper arcs 
are set to the declination, the altitude, and the latitude respectively. 
The readings on the hour circle will then show the hour angle. 
