290 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [parti 
were named Zichy and Wilczek after the two chief 
supporters of the expedition, separated by a channel 
which was named Austria Sound. It was afterwards 
found to consist of an archipelago of smaller and more 
numerous islands than Payer supposed. His furthest 
point was Cape Fligely, but the land he thought he saw 
further north, and called Petermann Land, has since been 
found not to exist. 
As the ship remained immoveable in the summer of 
1874, it was found necessary to abandon her and retreat 
in the boats. After a long journey over the ice, they 
launched the three boats on the open sea, were picked 
up by a Russian schooner, and arrived safely at Tromso 
on the 3rd September. Lieut. Payer was an accom- 
plished artist, as well as a sledge traveller ; and in after 
years he painted several fine pictures illustrating some 
of the last and most pathetic scenes connected with the 
Franklin expedition. 
The next addition to our knowledge of Franz Josef 
Land was supplied by that enterprising and persevering 
yachtsman Leigh Smith. He had a vessel built, suitable 
for ice navigation, which he named the Eira. She was 
a steamer of 360 tons and 50 h.-p., 150 ft. long by 
25 ft. beam, manned by 25 men all told. Leigh Smith's 
companions were Lofley the master, the surgeon Dr Neale, 
and Mr W. G. A. Grant. The great problem which 
Leigh Smith had to determine was whether there was 
a practicable route across the ice-laden Barentsz Sea, 
between Spitsbergen and Novaya Zemlya, to Franz Josef 
Land. Leigh Smith forced his way through the pack 
and sighted land on the 14th August, 1880 — a new part 
of Franz Josef Land to the westward. 
There were many large icebergs, but they were quite 
unlike those of Davis Strait, being flat masses like the 
Antarctic bergs. Leigh Smith and Grant landed at several 
places, making collections of the flora and of rock speci- 
mens. The extent of the new coast line discovered and 
explored was no miles, and of that seen 150 miles. 
There was great abundance of walrus and seals. This was 
one of the most important summer cruises ever made in 
the Arctic regions. 
The second cruise of the Eira in 1881 was disastrous. 
