16 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
islands in case, as is probable, I have no opportunity of meeting 
there some vessel sent out from Yeniseisk, by which accounts 
of the expedition may be sent home. 
Actual observations regarding the hydrography of the coast 
between the mouth of the Yenisej and Cape Chelyuskin are 
for the present nearly wholly wanting, seeing that, as I have 
already stated, no large vessel has ever sailed from this neigh¬ 
bourhood. Even about the boat voyages of the Russians along 
the coast we know exceedingly little, and from their unsuccessful 
attempts to force a passage here we may by no means draw any 
unfavourable conclusion as to the navigability of the sea during 
certain seasons of the year. If, with a knowledge of the resources 
for the equipment of naval expeditions which Siberia now 
possesses, we seek to form an idea of the equipment of the 
Russian expeditions^ sent out with extraordinary perseverance 
during the years 1734-1743 by different routes to the north 
coast of Siberia, the correctness of this assertion ought to be 
easily perceived. There is good reason to expect that a well- 
equipped steamer will be able to penetrate far beyond the point 
where they were compelled to return with their small but 
numerously manned craft, too fragile to encounter ice, and un¬ 
suitable for the open sea, being generally held together with 
willows. 
There are, besides these, only three sea voyages, or perhaps 
more correctly coast journeys, known in this part of the Kara 
Sea, all under the leadership of the mates Minin and Sterlegoff. 
The first attempt was made in 1738 in a “double sloop,” 70 feet 
long, 17 broad, and deep, built at Tobolsk and transported 
thence to the Yenisej by Lieutenant Owzyn. With this vessel 
Minin penetrated off the Yenisej to 72° 53' N. L. Hence a jolly 
boat was sent farther towards the north, but it too was com¬ 
pelled, by want of provisions, to return before the point named 
by me. Port Dickson, was reached. The following year a new 
attempt was made, without a greater distance being traversed 
than the summer before. Finally in the year 1740 the Russians 
succeeded in reaching, with the double sloop already mentioned, 
75° 15' N. L., after having survived great dangers from a heavy 
^ A carefully written account of these voyages will be found in Reisa 
des Kaiserlich-russischen Flotten-Lieutenants Ferdinand von Wrangel Idngs 
der Nordkiiste von Siberien und auf deni Eismeere^ 1820-1824, bearbeitet 
von G. Engelhardt, Berlin, 1839 ; and G. P. Muller, Voyages et Decouvertes 
faites par les Russes Je long des Cotes de la Mer Glaciale, &c. Amsterdam : 
1766. 
