INTRODUCTION. 
19 
intersected by the rivers running into it, is the Gulf of Mexico.^ 
The river currents from this bay appear to contribute greatly 
to the Gulf Stream. 
The v^inds which, during the autumn months, often blow in 
these regions from the north-east, perhaps also, in some degree, 
contribute to keep a broad channel, along the coast in question, 
nearly ice-free. 
The knowledge we possess regarding the navigable water 
to the east of Cape Chelyuskin towards the Lena, is mainly 
founded on the observations of the expeditions which were sent 
out by the Kussian Government, before the middle of last 
century, to survey the northern part of Asia. In order to form 
a correct judgment of the results obtained, we must, while 
fully recognising the great courage, the extraordinary per¬ 
severance, and the power of bearing sufferings and overcoming 
difficulties of all kinds, which have always distinguished the 
Russian Polar explorers, always keep in mind that the voyages 
were carried out with small sailing-vessels of a build, which, 
according to modern requirements, is quite unsuitable for vessels 
intended for the open sea, and altogether too weak to stand 
collision with ice. They wanted, besides, not only the powerful 
auxiliary of our time, steam, but also a proper sail rig, fitted 
for actual manoeuvring, and were for the most part manned 
with crews from the banks of the Siberian rivers, who never 
before had seen the water of the ocean, experienced a high 
sea, or tried sailing among sea ice. When the requisite 
attention is given to these circumstances, it appears to me 
that the voyages referred to below show positively that even 
here we ought to be able during autumn to reckon upon a 
navigable sea. 
The expeditions along the coast, east of Cape Chelyuskin, 
started from the town Yakoutsk, on the bank of the Lena, in 
62° N. L., upwards of 900 miles from the mouth of the river. 
Here also were built the vessels which were used for these 
voyages. 
The first started in 1785, under the command of Marine- 
Lieutenant Prontschischev. After having sailed down the river, 
and passed, on the 14th August, the eastern mouth-arm of the 
Lena, he sailed round the large delta of the river. On the 7th 
September he had not got farther than to the mouth of the 
1 Compare von Middendorff, Reise im Norden u. Osten Siheriens (1848), 
part i., page 59, and a paper by von Baer, Ueher das Klima des Tajmur- 
landes, 
c 2 
