INTRODUCTION. 
33 
Asia, our vessel, equipped with ail modern appliances, ought 
not to find insuperable difficulties in doubling this point, and 
if that be accomplished, we will probably have pretty open 
water towards Behring’s Straits, which ought to be reached 
before the end of September. 
If time, and the state of the ice permit, it-would be desirable 
that the expedition during this voyage should make some ex¬ 
cursions towards the north, in order to ascertain whether land 
is not to be found between Cape Chelyuskin and the New 
Siberian group of islands, and between it and WrangeFs Land. 
From Behring’s Straits the course will be shaped, with sudi 
stoppages as circumstances give rise to, for some Asiatic port, 
from which accounts may be sent home, and then onwards round 
Asia to Suez. Should the expedition be prevented from 
forcing a passage east of Cape Chelyuskin, it will depend on 
circumstances which it is difficult to foresee, whether it will 
immediately return to Europe, in which case the vessel with its 
equipment and crew may be immediately available for some 
other purpose, or whether it ought not to winter in some suit¬ 
able harbour in the bays at the mouths of the Tajmur, 
Pjasina, or Yenisej. Again, in case obstacles from ice occur east 
of Cape Chelyuskin, a harbour ought to be sought for at 
some convenient place on the north coast of Siberia, from 
which, during the following summer, opportunities would be 
found for important surveys in the Polar Sea, and during the 
course of the summer some favourable opening will also cer¬ 
tainly occur, when southerly winds have driven the ice from 
the coast, for reaching Behring’s Straits. Probably also, if 
it he necessary to winter, there will be opportunities of sending 
home letters from the winter station. 
D 
