INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 29 
was made in the, autumn of 1870, under the guidance 
of Count von Zeil and Herr von Heuglin.' They /went 
to Stans Foreland, and navigated Stor Fiord, as far 
as Heelis Sound. Ill August they went through 
Thyrnen’s Strait, and ascended Mount Middendorf, 
1500 feet high, from whence they saw a large tract 
of land stretching away east, with a lofty range of 
mountains running north and south, and visible for 
about sixty miles. In 1871, Lieutenants Payer and 
Weyprecht attempted to follow up these discoveries 
by proceeding through Stor Fiord. The way was 
blocked, and so .they tried to get to the east of the 
Spitzbergeli Islands. Hope Island was found to be 
free from ice on August 19. On August 28 they 
reached 77° 17' N., and further east the ice became 
lighter. On August 30 they were beyond 78° N. and 
41° E. in a sea free from ice. In the night ice was 
struck drifting to the north. On September 1 they 
were in 78° 48' North and about 42° E. Their further 
progress was stopped not by ice, but by fogs and con¬ 
trary winds. Contiguous land was indicated by drift¬ 
wood, fresh mud, fresh-water ice, and eider ducks. 
The whole sea between this and Nova Zembla was 
free from ice. After this, heavy south-west gales 
drove the ship to 78° 5' N. and 56° E. The homeward 
journey was made against a, series of south-west storms,. 
