PROFESSOR NORDENSKIOLD. 
303 
family of nature that dwells here in its vast expanse 
of water—its whales and walrus, amphibious bears 
and seals, the host of winged sea-fowl, and stately 
deer. 
We found Professor Nordenskiold a very pleasant 
man advanced in life, and his selected party full of 
xeal in the honourable undertaking they had entered 
upon : they seemed inspired with the enthusiasm of 
their leader, wdio certainly manifested all the aplomb 
of a man confident of success. They were waiting 
here for a supply of coal to be brought to them by a 
steamer not yet arrived. Every day at this season is 
precious time lost; the sun has already set in the 
heavens, and the long night of the Arctic seas gradu¬ 
ally approaches. They are a long way from the point 
they have selected for their winter quarters, and the 
road is being rendered more difficult as the season 
advances. Their intention is to sail along the western 
coast we have lately visited, and then to fight their 
way to the Seven Islands along the unusually frozen sea 
which bounds the coast to the north. Arrived at their 
halting place they have much work to do before they can 
hope to be settled fairly down in their winter quarters. 
They bring with them all the requisite materials for 
the construction of a home, and to expedite this labo¬ 
rious undertaking they have had the wooden houses 
