journey they traveled across a large peninsula southeast of the fiord. Baumann was in command of the returning party. After they left us they experienced very stormy and cold weather, and several were frostbitten in the face and on the hands on their arrival at Björneborg. From there they had accompanied Schei to the north point of North Kent, after which they went on board. In May Baumann with his party made some investigations to find a passage overland, whereby the sound might be avoided. We knew, of course, that it would be impossible to pass on our return. He deposited information at the agreed place north of the sound. On my return to the Fram I learned that the vessel was nearly destroyed by fire on one of the last days of May. The awning had been ignited by a spark from the funnel and was soon enveloped in flames. The kayaks stored under it, as well as other inflammable things, burned violently. The main rigging and the mast caught fire. Fortunately, it occurred in the middle of the day, while there were plenty of people on the deck. Along the side of the vessel we had water enough for extinguishing the fire, and we succeeded in subduing it.

"The summer work began with scrapings, at first through cracks in the ice, afterward at various places. Gradually the ice broke up. Aug. 9 we steamed out from our winter quarters, steering westward along Jones Sound. On the 16th we got fast in the ice north of Grinnell Island. A heavy northerly breeze kept the ice tightly together. We remained here till Sept. 16, when the southerly gales dispersed the ice. We then proceeded down through Cardigan strait and took up our winter quarters in the fiord next to the sound, latitude 76° 48′ north, and longitude 89° west of Greenwich. We shot this autumn 28 musk-oxen, and, as last autumn, a number of hares. The passage we now used to the coast northward went across a neck of land about 600 feet high. The place where we got down to the sea we called Nordstrand. After the autumn hunting was completed Olsen and I were to proceed up to the large fiords north. Olsen, on the way, fell and got his arm out of joint at the shoulder. As the wind was too strong for a traveling tent to be pitched, we had to go back to Nordstrand. I placed Olsen in a tent, but my attempts to set the arm right were in vain. The storm lasted three days. Two of my best dogs were choked by the snow, and one I lost on the hunting expedition last autumn. The fourth day we went on board and put Olsen's arm right. In the winter we were much visited by wolves, and we had enjoyable wolf hunts in the silent hours of the night. We captured a few alive. On March 12, 1901, two parties went out, each consisting of four men, to lay down depots. The mean temperature was minus 45° C.; some days it was even below minus 50°. April 8 all parties set out, Isaachsen and Hassel westward, Fosheim, Raanäs, Schei, and I northward, Baumann and Henriksen accompanying us a little distance north of the depot. Thereupon we proceeded farther northward, but found ourselves at the bottom of this system of fiords. When we could find no reasonable land passages we turned back and entered a fiord immediately north of this system. On April 26 we reached the bottom of this fiord. Here we found a fairly good passage northward, where we got down to the sea on April 29. This was that system of fiords which had been traversed by two parties last year. On May 1 we saw from latitude 79° north, in very clear weather, that there was still some sea ice VOL. XLII.-18 A

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outside the sound. We continued northward. On May 4 I despatched Fosheim and Raanäs across to follow the eastern land, whereas Schei and I continued along the western. At latitude 80° 30′ the land turned westward; on the west side of the sound we followed the latter, but found ourselves very soon in rough polar ice. As the weather now became very stormy and foggy, we had to turn, sacrificing the rest of the season, to the piece traversed and southward, from where not a few fiords are running into the land. On May 17 we were roused at night by an awful howling of the dogs. When we came on deck we found 12 wolves, which were on the point of carrying away one dog of my pack. When we fired at them-and some of the wolves were killed-the rest ran away rapidly. The dogs were quite helpless, as they had muzzles on. June 18 we arrived at the Fram. Isaachsen and Haslund found, in about latitude 78° north, a sound separating North Cornwall from the track of land to the north. We traveled through this sound, following the south coast of the land, north of North Cornwall westward and then northward. Then we continued along the land in a northwesterly direction, latitude 79° 30' north, and longitude 106° west, when the land turned eastward and southward. On the west coast no land could be seen westward, and on the northern coast nothing to the north either, only rough polar ice. These tracts of land are rather low, the highest not reaching over 1,000 feet. Bears were shot on the south coast; reindeer could be seen, and appeared to be plentiful. Isaachsen then went southward and eastward. These islands were explored all round, after which Isaachsen traveled down on Graham Islands, and across to Ellesmere Land; he came on board on June 7.

"Baumann and Stoltz left the Fram on April 24 to investigate more closely the system of fiords, into which I first entered this spring. It was proved on this trip that the neighborhood of these fiords is probably the part of Ellesmere Land most abounding in game. Musk-oxen, reindeer, and wolves are very plentiful. Fosheim and Raanäs had explored a fiord about 70 miles long, which runs in from Greely fiord in a southeasterly direction.

"The whole of this summer appeared very unfavorable for getting out of the ice. We tried blasting, etc., but to no purpose. Then we tried to force a passage along the land at every highwater, as the ice there would always be somewhat slack. In this way we succeeded in advancing 9 miles southward, but after touching the ground several times we did not get out. We now had to procure food for the dogs during the winter. Two hunting parties in Jones Sound got about 20 walruses, which proved sufficient. Bay remained on guard at the meat until the ice became thick enough for it to be conveyed on board. On a very dark night in October he was surprised by a bear. He tried to get out, but his sweater caught something in the door, so he could not move. However, he fired his rifle. At dawn he crept out and found the bear lying dead not far away. After the walrus hunting, two parties were despatched northward to procure fresh meat for the winter. They shot about 18 musk-oxen, which were transported on board; then the walruses were brought on board, and the excursions were at an end-Nov. 4, 1901.

"Isaachsen and Bay explored the north coast of North Devon from April 23 to May 22, whereupon Isaachsen and Simmons made a twentyfour days' sledge excursion in order to fetch

fossils from a fiord in the north, where they had formerly discovered considerable beds of coal. We arrived at Godhavn, Greenland, on Aug. 18. We left there on Aug. 22, passed Cape Farewell on Aug. 28."

Lieut. Robert E. Peary returned from his four years' sojourn in arctic regions on the relief steamer Windward, reaching Sydney, Cape Breton island, Sept. 18. He did not reach the pole; his highest point was 84° 17'. The party of the Duke of the Abruzzi reached 86° 33′ in 1900. Lieut. Peary announced that important scientific discoveries had been made by the expedition. The following passages are from his report of the operations from August, 1901:

"Left Erik harbor, on the Ellesmere coast, Aug. 29. The party reached Payer harbor Sept. 16, crossing Roose Bay partly by sledge and partly by boat, then walking across Bedford Pim Sound. About a week later my Eskimos began to fall sick, not one escaping. By Nov. 19 6 adults and one child were dead, nearly all the others very weak, but out of danger.

"Early in January Eskimos came across from Anvilik, bringing news of the ravages of a fatal epidemic through the tribe. Word was sent back by the scouts for as many of the survivors as could to come to me, and by the end of the month they began arriving. In February a large depot of dog food was established near Cape Louis Napoleon, 60 miles north of Sabine. Ôn March 3 my advance party of 6 sledges, in charge of Hensen, left for Conger. March 3 started with the main party of 18 sledges. Conger was reached in 12 marches, arriving within an hour or two of the advance party. My supporting party of Eskimos, returning from Conger, brought down the instruments, chronometers, and arctic library. Eight marches more took us to Cape Hecla.

"The north end of Robeson channel was all open across to the Greenland coast. Lakes of water, extending northward, could be seen from Black Cape and Cape Ransome. From Heçla another supporting party returned. April 1 started northward over the polar sea with Hensen, 4 Eskimos, and 6 sledges. Old floes, covered with snow and intersected with rubble ridges and lanes of young ice, were encountered from the moment we left the ice foot.

After 6 marches, open leads, floes in motion were encountered. Two natives were sent back. As we advanced, the floes became smaller, the pressure ridges on a grander scale, and the open leads more frequent. Each day's march was more perilous, and our general course deflected west by the character of the ice. Finally, at 84.17° north latitude, northwest of Hecla, the polar pack became impracticable, and further efforts to advance were given up New leads and pressure ridges with foggy weather made our return in some respects more trying than the advance. Hecla was regained April 29, and Conger May 3. Cape Sabine was reached on the 15th. A few days later went north as far as Cape Louis Napoleon to complete the survey of Bobbit Bay, returning June 1.

"The ice broke up earlier than in 1901, and Payer harbor was blockaded almost continuously. The Windward bored her way through the ice and entered the harbor the morning of Aug. 5, and got out again the same afternoon with scarcely fifteen minutes to spare before the harbor was closed by the ice. Forcing our way across Smith Sound, my Eskimos, with their belongings, were landed in Inglefield Gulf. Several days were devoted to hunting walrus, then

the Windward started south, reaching and leaving Cape York the afternoon of Aug. 28.

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Equipment and personnel were satisfactory, and farther advance was vetoed by insuperable natural conditions. The Windward has board the instruments, chronometers, and arctic library abandoned by the Greely expedition, and numerous specimens of natural history, musk-ox, reindeer, and walrus skins. The skeleton of a two-horned narwhal-a rare arctic specimenliving specimens of musk-ox, walrus, arctic hare, and Eskimo dog are also on board.”

Lieut. Peary said he had made a close study of the most northerly people in the world, the Eskimos living on Whale Sound. They are a small tribe, completely isolated, not exceeding 200, and are being rapidly destroyed by an unknown disease, apparently a malignant slow fever. Lieut. Peary taught them to work, employed them, and paid them with weapons and utensils, by which their ability to procure food is materially increased. He believes that the pole can be reached on sledges by any expedition adequately equipped which makes its winter quarters at latitude 83°. It is no more difficult to travel between latitudes 70° and 80° than between 60° and 70°, and he believes not more difficult between 80° and 90° than between 70° and 80°. He thinks there is no open ocean in the extreme north, nor is there a constantly frozen sea, though the waters are practically covered always with ice. The shore of Greenland he believes the most northerly land on the earth. The expedition sent out in 1901 by William Ziegler under command of Evelyn B. Baldwin, returning, arrived at Honningsvaag, Norway, Aug. 1. A supply ship, the Frithjof, had left Tromsoe July 1 to carry coal and bring back news of the expedition. The result of the undertaking is regarded as a failure, in that the explorers did not reach the pole, which achievement was declared to be the specific purpose of the expedition-"to plant the American flag at the north pole"-for which it was more fully equipped than any previous expedition has been. In explanation Mr. Baldwin said: “In the course of nearly a year and a half's incessant work we have accomplished more than the unfavorable conditions which surrounded us really warranted, and have, in addition, brought back data which ought materially to assist subsequent explorers. For the first time in the history of north polar exploration a photographic reeord has been secured of the ice and snow conditions of the arctic and of the animal life of those regions so complete as to be practically exhaustive. In this respect the kinematograph has played a most important part-the first time it has ever been successfully employed in the far north-and we now have over 1,000 perfect photographic representations of our work. In addition, we have over 200 drawings and paintings."

The character of the ice in the Franz-Josef Land archipelago, all the channels of which were blocked in the autumn of 1901, prevented the America from going far enough north to allow of establishing headquarters favorable for sledge work in the winter and spring, so that winter quarters had to be made at Camp Ziegler, the station founded on the explorer's first arrival in 80° 23′ north, instead of at the higher point they had hoped to reach. In addition to this disadvantage, more than half the dogs died of disease. Mr. Baldwin said further:

"Briefly, my scheme was to establish ourselves as strongly as possible upon the northernmost land of the archipelago before attempting

any dash to the pole. After spending our first winter in this depot, I intended, before the return of the sun, to throw out advance parties northward from Rudolf Land to about the eightythird parallel, so as to begin the real polar dash from that point. In evidence of our sincerity in carrying out the primary object of the expedition, we have now the satisfaction of pointing to the establishment of our depots, from which it will now be possible to despatch parties from Rudolf Land without its being necessary to endanger a ship at a higher latitude than Camp Ziegler. Altogether, we have formed four large stations, for the transport of which an ordinary aretic vessel would be required. In the establishment of these depots we were obliged to travel over the same ground at least ten times. This severe work naturally led to the wearing out of our sledges, many of which, in the intense cold, became exceedingly brittle and went to pieces like glass, especially when traversing the heavy screw ice. I despatched 15 balloons with 300 messages, and in June I obtained the first moving pictures of arctic life. I also discovered Nansen's hut, recovering original documents and securing paintings of the hut. Marine collections for the National Museum, including new charts, etc., were obtained. In the field-work, 30 men, 13 ponies, 60 sledges, and 170 dogs were employed from Jan. 21 to May 21. To each of the balloons was attached a string of buoys, which by means of automatic contrivances were released as they touched ice, land, or water. As northeasterly winds prevailed, it is likely that these balloons were driven upon the great field of ice which this year blocks the entire eastern coast of Spitzbergen; when they are released by the movement of the ice they will, it is expected, furnish data concerning air and sea currents."

A story was sent from Winnipeg in the summer regarding the fate of the explorer Andrée and his companions. It lacks Verification, but seems to have some evidence in its favor. As Andrée set out in 1897, there must be an error about the time at least, since, according to the story, he would not have come down till three years later that is, in 1900. Following is the despatch:

Rev. Dr. Ferlies arrived from York, Northwest British Territory, brings authentic information of the fate of explorer Andrée and his companions. Two years ago, 1,700 miles north of York, a party of Eskimos, under the leadership of Old Huskie,' saw the Andrée balloon alight on a plane of snow in that vicinity, which is about 30 miles north of Fort Churchill. Three men emerged from the balloon, and some of Huskie's people approached them out of curiosity. As they did so, one of Andrée's companions fired a gun. This is a signal to uncivilized natives for battle. It was regarded as a challenge, and almost instantly the natives fell upon the three explorers and massacred them. Every thing pertaining to their outfit was carried to the homes of the natives on the border of the arctic region. 'Old Huskie himself gave this information to Ralph Alstine, agent for the Hudson Bay Company, and the story, after being investigated by Dr. Ferlies, was told by him. He says that there is little room for doubt, as frequent reports have since come of the strange implements which the north natives have in their possession, the telescope being particularly described."

Antarctic Regions.-The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition sailed from the Clyde, Nov. 3, with William S. Bruce as leader. The Norwegian

whaler Hekla was bought, renamed the Scotia, and reconstructed for the expedition. The Scotia is a bark-rigged auxiliary screw steamer, of about 400 tons register, measuring 140 feet in length, 29 feet in breadth, and having a depth of 15 feet. The ship is being especially fitted out to carry on oceanographical research. Two great drums, each containing 6,000 fathoms of cable for trawling and trapping in what is supposed to be the deepest part of the Antarctic Ocean, were taken, for Mr. Bruce intends to follow the track of Weddell, who sailed from Leith in 1823 and attained a latitude of 74° 15′ south. Eastward of this track Ross obtained a sounding of 4,000 fathoms and no bottom.

A steam-yacht, the Morning, has been sent out by the Royal Geographical Society to the Discovery, which carried the National Antarctic Expedition (British) to antarctic waters in 1901. Besides carrying supplies and acting as tender to the Discovery, the Morning will supplement its work, being well supplied for taking observations.

In a letter from the steamship Antarctica in February, Dr. Otto Nordenskjöld, leader of the Swedish antarctic expedition, says:

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"Our expedition had its last contact with civilization at Staaten island, a few miles north of Cape Horn, where the Argentine Government has erected a magnetic observatory to cooperate with the antarctic expeditions in 1902. Jan. 6 we left the island. On the morning of the 11th all on board could know that we were in a new world. The air was cold and the water at the freezing-point, but the land itself was hidden by fog. Suddenly at noon the fog lifted and unveiled to our view in its unsurpassed, grandeur the first of the antarctic lands to be seen. was King George island, in the chain of South Shetlands. The island is very mountainous, and some of its peaks attain a height of 2,000 or 3,000 feet. Between these peaks are broad valleys, and anywhere else in the world this island would show all the contrasts of a varying nature. But up to the highest summits everything is covered with snow and ice. The valleys are filled by immense glaciers, connecting over the ridges with their neighbors, climbing the summits, and far more luxuriant than the vegetation of tropical forests. To the east or to the west there seems nowhere to be an outcrop of bare rock, and only at a few places at the edge of the sea are there bold promontories of steep cliffs. But all along the coast are rocky islets, often low but always of the boldest shape, and, in contrast with the main island, those islands are almost always completely free from snow. whole scenery presents a type of a glaciated country such as our own was at a remote period, a good deal different from Greenland. Even in the farthest north there does not exist a land so overwhelmed by the snow as this island. Only at the extreme west of the island was there a strip of lowland. We did not stop there, but proceeded to another island, Nelson island, where the name on the chart, Harmony cove, seemed to intimate that we would find a favorable landingplace. And it was, in fact, a nice little place, far more inviting than one could ever expect after the first view of the land. The bare space was not very large and the snow was creeping down on all sides. But on all spots possible grew a not too poor vegetation of mosses, lichens, and algæ of many different species. On the knolls of moss there was a rich life of small insects, and even a little beetle, the first ever found in the antarctic, rewarded the work of the entomologist.

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