The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-14
From a late English paper.
RYPEDITION TO SIRERIA

No portion of the globe, scarcely excepting
even the interior of Africa, is less known to the
civilized world than the northern coast of Asia.
This region being entirely in the possession of
Russia, it was by that power alone that discove-
ries could properly be prosecuted and, till oflate
years, its rulers have not been in a condition to
appreciate the full value of such explorations,
ether to themselves or to mankind at large.
The matters brought to light, therefore, by
Admiral Wrangel's expedition of Is20-1823,
the account of which is now, for the first time,
laid before the world, have all the charms OF
perfect novelty; and of this, as we'll as of their
generally interesting character, a few extracts
will suffice TO satisfy the reader
The northeastern district of Siberia, visited
by Admiral Wrangell and his companions, lies
between the river Lena on the west, and Beh-
rings Straits on the east, and extends from
about the I26th to the l30th degree of east
longitude, and from the ed to the 73d degree
of north latitude. The expedition was land
one, its main object being to settle certain
doubts which prevailed as to the existence of a
great arctic continent, north of the Siberian
seas. An extensive tract OF the Siberian coast
was traversed by the party in the course OF
their enterprise, in order to enable them to cross
the ice northwards, at various points, in sledg-
es: and the result of these journeys was the
discovery OF "wide Unreasonable ocean" at
all points which they tried. This obstacle, OF
course, compelled them to pause, and renounce
the object Immediately in view. But in their
various routes on the land, they saw enough
to render their expedition Of profound interest,
both to themselves and to others. The little
that was formerly known on the subject OF
Northern Siberia, must have often led rejecting
minds to wonder in what manner life could be
sustained in regions so cold and dreary. "Here
(says Admiral Wrangell) there is nothing to
invite. Endless SHOWS and ice-covered rocks
bound the horizon. Nature lies shrouded in
almost perpetual winter. No one attempts the
cultivation of any vegetable, nor could success
be expected" This must be understood as
referring TO the vegetables capable of sustain
ing man, and which, indeed, do yield his chief
sustenance in almost all parts of the world.
Happily, however, there are in Siberia grasses
and wild fruits, in sufficient abundance to
maintain great variety of the lower animals;
and il is here that nature has given compensa-
ton to man for the poverty Of useful vegeta-
ton. ssCountless herds of rein deer, elks, black
bears, foxes, sables, and gray squirrels fill the
upland forests; stone foxes and wolves roam
over the low grounds. Enormous flights OF
swans, geese, and ducks arrive in spring, and
seek deserts where they may moult and build
their nests in safety. Eagles, owls, and gulls
pursue their prey along the sea-coast; ptarmi-
gan run in troops along the bushes; little snipes
are busy along the brooks and in the moIasses;
the social crows seek the neighbolhood of mems
habitations; and, when the sun shines in spring,
one may even sometimes hear the cheerful
note of the finch, and, in autumn, that of the
thrush" There is also an abundance of fish
in the waters; and it is by means of these va
rieties of animal life that comparatively large
population are fed and clothed, and enabled to
endure the cold and herbless dreariness of a
Siberian cline.
AS in the case of the Laplaaders, the re in
deer furnishes to the nomade tribes of Siberia
the means, of supplying all their most pressing
wants. The two most important epochs OF
the year, are the spring and autumn lnigrations
ofthe reindeer. About the end of May they leave
the forests. where they had found some degree
of shelter from the winter cold, in large
herds, and seek the northern plains nearer the