Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-10-20

Kane we have two facts, which i'll Arctic geo.
graphy are of scarcely less importance than
the discovery of the northwest passage. These
are the existence of an open polar sea beyond
Bafin's Bay, and the strong probability that
Greenland is an island or, what is more prob.
able, though not the result Of DIR. kane's ex-
ploratons, that it consists OF several large ISL
ands the passages between which are filed
with everlasting ice, as the explorers Of the
Greenland coasts have discovered many chan
nels or openings making far up IN the land, to
which no limit could be seen, and which have
always been frozen. Another argument in
favor of this belief is, that in most of the ear
ly maps the great peninsula Of Greenland is
intersected by channels which lead from Raf-
fins Bay to the Atlantic. But that discov-
cred by Dir. Kane is broad opening, with the
Greenland coast on the south, its shore tend
ing eastward, for what distance is not stated,
until interrupted by huge glacier which
mustforever interrupt a communication across,
unless attempted SO tar to the north as to get
around this formidable ilnpedinent.
Next to the interest in question of a continu-
Gus passage across the northern side of the
American continent, that of the geographical
features ofthe regions contiguous to The North
Pole has attracted more attention. Some
have ayerred that the land of which Greenland
forms part, and that around Bafiin's Bay,
extended to the polar centre, or that large ISL
ands occupied the space, cemented by ice
which never left their shores. Others, and
we may add those most interested in Arctic
geography have entertained the belief that
there is an open sea around the pole, and that
the temperature is higher than in the latitude
of the magnetic pole, which is placed near the
10th parallel of latitude. Many facts made
known by the explorers of Lancaster Sound,
particularly of strong current setting down
Wellington Channel, of the migration of birds
and animals towards the pole, even in the high
est ATTITUDES, OF the numbers of catacea which
seemed to come from the sea, and OF the drift
wood, all led to the inference of large open
sea in the region named. This is now ascer-
tanned by DR.. Kane; and although we have
not seen his chart, and possess no details of
his interesting voyage except those that have
appeared in the newspapers, we are inclined
to adopt his view. We remember some years
since, in discussing this question with the
Rev. DIR. Scoresby, the distinguished Arctic
navigator, that he was strong in the belief of
this open sea from his own discoveries; for
the Doctor (when Captain) had explored the
seas on the eastern coast of Greenland further
north than any other navigator. He passed the
great belt of floating ice which during the
summer drifts southwark and found an open
sea beyond as far as the eye could reach. Capt
Parry endeavored, in vain, to pass this floating
ice with boats in his attempt to reach the North
Pole, but weknow of no navigator but Scores
by who ever succeeded.
Another interesting discovery of DR. Kane's
is the finding of human beings in these high
northern lands, and we believe the degree of
cold he has experienced quite surpasses that of
which we have any record. The Doctor has
shown himself one of the most skillful nayiga-
tors, as well as one of the most sagacious and
enterprisng men who have ever explored the
Arctic seas. His name will 20 down to pos
terty with those daring explorers, Parry.
Franklin, Ross, and Mcclure, who have
brayed these inhospitable regions and contrib
uted most to our knowledge of Arctic geo
graphy.