The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-01-31

sn,,.n fos The rioss.r Esd Dsmsers'


sUHsERf.
The late explorations and discoveries In the
Arctic regions by DIR. KANE. whose genius and
intrepidiiy reject honor upon tbs whole nation
inves. the subject Of these Dotes with increasing
interest, and create popular desire for insor-
nation In regard to that remote and inhospits-
bic portion Of the globe.
DIR. KAsE,s forthcoming work--which will
appear in Few months---while II will crafty
and stimulate the public curiosity, will also
make large and valuable addition 10 Our stock
of Arctic knowledge, and doubtless lead to new
discoveries, new views, and TO results in com
mcrce and civilization hitherto unknown.
Situated as VIC are in the far north Of the
Republic, II is natural that our people should
fsi peculiar interest In everything relating TO
the Arctic world especially, it, history, physi
cal geography. and inhabitants.
In this, our cold season. we may perhaps in
the absence Of anything better, be able 10 furnish
q series Of articles about the novthsra country
that may afford agreeable reading and instruc.
ton to some, and perhaps induce Others to make
greater research for Arctic knowledge.
With this object, will he given an account
briefly presented;
LIST. OF Arctic discovery from the earliest
historic information, to the present time.
I'd. OF the inhabitants. settlements. and com
mcrce
3D. The natural history and physical geog
rapby, anil
4th. Remarks on the probable future reia.
ton Of the Arctic regions, with the civilized
world.
Christian Era, the ancieuts knew very littlt
about the Arctic worlh-their geography did
not extend that Ear. Their imagination. II Il
true, conceived hyperborean region, pcopled
with monsters, giants and maBeatey; vague no
tons, derived probably. from the ruins Of LOST
.knaytige. ha. they hal no definite isfasus.;es
Of that portion Of the globe,
IIgmoDorrs. who was born 48l years before
the Christian Err, says. that in his time il was
not determined whether the East or North o.
Europe was bounded by an ocean or not hui
from that date the bei,.| in m hyperborcan Sea
began to prevail and EaArosrrHsEs, who lived
1914 years before tho Christian Era. believed the
Caspian Sea TO be gulf Of the hyperboreau
Sea. srRABo entertained the same opinion
although HEaopoTus hadpreviously related tina,
the Caspian Sea had no connection with any
other ocean, which, like many Other truths stated
by this great historian, was not then credited,
The earliest positive information we derive from
the ancients in relation to tho existence Of the
Arctic Sea, il to be found in the writings OF
PIisY the elder, lie remarks that the coast
Of Asia is beaten upon by the main ocean in
three parts; TO wit on the North side, and
there il ia called Scythicus on the Fast, and
there il is called Eous and on the South. and
there they name Il Indlcus." PLrSYs descrip-
ton Of the Northern coast, It's topography and
inhabitants, corresponds with Siberia, and shows
that he bad accurate information: yet at this
timc the reported hypcrborean Sea was regarded
by other writers ~ fabulous. ProLExy. in
his geography, which long continued the highest
authority, rejected il altogether, The North
msn, the Sea Kings Of old, were the first to
make Europe acquainted with the Arctic Sea-
The earliest account we have Of Arctic discov.
cry, appeared abou, the year $50.
A Norwegian Chief, residing in the northern
part Of Norway, who was rich In sheep, oxen
and reindeer, undertook voyage to discover
the regions which lay to the north Of the high
latitude in which his domain was situated
lie discovered and sailed round the NORTH
Carr, the Erthest point Of Europe, thence two
days east and five days to the south from the
description Of his voyage he is supposed to
have penetrated into the interior Of the White
Sea. The name Of this pioneer in Arctic dis
covery, was OHrHERE or OcurKR. who commu.
nicatci an account Of his voyage to King Al
rnrD the Great, by whom il was written in the
Saxon language, and thereby preserved and per.
pctuate,l
Ia SCI. NADop. or as be Is called by some
writer's. NApocrs. Norwegian. while on
pirAtical expedition was driven north by ad.
verse winds, and accidentally discovered Ice
land. II is probable that other Norwegian
mariners. an account Of whose voyages has
not descended to our times, may have had n
more intimate acquaintance with the Arctic
regions than is now supposed, Although they
had not the compass to guide them in their
pcrilous voyages, they boldly dashed ont into
mid ocean, and were the most intrepid naviga-
tors known, before the invention OF that instru
mcet, so essential to the modern navigator
They employed an ingenious artiicc which
answered the purpose Of the modern compass
and enabled them to 20 far out to sra, while
other mariners timidly Rugged the shore. They
kept on board their vessels . supply Of hawks
and ravens, and when wishing to know the
direction Of land. one Of these birds was let
loose, which, led by It's Instinct, made for the
nearest shore. BY this contrivance. and their
accurate knowledge Of the stars the Norwe.
gian mariners were able to make distant voy.
ages, a. Tar even ~ this Continent.
The use Of the raven by northern mariners
to lind the dlrcction Of land. must have been
very ancient. Noah ~nt forth from his ark
nven IN srsrch OF dry land. bat We have no,
met with any similar fact stated in relation to
the Greek. Roman. of Ph9nician mariners, al.
though 10" latter mus, have Possessed this. or
similar information, for they were the greatest