, 1860-09-21

SEARCHING FOR GoLD IN THE ARCTIC Re
GIoN!-The schooner OrtoLan has returned
to this port She was fitted up some time
last spring, and on the 26th of June went
with few passengers to Behring's Straits,
to search for gold-an old whaling captain
having declared that it was to be found on
EIst Cape in large quantities. In four
weeks from the time they left San Francis.
co, says the Cal, they made the Fox or
Illusion Islands, and went through the On
omac Straits by q narrow passage between
the Islands. From these Straits they pro-
ceeded to the Behring'S Sea, passed the
Diomedes, group Of three or four islands
on the Asiatic side, and the Flayaway, high
rock on the American side, aud went up
into the Arctic Ocean to point called
Cape Swaka, where the fog was so thick
that they were compelled to drop anchor.
On leaving this place, they encountered an
immense island of ice, and were compelled
to come to anchor again to avoid running
into it. The fog was so thick here that
as second-mate Koher, our informant, ex-
presses tit could have been cut with
knife. Soundings here showed only eigh-
teen fathoms of water; not very deep for
sea. When the ice passed, the captain
stood for the Asatic coast, passing the
s;looners Oliria and Agate, both Of this
port, which had been trading among the
Russian settlements. The OTtoLah made
the coast at the place they started for-the
East Cape. The distance at this point,
from continent to continent, is only forty
miles. 1t is here that many suppose the
first rude settlers Of America crossed from
Asia After coming to anchor in perfect
y hnd-locked cove, into which river of
fresh water came booming down from the
snow mountains, the expeditionsts went
ashore aud commenced to prospect The
neck Of land which forms the East Cape is
not extensive, and can be thoroughly exam
ined in half day. The party descended
into the gulches, and delved to the bedrock
(which was easily enough reached) without
finding particle Of the precious metal for
which they had come in search. At about
one foot from the surface they struck large
quantities Of mica, which very much re-
Sembled gold, but when lifted was found to
be as light as isiDglass The mica was
found to exist in large deposits Of big
chunks, and is probably what caused the
false report in regard TO gold.
The expeditionists examined every corner
Of the Cape during four days, and finally
gave up the search The rock here is
species Of granite, very soft and black
The country presents the most indubitable
evidences Of terrible volcanic convulsions.
AT one point rocky prOmontory ascends
several thousand feet in almost straight
line from the water. The Cape itself has
evidently at one time been an island, but it
is now connected with the main land by q
canseway Of immense boulders, which have
been thrown up from the ocean. Tuese
rocks ore used as bridge TO reach the
main land, and at some places the traveller
has 10 jump some eight feet from one to the
other. There are several small towns in
the vicinity. They are-to as-unnamed,
and even have no nodesignation on the charts.
One Of these is about two miles from the
Cape, aud is composed Of about thirty
houses. The inhabitants are Russian In
dams, who live altogether on whale blub-
Der, walrus fat and wild fowl The latter
they exhibit much dexterity in catching
They string small pieces Of ivory together,
and when flock of ducks pass they hurl
one Of these weapons with such precision
as to wind it around the neck Of the bird.
The weight of the ivory beads brings the
fowl to the ground, and it is then captured
and killed. The expeditionSts experienced
bat very little night during their absence,
the days in the Arctic regions during this
season Of the year being some twenty hours
long. They only remained at the Cape
iOur days, and then started out on their re.
turn. No trading was to be done with the
natives, the Agate and Otiria having fur
hlshed oil the supplies required, and receiV
Cd 10 exchange all the whalebone and Other
articles of trade which the natives had &c
cumQlatpd = EtpuiOg HTrror