The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-01-13
The Recent Expeditions 10 the
North Pole, and contemplated
French Expedition.


many unsuccessful Gtempts IN that dlrec-
ton. How can 0e expect to pierce
through barrier Office, $50 miles in ex-
tent, and where tmpestuous winds are
continually ragingl The same objection
may be urged agaipt the direction chosen
by the German ENedition, which tried to
reach the Pole beween Spitzbergen and
Nova Zembla, when Willoughby, Barentz,
Hudson, Wood, aut Lutke have met with
signal failure.
The preference givei by Mr. Lambert to
the way Of Behring's straits, has been re-
Gently justified in the most decisive man
ner, In the month of 1ugust, 1867. Capt
Long, of the whaleship NlIe, entered the
Polar Sea, and was able, without meeting
any serious obstacle, L approach within
10 miles Of the point where Wrangel had
seen sheet of free watg, in the month
of March, 1923. On hisreturn he discov-
cred, at about 20 mills north of Cape
Yakan. an extensive lnd. covered with
veriure, where could be sen walruses and
seals sporting together. The aspect of
the land seemed to indicate that it was in-
habited, which would b, in accordance
with the traditions preserved by the ma
tives of the Siberian coast.
1.-The route would recommend as the
best" says Capt. Long, in letter pub
lished in the Honolulu Ctnlna rciI Ad.
Q rtiSe'', of January 18th, 1868, would
be to follow the Asiatic shore from Behr-
ing's Straits as far as Cape Kekurnai, or
Cape ScheIagskoi The ice which melts
earlier near the shore, and the melting of
the snow upon the land, forming innumer-
able streams of water, impels the ce from
the shore, leaving an open lane If water,
through which ship can pass without
difficulty, especially when assisted by
steam in calms and adverse winds. After
passing Cape Jakan, thene being no land
to the north, the ice is driven from the
shore by these streams, and scattered in
fragments in the open sea seen by Wran-
gel, with sufficient openings for the safe
navigation of a ship. From some point
between Cape Kekurnai and Cape Sche-
lagskoi, the course would be from north to
northwest, as the ice would permit, until
north of the Laachow Islands, when the
effects Of the current from the rivers of
Northern Asia would be ssnsibly felt.
From thence course directly towards the
Pole, or Spitzbergen, as night appear
most feasible, should be pursued.
After getting to the north of the Laa-
chow Islands. should vesselbe obstrueted
by ice, the current, though not so strong
as that found north of Spitzbergen and in
Baffn's Bay, would eventually carry the
vessel through one of these channels into
the Atlantic. In the event Of any disas-
ter to the vessel, the chances for the pre-
servation Of the lives of those on board
are much greater than by the route east
from Behring's Straits, as from the River
Kolyma to the westward, Russian settle
ments are found near the mouths of all the
rivers, where assistance can be procured p
A letter by Capt. Long, addressed from
Honolulu to the President of The French
Geographical Society, under date of June
9th, 1868, is confirmation of the preeed-
ing details, and contains very precise indi-
cations about the state of the sea north of
Siberia.
last season." says he, "his been very
favorable to Polar explorations, the sea,
near the shore, from Behring'S Straits
eastward, being free from ice. When we
were 40 miles north of Cape Schelagskoi,
no sign of ice could be seen to tie north
ward and westward. The weather was
clear and beautiful, but the absence OF
whales making my cruise Improbable,
returned, and came within ten miles OF
the point where Wrangel had seen an
open sea in the month Of March. North
of that point there were some pieces Of
floating ice, scattered here and there.
through which believe ship would have
been able to 90 far without meeting any
obstacle. With q weIl-equipped ship,
would not have hesitated to try the pass
age through the Polar Sea to Spitzbergen,
bat with my ship not fitted to bear the
pressure of ice, and provisions for only
four months, it would have been more than
imprudent."
Capt. Long insists upon the welLascer-
tanned fact that the north and northwest
winds blow before them, towards Cape
North, heavy fogs, which seem to indicate
higher temperature and the existence ol
an open sea to the northgard.
This is the latest state of the question
according to the last accounts, and briei
exposition of all the facts connected with
the mysterious regions surrounding the
North Pole. They seem to justify the
hope that before long bold and fortunate
ship will trace her wake in that unknown
sea, discover lands that are, perhaps, in
habited, the existence of which has hith-