The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-04-13

face, with a uniform friction, from the
outer circumference or rim of which, near
the great ice barrier, proceed those
streams of zodiacal light, which by re-
Election upon the snow, are often render
ed visible high above the ethereal envel-
ope, and for thousands of miles toward
the south. The magnifcence and beau
ty of this display from the inner zone is
utterly beyond the power of any language
to describe. As the rotation of the globe
about its axis is uniform, while its at
mosphere is free to move, it does not
keep pace with the solid body of the
planet, but in effect, falls behind, and
thus a SPIRAL or twirling motion is COM
municated to the body of the upper air,
which thus seems to move in opposition
to the diurnal motion. The effect of
this continued pressure and counter mo-
ton is very visible upon the surface, for
1t has planned down the solid rocks, and
gives them marvellous smootkness and
polish. It was to this circumstance we
had SO much difficulty in reaching the
true pole, for there was very poor hold
ing ground for our feet, and we were
forced to move with the atmosphere, thus
making our route spiral one. as we were
actually impelled no less than three times
about the centre, at great loss Of time
and labor, before we could gain the neu-
trail point of atmospheric rest.
The organic life of this region is en-
tirely peculiar. and indicates a special
centre Of creation to meet conditions
totally unlike other portions Of the earths
surface. Of these organisms we shall
take accurate note, for they are truly
wonderful.
There is one spe ;ulation, however, thai
L have thought proper to record in the
haste of preparing this imperfect record
Astronomy points to immense epochs Of
time in the past, and geology confirms
them. The planetary system is moving
forward in an orbit requiring millions o.
years to make single circuit, and as ii
approaches or recedes from the constella
tons that margin the mighty round. ii
is easily conceivable that the polar re.
gions may have received the increasing
warmth of celestial clusters for long ages
ere the earth passed by; and then, NOV
ing on into outer space, would again
haye glided into the regions Of intense
cold, and that this has again been re-
peated-corresponding with great geolo-
gical epochs.
This is sufficient of itself to account fo1
the existence Of coal strata, and fossiliz-
ed tropical animal remains in the regions
at present utterly frozen and inhospita-
BILE. It would also dispense with all the
theories of the polar region shifting
toward the equator, the changed attitude
OF the land, Or supposed internal heat
escaping into the atmosphere, sufficient
to warm vast frozen region during i'm
mense periods of time. Rely upon it.,
these results were the real work of suns
lighting other system, whose warmth the
earth has borrowed as she. passed by
their orbits.
But truce to speculations. You may
rest assured Of our safety. Food, even
here, is plenty, and the return route
plain. 1t will require from four to six
months to reach Upernavik, with the
best Of luck. We shall leave here about
the 9th. L shall entrust this report to
our new mail bag with hearty God
speed. IT.