The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-05
RECENT BOOKS OF TRAVEL.


From the PAN Mall Gazette, Mayal
writer who has strong Of the responsibility
that attends the task OF introducing volumes 70
the notice or the public likely to feel some pcrpcxy
in reviewing works such these narratives, the
ofArcic enterprise the other Of wanderngs round the
world Not that there can DO hesitation saying
what Is true But truth has many aspects. while both
time space restricted within narrow limits ion
the public writer Ho thus driven to select
pect out Of many; and in so DOING IS in some danger
OF doing injustice either to the author to the
reader. Regarded In tho primary light Of books
of travel, thcro is no. much TO be said as to
either o. the works before US They contain
little nothing which DO SGT down as original
discovery Neither is there any attempt at thas
which IL important original discovery, namely,
scientific ordination OF what is already known Thus,
any effort anayze or abstract either OF these vol
umcs present the reader with precis Of their
contents would DO unsatisfactory. Such abstract
would give an idea OF the books than tho lew
drops that result IRON the condemnation Of tho
aqueous vapor OF which II consisted would give Of the
rolling masses and sunlit gores OF a moving cloud
But 1t does not follow that works of the kind have not
a purpose, a public and a utility OF their own They
are Is true, hight rcadfng but they are light
reading good KIND They tend to interest the mind
III wonders and tho beauties OF nature. They not
only, Tar they are read exclude trashy and mis-
chcvous works that ann only at amusement but they
the reader the lines OF inquiry they
have suggested. He taught 10 view nature with
intelligent eyes, and 10 seek Tor further inorma
ton those regions OF the earth Of which he has
been presented with series Of doralnc pictures
,ns crew OF the paneor TINS ves
scla bark oil s3s tons Scgstcrdrawng twelve eet or
water, and nted with engines Of 10 horse
Was lifted out last year, and sailed Tor the
Arctic regions month later than the expedition
under the command Captain Mares. rhe object Of
NOrbnWoSt
Passage; pass around the north coast ~ America,
and come out through Behring STRAIT into Pacific
Occan-a task which the little vessel appears 10 have
been within a few hours OF accomplishing TO take
tho vessel from southampton 70 San Francisco IN
single by way OF Behring STRAIT was tho prt-
mary Of the expedition failing this, II was thor
hope reach KING Williams Island, and there 10 md
some relics OF Sir John FranKlin; and even II this
should not DO attained, there remained the hope OF
procuring some OF the Alert and the Discovery.
and learning whether they got safe through the dam
gers OF the dreaded Melville Bay But Mr. MacGahan
tells US in his prciacc that there arc so many and
! such excellent narratives OF Arctic voyages-thG
detailed accounts OF Parry, Ross FRANKLIN Bnck Col
lnson, Mcclure, McCllntock, Osborne, Kane, Hall und
VOYAGES gvcn by Mr. Clements Markham his Thresh.
old OF the Unknown Region that all that he has him
self attempted to give lew pictures Of tho pleasant
side OF Arctic lifo Bright pleasant pictures no has
accordingly gwen; and the moro SIMPLY his story 10
told the Better. The somewhat histrionic commence
ment Is followed by moro natural and therefore moro
readable chronicle Tic mode which the bleak and
savage solemnty OF the Arctic landscape opprosses the
senses and nils tho nation dangers OF fog AID
ice pack. the pcrpIcxy produced by the phenomenon
OF the magnetic needle pointing with It's north pole
toward the Equator II liked as 10 move only horizon
tally and standing within hall degree Of tho perpcE
diclar IL allowed dp-al these lessons OF Arctic
will be read with interest and with pleasure in
'Undcr the Northern Lights"
The account vi the scdgc journeys OF Captain Alien
Young, who was navigating officer Of the Fox under
Captain McClintock. now Mr. Mactahan says for the
first time given the word. In the autumn OF 1859
the Fox into winter quarters the east side OF
Bcllots straits and three parties were organized 10
search In different directions for traces vi Sir John
Franklin and his command English readers are fatn
with the incidents o Two Of these Journeys that OF
Captain McCinlock ana that Of Lieutenant Hobson.
The duty OF tho third party commanded by Captain
Allen Young, 10 cross Peel strait 10 Prince y:
Wales Land, and 20 northward, II possible, 10 Vic
tora Land lar AZ Coinson's winter quarters In
proceed the northwest and connect his discoveries
with those OF Captain Shcrard Osborn. Accom-
panied only by the ships cook two Esqulmaux aud
a lew dogs. Young reached Fury Beach, alter severe
struggle with the northwest gales. The stores which
expected ind at this spot were SO deeply buried
the that u only BIZ the appearance Of tue
top OF the flagstaff pccring through tho drift (Which
fred at by OF the Esqunaux under the idea that
IL unimal) that he WAS guided where 10 seek
for the needed supplies On the return Captain Dung
became snowbIind and lett for days alone ia
his sleeping bag in the In the course of this
memorable Journey Young walked 500 miles, under
extreme hardshps discovered tho broad channel
since named McClnocks Channel, proved tho Prince
OF Wales Land 10 DO island and explored ana iaio
down 400 miles OF new coast line.
s"Undcr tho Northern Lights" by j. A. MacGahsn. Il
lustratsd. tf.onion sampson Low Co. 1879