The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-06

ance, have no similarity. The latter are but
little known to Arctic explorers, and have only
been met with in any quantity by Sir Rob-
FRr MCCLURE between Behring Straits and
Banks Land. TO small extent by the Aus
TRAN expedition, by Sir EDWARD PARRY, and
now in an exceptional degree by Capt MARES.
The marks of extreme antiquity that iloc-
bcrgs bear, and the fact that they are rarely
met with csew here, conclusvely prove their
constant presence in the polar basin. The
huge masscs'in which they are piled rem
der slcdgc travelling on this pack differ
emit therefore, from that in any other part
of the Arctic regions. "a passage"
says Captain MARES, chad always to
be cut through tho squcczcd-up Ice with
pickaxcs, an extra one being carried for the
purpose, and an incline picked out Of the per-
pcndicular side of the high foes, or roadway
built up, before the slcdgcs, generally one at
time, could be brought ON. Instead of adj
vancing with n steady walk, more than
half of each day was expended by the whole
party facing the slcdge and pulling it for
ward few feet at "a time" Thus to obtain
direct distance Of 70 miles, n total distance
OF 27G miles had to be travcrscd. During
the ~ days that this slcdgc party was out
no animal life of any kind was seen.
Captain MARES, who, In 1853, made the
longest slcdgc journey then on record, and
is probably the most experienced Arctic
navigator alive, thus sums up his conclu-
sions:
Their severe labors and exortons, which
certainly can never he surpassed, coupled with
the experience gained 10y Sir f.. PARRY in the
summer of 1871 prove that n heightened Journey
u
Vided with naviguhle boat il, in consequence oi
the rough nature OF the road over which the
party has to travel impracticable at any season
of the year. On considering the result OF the
spring sicdging operations concluded mat,
owing to the absence Of land trcnding To the
nouhward, and the polar pack not being navi-
gable. no ship could he carried north ON elther
side of Smith Sound beyond the position we
| had already attained. and also that. from anu
| mdhiduGble position IN SmN SO,mi II ,rds
impossible 10 ddcdhce nearer tie pole On stedges.
Capt. lIowGATE talks Of establishing his
colony for three years on Lady Franklin
Sound and having it visited annually by a
ship from the United States, as il the pas
sage was simple one Capt. MARES says
ON this point. "To the latitude Of Polaris
or Discovery Bay II no accident happens to
the ship, the passage may probably be made
most years by starting early in the season
but it will at all times be most dangerous
] bI'. 4 n' l'NN VI lll' anu Nl'
row escape of the Alert confirm this. Judge
DAYS suggestion that the real point at
which to locate the colony should be- Port
Foulke, is Beyond all question IA wise and
safe one. At all events, II small yessc
should bc left permanently at this point fol
the Northern colony to fall back on, in case
of necessity. If Capt HowGArE adopts this
course and II. then, instead of attempting tC
follow the steps of Capt. MARKHAM across
the polar pack. he prolongs the explorations
Of Lieut.. BEAUMONT along the shore OF
Greenland to the eastward, whore the sledg.
ing is comparatively good he may find that
the land discovered by that officer continue,
to trend TO the northward beyond Cape
Britannia; and If he does not reach the pole
he will certainly get nearer to it than 10y
clinging to the fantasy of an open sea. or e
the desperate alternative OF n sicdge journey
over the SUBMITS of paleocrystic iioe-be rigs