New-York tribune., 1877-05-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


THE CRUISE or HER MAJEsfYs SHIP IHE ClAltSS
LENOFR VOYAGES OYER NNNh St.AN' ~ s. :, Nt,' ,,,,
INNANY LANDS b., W. D. y. sfff' H. y. s'o' pP
SIS. Harper 81 Brothers
Tho Gr,t systematic examination of thcoc'an soe"
IN connection with che sciences of na,ulai history
and y-ical geography was undertaken Iu the ye'"
1sGS when thc British steamer Lightning was
piaced at thc sposal ol the Royal Society for about
six weeks. during which time dredging was 'hey''u
in $50 fathoms $500 fccu greater depth than
had hitherto been attempted. lLe ne4l year "e
steamer Por,upinc fitted out for more
extended exploration Of the deep sea, and on the
first cruise series Of souudwcs ON tie west coast
of ireland were accomplished 90 the depth of l5uO
fathoms and many interesting specimens OF h'lu'h
bistor, were obtained. A depth of 2,4OO iaihoms
was afterwards reached with successful results ana
al thc end Of thc voyage, lt was considered o nave
done more 10 advance our knowledge OF the pAySl-
cal condition of the ocean than any former cNpc-
duon that had ever left the British shores.
In 1870 the Porcupiue was again engaged
in the same service, extending the survey
10 the coast of Portugal and Gibraltar,
where numerous data of great scientific
and practical value were obtained exciting VIDE
spread interest In the explorations and asrone gem
eral desire for their continuance. II was suggested
e. the Government by the Royal Society that NeS-
SCI should Doe fitted ont for cruise of three or Tour
years with view 20 the attainment of more thor
basins of the animal and vegetable life in the deep
water. ard of those portions OF the globe which at
present are conparatycly unknown The Govern
Iueut steamer Challenger of 1000 tons dis
placement and 400 horse power, was Sc
lectcd TO carry out the proposed plan'
and was placed IN commission at Sheer
ucss on Now II. 1872, for the purpose OF proceed
ing ON voyage of scientific discovery ana deep sea
exploration iu the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian
.f r..tt 4fts ~pfffl her GI
Ocean as E,r as the ice would permit Professor
Wvyine Thomson was placed az the head OF the
scientific stan. the surveying officers were under
the direction Of Captain G.. :. Mares the commander
Of the expedition, and ON the DIST Of December the
Challenger left Portsmouth harbor, reaching the
BAY of Bi.cay ON thc 30th, where for the first TINE
the opportunity was afforded of commenting scleH-
tGc work. ln the present volume the author mas
made no attempt To relate the scientific results eX-
cept i'm the most general and cursory way confnIng
himself chiefly 10 the description of the places
visited by the expedition of the manners and Gus
toms of the strange tribes that came under ohSerYa-
ton and of the natural scenery under every condi-
honot temperature from the fiery tropics to the ice
bound regions of the Antarctic.
The daily life on board the vessel which was to be
+bc floating home of the company for so many weary
months differed greatly from the ordinary routine
of a sea voyage and still more from the usual pur-
suits % which the members of the scientific staff had
been accustomed on shore. The initiation into the
new scenes was rendered more difficult by the Wild
and tcmpe,tuous weather. At frst the etiquette of
every day naval life was annoying IN the extreme.
The endless scubbing, Washing, and holystonns of
the decks cleaning brass aud wood work mastering
az quarters and divisions, was bore OF the first
magnitude and was regarded as a wholly supcrliu-
ous ceremony. After a time when fine weather had
again set in and they had escaped the mScries of
te,-sickncs- the learned landsmcn begaut perceive
the necessity of these operations 10 the discipline
and good order Of the ship and submitted to the III
cyitabc with good grace. The daily doines on
board the vessel, which are minutcly described by
the author. were accepted matter OF course,
without tempting a quarrel with the universe.
"Frlu tuc hour of four o'clock IN the morning. as
soon as the watch has been mustered, the hustle
aud activity begin, lasting throughout tine day and
even 10 the hour when night reminds one of sleep.
Punp, are manned, and watrri, spldsbcd over decks
IN all directions: and although apparently uuneces-
sary at times yet 10 is absolutely essential 10 the
preservation of the health and comfort of those on
board. By six o'clock the washing is nearly fin
ishcd when All hammocks are pipcd up and slowed;
81 s now time for breakfast, consisting of cocoa and
biscuit The hands dress IN the rig of the day, and
all preparat are made for sounding and dredging.
Sl are fIr'ol and steam is ready for is essential
t. keep the vessel, bead on to the during these
operations II ha. been found that in all deep sound
iug, 10 Is absolutely necessary to use steam power.
No Trustworthy results can be obtained from ship
under SAIL a., even ia the camoSt weather the hcave
of the sea- or the surface current, Is sufficient 10
dfift tho ship in q very short time a considerable
distance from the place where the lead was origi-
nally lot go. ID is thus impossible to obtain per
pcndieular sounding; besides the time intervals
between the 1O0-f,.h hom marks aIe upset these time
intervals being The only means OF telling when the
lead ha- reached the bottom
The Gr,, hing therefore to be done is to shorten
and fun all SAIL and bring the ship head to wind,
but without forcing her through the water. The
operation of dredging is carried on from the mann
ward thc drcdgc rope being rove through an IRON
block attached 20 the "accumulator'
Tie r.r1ir. .fur secured o 'hr mast ,fhead by means
ola loU ',i ut and hauled out or eStd H. ~ 'dche
al .e end 40. Atru, as may u' required it d clSc
ftiDf ready o. is trctl up clttIpI it
platform aud laucd cut by tnc "a .kc until wen clear q"
The vessel sides is then lrt 20 aud allowed 10
T. L1rrs usually tuI.d to sink tue d"'cc 10 TINS
Ir.ruUr when tIs iDItu b. about 2.Oo iaihous MAth
uis once down, "hrh j. easily od"u uf cN.'l'' @ ,
Nrs-, allowed % ullt "r ,ttdnr slowly oN TOT some
Iours c f,uJator Illustrating hf thc expansion ana
contraction o drodgc beng dragged over luc in-
eouaIur> of th. hrtoiu Should DO toul any ihlu-, le
utuu- the line ~ at once ttstd ont To pre-
vent DO away, aud various plans are iicd lo tc
lease 10. 30 a turns od id'ortpe' Whrh Do l'- C' "H
bottom .Ilutcu tlue, iLc rope ~ drought Tn" l"c
deckcueiuc ANA thc dttdec UoNc uh When Do alNtiis
above tAe euilJc,, there Us usually great excitement
among o., luiiD- Who are ever oh uic al'It WIN I"
WHO ul. b., chance have found their way into the not
such ri-if WltIU l- really Npuafd; mere we nave no
lacs ol W.nd.ril things, sutust -i'ohug A,H' o ,'c
al,youarIn zooph} tics, sea ulchhs' star N7n 0S'eS
.D| .I u 4