The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-12-03

Fauna of Bafi1n's Land.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
Mr.. Ludwig kumlien. naturalist on
board the Florence. the little vessel
which was sent to the west coast of
Greenl nd rs the avant courier of the
proposed Howgate expedition, arrived
in Milwaukee on yesterday, and to-
day leaves for his home in Jefferson
county-the place of his birth. Mr..
Kuplien WAS interviewed last evening
and gave an interesting narrative Of
the cruise of the Florence.
THE HOwGATE EXPEDITION.
was conceived some three years ago by
Capt. Howgate, of the United States
signal service Its object was similar
to that of the various Arctic expedi-
tions. An appropriation to further the
scheme was sought from congress in
the sum "a $50, 200, with fair pros
pect Of success. Anticipating this.
partly from his own purse and partly
from private assistance. Capt. How
gate fitted out a schooner which was
to proceed to Disco Island in Davis
straits. and await the arrival of
himself. which was expected to occur
in July. 1873. The appropriation
failed, however, and the staurch little
era t, having passed winter amid
the ice, returned.
THE FLORENCE
is a fore aud aft schooner of ffty-six
tons-very small, it would seem, for
such a perilous service, but she
answered the purpose admirably. She
was Commanded by Capt. &. E.
Tyson VIM. Sisson, first mate; d.
Burrows. second mate; Ludwig
Kumlien, naturalist, Orray T. Sher-
man, meteorologist and photographer,
also carrying steward. cook, and a
crew of seven men. Capt. Tyson
was an officer on the Polars. the mate
was also an old cruiser on northern
waters, and most of the crew had
seen service on whalers. She left
New London on Aug. 1. "a. sailing
inside of Newfoundland, passing
through the straits of Belle Isle. and
heading thence due north. Their first
landing was in the harbor of NiantilIic.
forty one days out. There they en-
gagged the services Of Esquimaux.
sailed into Cumberland sound, and
made preparations for going into
winter quarters. On Oct. z, they
were
FROZEN IN
and the long cherries winter began.
An observatory and snow-house were
erected. and the term Of the residence
upon Gu nberland island was spent in
taking observations and gathering
such facts concerning the natural
history of the region as were Obtainable.
Hourly observations were taken, day
and night, and much scientific in
was gathered, which will
prove valuable.
They were encamped IN latitude
81. 80, longitude IS. The little
Esquimaux settlement near them was
called Annanatook. They remained
there for the space of FIVE months.
which gave ample time for becoming
we'll acquainted with the pecuIiarities
Of the country. The winter was not
severe. The characteristics
If the region were found to be about
he same as those of the wesi coast of
600 miles to the north.
md consequently
THE COLD WAS INTENsE.
While the winter in Wisconsin was :
mild one, in that extreme region ,
he average temperature from the Let
# February till the l9 of March was !
.35 to As, or that number Of de-
'rees below zero by the Fahrenheit
The lowest temperature, a
u February, was-52.5, occurring at c
period when the mercury here t
anged scarcely below the freezing 4
oint. The lowest reliable indications \
q those regions is presumed to be il
bout-6O. q
THE COUNTRY n
oundsb bout the imprisoned vessel =
a surface of barren rocks. :: !:
'egetation in the winter was indis- =
ernible. In the summer few lichens :,
nd other shrubs grow "a ,idly and :,
lrive wonderfully for two Or three :.
lonths. There are also found many q
aautiful flowers. but they are small -
nd scentless. Fuel there is literally :"
one, and no fruits save few berries. y
hich disappear as suddenly as they "a
ring into existence. The fora and !"
una are meagre. being nearly =: =:
entical to those of Smiths Sound. VI '.
ut forty-two species of birds are =,
und, while in Wisconsin we have -
Il. The same or greater paucity =
,tains as to the fauna. Many speci- Fl
ems of these were secured.
THE EsQUlMAUx N
ID their habits formed an interesting tn
ldy for the naturalist. He found ID
EN- to be an honest and well meaning Of
&c, so socially inclined as their G'
telligence would permit. but entirely Oh
'civilized. They had little or no te,
owledge of white men. having va
EN- visited by whaling vessels on bo
lv two or three occasions. Their IOi
,thiag is constructed entirely of esi
ms. Their summer costume is tw
,de of sealskin, worn with hair out HI
.rd. In winter they wear a garment ho
sealskin, hair inward, with an 70
ter garment made of the hide of ha
e reindeer, the fur outward. ev'
THE HOUSES So
, made of snow, which is tramped -.
I'd, frozen, and cut in blocks. which u''