The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-11

NoRDENsKIoLDs REPORT.
On BOARD VEGA,
EAST OF CAFE TscHELJusKIN, August 90. 1878.
We have just sailed around Cape Tscheljuskin. AS
far as we the ice will not interrupt our
Journey at least not before arrival at the mouth
of the River Lena. There the Vega will have to
separate from her faithful companion the steamer
Lena, which will sail up the river far Iakutsk
will, therefore in all probability in few days be
able to send you over from Iakutsk and Irkutsk
the report Of our journey from Dickson Harbor.
which am now going to write. L am delighted to
say at once, GAN as well as possible
WATER TEMPERATURES
After the departure in the morning Of the Frazer
the Express for the Simovies, somewhat further
up in the river. allowed the Vega to remain for
twenty -four hours longer in Dickson Harbor in order
to give Lieutenant Bove opportunity Of finishing
the maps OF that excellent harlAr well protected
all Sides which, doubtless, will become of great
Importance in the future. So the Vega and the Lena
did not 60 under way until the morning Of the 10th
Of AuguWto continue their route They steercd for
tho most western Of the Kammcnni Islands, outside
the mouth of the Piasina. The sky overcast, the
temperature Of the air up to 1U4 deg. Celcius $50
deg. Fahrenheit. that of the water at first + 10
deg. and later IL deg. 46 deg. Fahrenheit), its
sadness slight No ice was seen during the day:
Favored by fine breeze from southeast the Vega
could start her journey with full sails. But later
in the day the began to be covered with fog This
obliged to advance with great care, especially
i'll the course of the day sailed by small islands
not indicated on the chart.
DENSE FoGs.
Fine weather and ice-free favored also the next
day Journey but then the fog became dense that
already in the morning obliged to lie to
OF the many small islands we passed on our way.
The island was composed OF low bank of gnoss.
only thinly covered with gravel, which was either
perfectly sterile covered with very scanty vcgeta-
ton of thin MOSES or phanerogama. On the other
side the humidity prevailing during the summer
months in these regions had produced an abundant
vegetation of lichens, which was rich harvest for
DIR. Almquist.
The water OF the sea was but little salt least on
the surface and sea alga were consequently hardly
to be found whereas the biologists were well sup
piled by tho drcdGer with pure forms OF sea life.
SAILING THROUGH ROTTEN
On the afternoon of the 11th of August the weather
had cleared a little so we could proceed. Now and
then floating piece OF ice to be seen, and during
tho night the ice increased in alarming degree,
but still not so as to arrest navisaton. IL rather
sea- thus rendering IL easy to take the temperature
OF the at different depths and secure dredgngs
twice o day. Tho ice consisted almost entirely
OF bay ice, eaten away that it rather OF the
consistency of ice cream than solid ice. 1t was evil
don't that ID would disappear altogether in few days.
Although at intervals SO thick fog spread over the
that the vessels could only keep informed OF
each others position by means OF tho steam whis-
tlo, we kept toward the northeast
unknown route filled with islots and probably also
shoals. Sometimes when the fog became too thick
stopped at block ~ Ice. large foe at
some of the small or large isets which forming
a wall of rocks between Dickson Harbor aud Cape
Tschcirskin. That VIC did not u einglc time touch
the bottom during that sail il a complete proof OF
the excellent manner in. which Lieutenant lalandcr
and the officers who assisted in keeping the watch
under his experienced supervision tthc Loutenants
Brusewitz aud Hovgasrdl. managed the navigation OF
the vessel.
Gradually the sadness of the water began to in
crease and lis temperature TO diminish. Al the
richer so that Dr. stuxberr in the night between the
18th and the lfth August, while the ship was lying
fastened 70 piece OF floating ice. took M guam
tity of magnificent pure forms OF lfe-iarge
specimens OF the remarkable Crinodc Accto Esch-
rchtu, numerous starfish Asterias sinikh and Pan
opa,, pycnogonides. &C. The dredging the coast
began 10 yield DIR. kjillmann large alga.
But shore the higher fauna and fora still so
poor that tho coast liz here complete desert com
pared with tho rocky shores o Spitzbergen and Nova
ZeHbla. Auks red breasted geese. puus black guile
niots and terms, which congrcgate ut Spitgbergen in
thousands and thousands. are here entirely laking.
Scaguls and "Lestres. which there I'LL the mir with
their ccasccss chattcring screams and qiarrelng tor
IL seems M IL they quarrelicd less here. Only
sparrows six or seven species of wadng birds and
species OF geese are found ON shore in larger
numbers. II add TO these occasional parnigan,
mountain owl tstrix nyctes and species OF falcon
the whole bird life OF tho region is enumerated. AZ
least far VIC became acquainted with it, Oh
warm blooded animals in the sea outside only two
walruscs. somo large seals (phoca barbata and n
crowd of other seals (phoca hspida,. Fish probably
exist here abu ndantly.
A MrEEnALoercAL prscovgny
must here mention very remarkable discovery.
While tho slsp wss lying moorcd to one OF the few
pieces Of floating ice which encountered and
found TO be of sufficient strength TO bear dozen
mon, Lieutenant Nordqust and descended ON the
ice To SOC whether here could ind any trace of tho
remarkable substance OF cosmic origin which found
in 1872 on the leo at tho northern coast OF Sptzbor
gen. could and nothing OF the sort here. But
Lieutenant Nordquist directed my attention to some
yellow spots on the ice. which asked him to collect
and hand To the botanists of the cSpedi-
ton for examination, thinking they proceeded
from some diatomcus mud. At the exanina-
ton aftcrward made 10 discovered that
the substance in question was OF no organic
product but coarse sand. consisting exclusively of
very beautifully formed crystals OF q diameter rcach-
ing even MP to couple of mmctcrs l have not
yet had time or opportunity TO examine them more
closely, but experienced mincralogist, can
that this mineral is common terrestrial one.
but that It, perhaps, is substance crystalizod from
the scS water by the severe winter frost.
AcrtNfA HAKBoR.
waiting for clear weather, we were lying al anchor
from the lih 10 tho 18th August in an excellent har
hori In hc sound bct can thu islaud OF Tain