The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20
[BY CABLE TO THE HERALD. ]

the exploration of Africa 10000 marks
(about S15, 1907.
PROGRESS OF THE NoRDENsK OLD ExrEDITIoN-
DEPARTURE FROM THE MOUTH OF THE LENA
MISUNDERSTANDING DEEP SEA soUNDINGs.
UNDER SAIL,
BETWEEN CAPE TscHELJusKlN AND OLoNEK.
August 81 to rs, 1878.
When the Vega weighed anchor at noon on the Goth
Of August the in the closest proximity to the
northern point Of Asia free from ice that
hoped we should find open sea. not only along the
coast which for some distance beyond Cape Tsche-
ward as far as the New Siberian islands In accord
ance with the plan Of the expedition the true
course was steered east to south in the hope
Of finding on our way d western continuation
Goth and 21st of August steamed on in the
said direction among floating ice, which continued
much broken up. but on the whole formed thicker
and larger masses than those had met earlier
by dense fog that only the ice fields and ice
blocks in the immediate vicinity Of the vessels
distinguishable and it became impossible to gain
any idea of the extent situation of the ice. After
having sailed the night of the 22d through rather
q compact field Of floating ice were later in the
day, unable to advance farther in al tastery direc
ton. The course was then steereG more southerly.
but also in that direction progress was arrested
by ice, at least as far as we could make out in
the thick fog To wait for clearer weather we laid
to ut noon by one of the large ice fields. At dis
lance it appeared thick and strong, but descend
ing to it it found to be fragile that it
evident it would soon be entirely melted. When the
weather cleared little steamed on again. But it
was only a short time before again obliged
to moor the vessels by ice anchors to another block
of ice. There was, moreover. danger in tho fog Of
our being locked into the of ice where found
ourselves, when tho Swedish Expedition would have
met the fate the Austro Hungarian six years
ago.
PROGRESS STOPPED.
Early in the morning Of the sd the air became
clearer. The ice anchors by which lay moored
were drawn up again and we recommended steaming
on through the ice field to find open sea. Though
the ice which now surrounded us was soft that 1t
was plain could not be far from the extremity of the
ice field, unable to discover any navigable
channel to the east south through the fog which
again enveloped u.s. To make escape there was no
northwest to and reach the opening through which
we had penetrated into the ice field. This occupied
nearly twentyfour hours. it not until the 3d.
at half past six O'Clock p. NJ that we again found
ourselves in open The depth, which ranged
from thirty-three to thrty-f fathoms during our
progress through the ice. now began to diminish
which indicated the neighborhood of land 1t was
announced at aquarter to nine O'Clock p. NJ. The
land was the northeast point of the eastern PENN
sua of Taimyr, about 76 deg. 30 mn north lati-
tude and 113 deg east longitude of Greenwich. The
sea outside entirely free from ice to a distance
of fifteen or sixteen minutes. Six minutes from land
the depth ranged from six to twelve fathoms.
The sky had cleared. breeze from the northwest
carried the vessel rapidly along without the aid of
steam over perfectly calm sea. Soon the outlines
Of the shore became higher and it split into
pyramidal cones. peculiar formation, which dis
tnauishes the border of the Yenisei between
Mesenkin and Jacovcva. In the background noun
tains of at 1900 to 5000 feet in height vsi
BILE some way inland. Not only the shore but the
Sides peaks and the highest apex of the mountains
were entirely free from snow. il except some few
collections OF small extent which had gathered in
the mountain ravines. There was also the appear
ance of u few glaciers. but they did not, so
fur as could see, extend below 800 1000 feet.
OCEAN FAUNA.
The fauna now began to be very rich. While we
were still moorcd to the ice blocks in the fields of
floating ice just mentioned Dr. Stuxberg had taken
up in the trawlnet from depth of thirty eight
fathoms unexpected number of magnificent marine
animal forms. among which three specimens of
chrnoide attached to u stem. probably young spcc-
mems of xlccto eschrichti, which are also to be
found in numberless full grown specimens; num-
beers OF starfsh f. L.. solastcr papposus, endcca furc
fer pterasser miltaris. astcrophyton eucncms) and
of the very rare molpadia borealis two cutie fish,
colossal pycnogonide of $50 millimetres diameter &c.
The lower fauna in shallowcr water rich.
though in part represented by other forms.
The animals here represented are evidently
pure Arctic forms. without any immigration from
more southern waters. is doubtless the with
the fauna of Spitzbergen. The collection have
made must. consequently. be of great scientific in
terest in the Investigations which have long been
carried by the naturalss of the North relating to
the living and fossil glacial animal forms found on
our coasts and affecting questions OF great import
ance to our knowledge of the latest period of the
globe Often could not trace Of ice from the
vessel. Earlier we had encountered land far north
up where the maps had indicated sea; and now as
YOU will see from the enclosed maps. we have sailed
over stretches indicated as land on the surface.
LAND AHEAD.
At eleven o'clock A. NJ, on the oath of August
LAND ahead and to port was announced. 1t
clearly the island which, under the name of Prco-
braschenski Island, is found the maps situated ut
the entrance OF the mouth of Chatauga However, it
is situated four degrees of longitude ten Swedish
miles further to the east than given the nautical
charts. As we approached it the island proved to
consist of stone with horizontal strata. forming
abrupt sides. in which hoped to find pctrefacions
Partly for this purpose and partly to afford Drs.
Kjellman and Almquist an opportunity TO make an
excursion on shore in this region, which had
before been visited by any naturalist. allowed the
ships to cast anchor here some hours. The north
eastern abrupt shore Of the island. measuring in
height 300 feet according to Lieutenant Nordquist
Is the refuge Of numberless auks and speci-
mems of iarus tridactylus. and as the anchor