, 1879-08-14
NORDENSKJOLD.
K.nttcrs from Ills Expedition.

A Stockholm paper statas ttatn prlvate letter
wns received In tic 1attcr part OF juno, over
land, from Lieut.. Polanler, tho commander OF
tho Vega, stating tltat all was we'll On board of
the steamer. Tlo mouth Of the Lena River
WIS passed on the eth OF August, 1878. In The
beginning everything was favorable, although
the Arctic explorers bad to contend with Ice and
shallow water. They succeeded In reaching
Cape Jakan, but here for three days further
progress was stopped. That point was left on
the 11th Of September, md after many 1!nlcul-
ties they arrived, on tho 18th, at Cape North,
wherc they were shut up tn Ice until tic 18th.
Alter that the Arctic voyagers were only able
now and then to ADVANCE owing to the compact
Ice. On the 18th Of September tlMy arrived nt
their present position in latitude u dearecs
minutes nurth A,ld longitude ITO degrees 90
minutes west lind that point been REACHED
t'ro days earlier the steamer would hava been
able To- pass through Behrllig Strait.
The Vega Is not anchored In any hnrbor, but
hear a very shallow slrltl-bcach, anil moured to
solid tee. All h!nt's arc well md provisions
ntcnty; coal snlgicont for O. 2,000.tnila cruise.
passed. These natives were believed to ori9l-
mite from GreenaMl, and, Judging from their
appearance, appeared to 6o related to the Es-
qutnau1. Their complexion ia bEowntsh rel.
N reindeer robes, dwell In touts OF hides. and
live on the lat uk the seal. They are, tnorc-
orcr, acknowledgement und accommodating.
'llsc woncn's faccs aro tattoocd. the mons not.
hut the Swedish explorers have. nevertheless,
ncqutred 1t, and complied d Swcdsh-Ttchut-
sccan dictionary embracing over 900 words.
Three camps Of TschutschGs uru on the shore In
t4e vtc|u!ty Of tho Vegas nnchorage.
During September The Temperature was never
below three degrees. and ttve DEGREES Celsius
ras tho co1dest at any time. On tic a1st OF
December, tllu darkcst day Of The year. tic sun
been scnt from the Vcgs bv, visiting native
chief residing H. the nctghborhood OF AnadyrsIs.
The Polar explorers calculated to exlricata
themselves by the Int Of Julr, and to reach
Jnpnn by the 18th Of August.
Tile stoekhuln paper also nrInts the follow.
ing extract from the famous Arctic explorers
last letter to his family. The letter Is dated:
"On board the Vega, tccbound on the hDrth
coast Of Siberia, Just east Of koIjnschin Day,
latitude o. degrecs I minutes. longitude 173 dc:
drees Is minutes west of lscunw,ch, Tic 9th OF
Uctubrr, l878.-Snce 1 last wrotu from the
mouth Of the Lenn River tho Vc9n llas pressed
forward, though With no little difficulty, to the
.c!nity Of BelIring strast,-' e. to haft OF the
Polar Sen which ii every year visited by wha1css
from tie Pacific Oeca,, and Trailing vessels be.
long ng to tic American Alaska Company. These
yesscls hare frequently lett thrsc waters rs late
as the middle OF October. As q rusust from tic
northern nnd nor.hwcsterly Winds blowing III
these regions during the whole os September, 1t
appears, however, TINT thls year tnoft ilnayor-
able condition OF the Ice has prevailed IN the
Pular Sea. near DcltrjnE Strait. The icc-trco
channel which In tile proxlmityo the roast 1ucll-
talcd our Dr0Ercss as far aJ beyond thu mouth
Of tho Lena RIVER ended at The Basanow Isl
allils, whH we passed on the 3a Of September.
Siuco then we hlvc zone forward through dense
masses Of floating Ice su slowly tllat We utti not
Fearil tho cAstern cn1st OF ko lu3rhlu Buy ~alllt
the aith Of September
"Thu night OF The 18th the ocoan was covered
between thu glacial fragments With new turlurd
}an th1f fntt.J.f nh luttNn tUr,fJnr