The New York herald., 1879-10-16
ARCADIANS OF THE ARCTIC.
How The Gentle Tschuklschis Live and Love
Wiih,ut a Government
A THEORY OF THE AURORA.
Completing the Northeast Pas
sage in July Last.
ARRIVAL AT YOKOHAMA.

TOXIC, Japan, Sept. 20, 1879.
From the chief himself learn that the public in
America and Europe already in possession of full
particulars of the adventures and history of the
party up to the 18th of February, 1879. Your pro-
vision for telegram from Japan announcing the ar
rival of the Vega and giving outline story of her
voyage hither will have been the means of inform
ing the whole civilized world of the successful
achievement of passage long deemed impracticable
and one which has hitherto baHled the most expe-
rienccd and hardy explorers Professor Norden-
skiold and his officers supremely touched by
what they term tho liberality of the NEW York
HERALD in incurring of its own spontaneous motion
the expense involved in the transmission OF so long
message. Tho great explorer says that out
OF the many kindnesses that have been
offered TO him from the moment when
his undertaking was projected mono have
been more gratifying to him. He modestly
remarks that such message was quite beyond his
resources. his dispatches being necessarily cur
tailed and restricted to the barest skeleton. His
friends at home have tclegraphed to him here and
thus he is assured fact what have to premise
that his movements and experiences up to the date
shove mentioned known to tho Western world.
On that day he himself sent long and detailed mar
rative to his friend Dickson. at Gothenberg, and
every of his staff sent hther and thiher detailed
and varied information. Thus there is every
70 believe, although we have not yet received in
Japan the journals containing the description of
snrrences and life board the little Arctic
previous to February last. that we shall have them
by early mail. observe by last American advces
that the Jeanette at Ounalaska in August. This
Is about the time that the Vega cruising from
shore to shore and island to island in and south of
Behring Strait. 80 that it is quite possible that
ting distance of each other. The latter gentleman
sxpresses and evidently feels the most lively inter-
est in tho enterprise of the other and speaks the
most glowing terms of admiration of the vast scope
of tho schemes OF the American expedition. He
deeply regrets not having foregathered with his
American colleague and. verify believe, would have
consented to another month residence in the ice If
that would have insured the desired interview.
THE IcE-BoUND VEGA.
1t on the 2sth of September, 1878. that the
further progress of the Vega whose had been
very slow for several days previously. finally
rested and impris oned by the ice. and compelled
to take up her winter quarters. Two days more of
open weather and sea and she would have entered
Behring Strait and reached Yokohama ten months
before she did. Her voyage. however. was delayed
by the observations which had to be taken in various
places. well by the occasional ice encountered,
and thus it happened that foreign communities
were long In suspenseas to the fate of the nvestga
tors. Meanwhile these located. in what
Fort be attained in Arctic regions on the east
side of Koljutschein Bay. mile from shore. in
latitude CO deg. min. north. longitude 173h deg.
vest from Greenwich.
WIND AND WEATHER.
The time passed without extraordinary incident
until the date of the release of the ship. the 18th
day of July according Asiatic the 18th according
k1.x.
during the winter months. Northwesterls winds.
often amounting to storms, very constant.
At rare intervals mild weather was experienced.
For instance on day IN February the temperature
some degrees above freezing point. Sometimes
the breeze would como from the southward. and
then there were numerous openings in tho ice, but
all far from the steamer. which thus had chance
Of escaping. Snow storms were OF almost continual
occurrence and offered q peculiar feature. Tho
fakes melted enough to be frozen
together in fields is the in Scandi inavia and
Northern America. Thus it can easily be conceived
that. with the prevailing strong gales. enormous
masses OF nearly always In motion.
Hence tremendous drifts formed on the ice and
ashore. and exploring excursions rendered both
difficult dangerous During the whole Of their
sojourn our friends terms of amity aud cor
dial intercourse with happy. peaceful and inter
estng people. their indigenous neighbors Of the
mainland.
TsCHUKTsCHr.
These known the Tschuktschi II give
Nordenskjold's ltoraton). The ship was a constant
rendezvous for them. The professor speaks of thom
savages inasmuch their civilization s not very
far advanced. but he is enthusiastic in his testimony
to their excellent qualities. social. domestic
and national. They do quite an extensive
trade between Siberia and America being
locally within easy reach of many points In
Alaskan territory which is accessible to them both
In winter and summer; in the former season by
solid bridge of ice, in tho latter by tho open sea-
They employ sedges drawn by dogs, OF which AMI
mails the explorers do not speak very highly. This
season, perhaps. may have been an exceptionally
severe ono for both and boast in the particular
portion of Northern siberia whore the party win.
tered. Nordonskjoid says that dogs plentiful.
but thoy wero mostly weak and aling from hunger.
their masters often being unable to supply thou
with sufficient food In this connection It is worth
while to record that high an authority tho
great navigator docs think tho services of dogs
In Arctic exploration very valuable. They apt to
be sick and feeble and their nourshmont is always
u matter of some difficulty. During the warm
months tho Tschuktschi make their trips to and
from tho American shore in skin boats. which. from
the description given OF thom. judge must have a
striking resemblance to the old Celtic corraclo or
curraen. The more genial period and the water
route most favored by these Siberian pcders for
their excursions When they travel over the ice
parties of tour. Ave six traders will use one
slcdge which has twenty thirty dogs to drag 1t.
Thcir commerce. consists of the furs which they
bring from America to the other continent, where
they barter thcm with the Russians for simple
Iuodites. Reindeer also an article OF their
exchange.
''HARp TIMES ARCTIC.
Ihave alluded 30 the probability Of the year having