The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-06-18
pporrssoR noRpEKsKJoLD's REPORT

PROFESSOR NoRpENsKJoLD's REPORT
or III. First Successful Attempt to Make the
Northeast Passage.
Translated for the NEW NoErHwE BY Ole Rjerke,
Empora, Kansas
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
TO THE AMERICAN SIDE.
From Nunamr We set course for Port
Clarence, on the American side OF the
Strait, where we cast anchor July 22d,
traverriug the ocean, on the Asiatio side
covered with drift ice on the American
side, clear. Port Clarence 10 very large
and otherwise commodious harbour, jast
south Of the westmost extremity Of Amer
lea. This was the first real harbor In
which the Vega had been at anchor since
18th Of August, when she left Aktinia har-
bur on Tajmur Island. During the inter
val the Vega has only been anchored or
moorcd in open roadsteads, without the
least protection OF any land against the
waves and tempests of The sea- Thanks to
the sagacity and foresight Of Lieutenant
Palander, and to the ability Of the officers
and crew, the Vega is not only unipjured,
but an sea worthy az when We left the har-
bour of Carlscrona. Port Clarence Is pro-
tected towards the sea by long sand Ieef,
along the north side of which Is O deep aad
convenient channel. In the inner harbour
large river debouches, forming an extern
sive lake, separated from the outer barbor
by q sandy "ness." This lake forms the
inner harbor, whose outlet ID not deep,
enough, however, for larger vessels. The
river itself, on the contrary, is deep enough
and forms another lake about eighteen Kill
ometres higher up. Frsm the farther shore
OF this lake the country rises abruptly into
mountains, apparently two or three thous-
and feet, and distorted, forming q wilder
ness of peaks and cliffs. South Of che harbor
and river the land terminates abruptly with
q terrace thirty to sixty feet high. On the
north, however, the shore 10 generally low,
but in this direction, also, further in from
the sea, the land ascends in swelling, rounded
activities, 600 to TOO feet high. 1t is only
in valleys and caiions, protected from the
sun, where snow drifts are still found. No
glaciers were in sight, though they might
haye been expected on the sides Of the
mountains bounding the inner lake. 1t Is
also plain that no extensive Ice field had
existed here in the near foregoing seasons.
In the many rambles We made In several d.
rectiops we could nowhere And any glacier
formations, nor morains, striated mountain
plateaux, nor any trace Of glacial actioa.
When We sailed out of the harbor and ap-
preached Cape York, point that shoots
out from the continent N. NV. Of Port
Clarence, We could plainly see from the
deck Of the Vega that the higher mountains
which bound the Cape were composed OF
stratifed rocks, and was In hopes fually
of obtaining rich harvest Of petrifac'ions
(fossils), but, approaching, 1 found that
the stratifed rocks consisted only OF chrys-
taline schist, without trace OF fossil remains
(animals or plants; nor was the coast less
deficient in whale bones or mammoths,
such rs are brought home from Escbscholz's
Bay, only short distance north OF this.
As soon as tie anchor was cast we were
visited by several Large skin boats, filled
with men, women and children, with dogs,
tents and o variety Of other household
truck. Some of the natives were evident
ly on tho move for the summer season to
the hunting aud fishing grounds on the
northward of this. Othets he'd pitched
their tents on the shore on the inner hal
Dor, or the river referred to above, while
small number of deserted habitations re-
NAMED.
The inhabitants were Esquimaux, who
did not understand word OF Tsch how
ever, there was Tsch woman among
them, who asserted that actual Tsch tribes
were settled on the American side between
Point Barrow and Cape Prince OF Wales.
A couple OF the mea spoke little
English, and one had been 70 San Francisco
and Honolulu. Many efthe implements in
their possession reminded rs Of their inter
course with Americans and whalers. JUS
tiee demands rec OF aiticn Of The fa,t that
the intercourse had been to the advantage
and improvement Of the savages in moral
point Of view. i
The people dwelt In tents Of thin cotton
duck, some wore European clothes, others
were attired In trowsers made OF seal or
reindeer skins and light, soft jacket of
marmel skins, over which In rainy weather
was drawn cape Of "enttails tIarm-
skins.)
Their coiffure was that of the Tschukts.
The women were tattooed on the chin
many Of the men wore mustaches some
also o thin, full beard. Generally they
had two perforatioDs or incisions OF %
millimetres In length in tho lips, near the
lower corners of the mouth, wherein they
carried large pieces Of bone, glass or stone;
many bad besides, similar incisions In the
front part Of the lip. A young girl had
large blue bead suspended from the car
tilage Of the nose, which had been pierced
for the purpose, but she seemed to become
embarrassed when this attracted general
attention. Each woman bad long strings
Of beads In her ears. On the arms they
wore bracelets of iron aud copper that had
. passing likeness to those WON by the
Tsch their complexion Ia not very dark.
with percsptible blush OF red In their
checks hair black and fexy; the eyes
small, brown, slightly obl'que; the oounte ;
nance fat, |; the nose small, fat;ened at the
root the perforated lip 10 which most
frequently ornaments were not worn, somo-
what defoImef. The majority OF these
were Of middle stature, healthy aod strcog,
neither haggard nor obese. Feet and hands
were small. The people were cleanlier
than the Tsch, and certain grace aud order
were observed In their small tents, the floor
being spread with mats Of plated shrubs.
Besides, all sorts of iron implements OBJ
tanned through tho Americans, such o.
hrnech-loafers reyolyere and axos they