The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
AN UNKNOWN LAND.
A Solitary Explorers Work in
 Novaya zoIaIia.
His Discovery of Three New Islands and Many Other Things of Value to the Scientific and Com
 merciaI Worlds.

An interesting man has for three years been studying the geography and physical condition of one Of the bleak est parts of the world. His narac is l.. Eossilof. and he was first heard Cf IT 1888 after he had spent year studying the twin islands of Novaya Zenlia, north of the European mainland He said he intended to devote five years to Novaya Zemlia, and he has now com pleted three years of investigation. This pcrsevering young Russian has re- turned every year to ArchanGcl, on tIie northern coast of Europe, with valu able botanical, mineral and geological specimens. He has carried on his work with only one or two assistants. and they have passed at least one dark winter in that bleak land. Only twice before have white explorers wintercd in Novaya Zemlia. The first occasion was when the famous Dutch explorer, Willem Darents, rounded the northern part of Novaya Zcmlia and with his little party spent the long winter night of 1596-'97 amid much hardship and dis comfort on the northeast coast. The second occasion was not many years ago when some Norwegi2ns attached to an exploring party were so enamOred of the life they led among the natives, who had a temporary home on the twin islands, that they remained behind when their comrades returned to civili- zation, and their friends saw no more of them for year or two until they grew weary of their isolation.
 Nossilof, in the spring Of 1889, re- ported the discovery of four coal fields and deposits of iron, copper, gold and sulphur, which he said would pay for the working. He also collected a great deal of information regarding the ani- nal life of the island, kept a careful record of the meteorological conditions, and surveyed large extent of country. While engaged in tracing the coast line he discovered three new islands, one of which, about nineteen miles long and three broad, he named Possiet island. Last winter Nossilcf lived at the western entrance of Matthew Ma totshkin?I strait He had Q acoInfortable house, which had been specially con- structed for him after his own plans in Archangel, and was carried on q schoon- CT to Novaya Zcrnlia.
 The significance of Nossilcf's work is that almost singlc-handed and alone he is exploring one of the least known parts of the world. The best maps of Navaya Zemlia show little more than blank spaces fin the interior Seal hunters say the island is very rocky, and it is likely that in the interior there are mountain chains running par allel with the coast. The country has no inhabitants, but is visited annually by Samoycds from the neighboring mainland. In recent years a number of expeditions, scientific. and commcr- eial, have touched at Novaya Zemlia, but the island is still little known, and even the greater part of its coast line is not yet accurately laid down on the maps.
 During the summer of 189o Nossilof made several excursions into the Kara sea, collected many birds and animals, surveyed part of the coast and took soundings. He says that last winter was unusually stormy, and that the sea remained open until spring. Tor rents of rain fell, so that the country was covered with coating of ice and many reindeer pcrished from hunger. Hundreds of seals were frozen on tho ice, and fish were thrown up in heaps on the shore. The weather during last spring and summer was very se- were, and the temperature did not rise above il degrees F. up to the end of July. The explorer was, however, able to carry on the scientific work of his expedition without Interruption, and to make large geological investi- gations.
 This enthusiastic Russian has led a more isolated life during the last three years than almost any other civilized man. He has faith that there is good to be obtained from No7aya ZcEllia. and believes it will pay to develop its mineral resources.