New-York tribune., 1901-06-01


Dutton & Co.
Mr. Stadling's narrative is a sober account oI
an experienced travellers adventures in an eN-
trerely difficult part OF the world. ana thoush
he passed through some trying vicissitudes ne
has not adorned it with any dramatic presenta-
zion OF the fact. II has in way, a greater el-
fectiyeness for this very reason. The writer SET
out from Sweden in 1898 TO seek traces VI
Andree, the III fated balloon voyager 10 INC
Pole. The part OF the Siberian coast pet"
the Lena Delta and the New Siberian isi"il0
is out OF the way Of whalers and merchant 10 tiH
hc and OF the several scientihc eNpeui'i'4
that were sent out in that year anu 1t was "
this Inaccessible region that Mr.. Stadlings vain
search was made. a large portion OF II Is al
most unknown and offers many terrors TO the
visitor The Trans-Siberian Railway was open
only 10 the Yenisei River when Mr. Stadlihg hlaue
his iournev so thence TO Irkutsk he travelled
nv horse and down the Lena River by boat. Al
yaLutsk one finds the rgors of the siberian
climate at their very worst. 1t is the seNeresI
in the world, the temperature ranging between
1O3 degrees Fahrenheit above zero to 93 below.
The earth is frozen to unknown depths, estlrna'-
ed 70 average one thousand feet, and is thawed
in summer only to a depth Of two or three feet
Curious atmospheric conditions prevail.
The constantly growing cold congresses the
air more and more. until il finally threatens as
IL were TO suffOcate all life beneath Its weight
The strongest currents of air from the Arctic
Sea from the Pacific or from the immense CON
tinental regions lying TO the south, are nnanle
10 move this inert and compressed mass or AIR
The heaviest storms pOwerlesSly rebound from
IN and so to speak. become bound at its feet
being cooled down and assimilated in their turn
into the colossal frost mass. which is Sufhcleht
10 cool all Siberia during the whole year.
Yet they can grow watermelons there in the
Of fN4-Or
ally time for the ripening and harvesting of a
crop Of grain The old pagan beliefs still sur
vive in these far northern regions under the thin
veneer of the orthodox Russian Christianity
.Shamanism" Is the name Of this ancient
worship without written records and of diverse
and contradictory traditional forms Further TO
the north the fungus tribes. on the Lena River,
are avowedly ''Shamanists." They are only
partially spoiled by the ravages Of civilization
and possess most attractive traits Their unlm-
peachable honesty and straightforwardness VIII
make them pay not only their own debts, but
those of their dead forefathers. and their pride
forms a very pleasant contrast to the deceltful-
ness and mendacity Of the other natives:
If you give present to fungus : Of Of this ti6,,
type he win not receive it unless he can give you
q present in return Of much greater Value
At a village on the lower Lena Mr.. Stadling
lives Of two members Of the Jeanette expedi-
tion-Noros and Nindemann, sent in advance by
De Long TO obtain reef-and who carries on his
chest the medal bestowed him by the United
States Government. Mr.. Stadling almost came
TO grief in the same region. He started out in
small boat through the Lena Delta westward.
Storms delayed the party and nearly wrecked
the boat, and finally they found themselves
frozen in uninhabited island, from which
native help succored them. The frozen ocean
must be crossed with dog sledges and then came
deer. Mr.. Stadling believes that this portion
OF Siberia had never before been traversed by
civilized man. Ptarmigan We're so tame that
they would light in the caravan. and a couple
OF white foxes with the sedges. The jour
ney across the Taimyr Peninsula was an exceed
ingly difficult one. but brought the voyagers
finally TO the Yensei River and then back to
the Siberian railway. AS TO the immediate pur-
pose Of his journey, Mr.. Stadling says:
We may now, I believe. take it for granted
that Andree and his companions did not land
on the Siberian coast east of the peninsula OF
Taimyr, while il is equally improbabl that they
reached the most northern parts Of this pen
insula. Moreover. in the latter case if Andree
ana his companions still had their rifles and
ammunition they should nave been able 10
preserve their lives till they reached some native
camp Tor Northern Taimyr abounds in game