Our little raft of ice was an island tossed about in a boisterous sea. But towards evening the billows seemed to subside, and the ice closed in together and became packed again. Once more we seemed to have escaped death. With thankful hearts we took a little food, threw ourselves on our beds, and endeavoured to find strength in sleep.'

After many terrible days and nights,-in fact, they were 200 days upon this ice-field,—they were at last carried by the current almost as far as Cape Farewell. They then deemed it prudent and necessary to leave the ice-raft, which had been gradually diminishing and becoming insecure, and take to the boats. By alternately toiling at the oars and dragging their boats over rough hummocky ice, they succeeded in reaching a barren island, in a very exhausted condition, having been four weeks in crossing that short distance from their late floe. After much renewed privation, and many other dangers, they were enabled by a merciful Providence to reach Frederichstahl, a Danish settlement, where the Moravian missionaries have a large establishment. We need not follow them farther, although their adventures were by no means concluded, except to say that they reached home in safety, but in a pitiable plight, after an absence of fifteen months.

Meanwhile, what had the Germania been doing? A few sentences must suffice for an answer. After hopelessly looking for the Hansa, Captain Koldewey made for the north-west, and passed Pendulum Island and Shannon Isles, spots which had been visited by others fifty years before. Farther north he found it impossible to go with his ship. Along with Lieutenant Payer, however, he made some long and important sledge journeys; reached as

high as the 77th parallel, and named a promontory Cape Bismarck. Towards the south he discovered a large sound, which he named Franz Joseph Fiord, after the Emperor of Austria; and called the whole territory King William Land, as a compliment to the King of Prussia. This notice must conclude our account of the expedition sent out by Germany. The name just mentioned above-Lieutenant Payer has now to be mentioned in connection with another expedition. Accompanied by Lieutenant Weyprecht, he led what is known as the AustroHungarian expedition. From a paper of his which was read before the Royal Geographical Society in London, in November 1874, we think his discoveries are as important as any yet recorded. Having made a preliminary voyage in 1871, in the sea between Nova Zembla and Spitzbergen, which he found comparatively free from ice as high as lat. 79° N., he formed the opinion that a more careful voyage in that direction, and along the Siberian coast, would be of immense importance. Consequently, a steamer, the Tegethoff, was liberally fitted out in 1872, and despatched on the voyage. Lieutenant Weyprecht commanded the ship; Payer took charge of the sledging operations, and generally of the whole expedition. Both men

were well chosen. Payer was an excellent seaman ; and besides his experience in the two expeditions we have named, he had been for years distinguished as an Alpine explorer. Each of them received a gold medal-the only gold medals of the yearfrom the British Geographical Society, at the annual meeting in May 1875, for the enterprise and ability displayed.

The Tegethoff was joined by Captain Carlsen, an experienced Norwegian whaler and old Arctic 'salt,'

who was to act as pilot. The open sea, however, of the year before was now filled with ice, and the ship was imprisoned in it for two winters. Payer performed many sledge journeys, and made numerous discoveries along the Siberian coast. His principal feat was a seventeen days' sledge journey to the north, where he discovered a hitherto unknown land, which he named Franz Joseph Land. He reached lat. 82° 5' N., and traced the coast-line as far as 83°, naming a headland there Cape Vienna, and the land beyond Petermann Land, after the famous geographer before mentioned.

In presenting the medals to these two leaders (through their representative, Count Von Beust, the Austrian ambassador), Sir Henry Rawlinson characterized the expedition as one of the most remarkable that had ever been made in the Arctic regions. He said: 'It has attracted our admiration in this country as a noble instance of combined daring, skill, and endurance. We are further indebted in some degree to its successful termination for having stimulated our own Government to send forth the Discovery and Alert. We sincerely congratulate Austria on the achievements of her gallant children, and I request your excellency, in presenting the Founder's Medal to Lieutenant Weyprecht, and the Patron's Medal to Lieutenant Payer, to assure them that their English brethren hail them with cordiality and joy as fellow-labourers in our common field of geographical discovery and research.'

In 1871, a private expedition of the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia contributed some valuable information on the currents and sea temperature off the north coast of Asiatic Russia.

Ibid.

LESSON 6.

STORIES OF ARCTIC

EXPLORATIONS.

VI. THE EXPEDITION OF 1875-76.

amputated, cut off impracticable, not to be

done

pernicious, highly injurious predilection, preference premises, propositions in an argument

tender, small vessel with provisions, etc. thermometer, instrument for measuring the temperature

trended, stretched, curved

By a reference to a map of the world you will see that there are four principal routes to the North Pole :

1. By Behring Strait. The journey of M'Clure and many others proved that this was thoroughly impracticable, the ice presenting more difficulties than in any other sea.

2. The Smith Sound route, which was so successfully followed up by Kane, Hayes, and poor Captain Hall.

3. Through Barentz Sea, between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla; also followed up with considerable success (as we have just read) by the AustroHungarian expedition.

D