hundred miles in an E. and W. direction, terminated alike in conducting them to an open and navigable sea. From whatever point of the coast their departure was taken, the result was invariably the same; after an ice-journey of more or less continuance, they arrived where further progress in sledges was impossible; where, to use the words of M. von Wrangell, "we beheld the wide immeasurable ocean spread before our gaze, a fearful and magnificent, but to us a melancholy spectacle." [Das unermessliche, offene meer weit ausgebreitet vor uns: ein furchtbarer, grossartiger, aber trauriger anblick!] I need scarcely say, that the spectacle, which to them appeared" melancholy," because it compelled them to renounce the object for which they strove so admirably through years of privation and toil, would wear an aspect of a totally opposite character to those whose success should depend on the facilities of navigation. Setting aside the possibility of the existence of unknown land, the probability of an open sea existing to the north of the Parry Islands, and communicating with Behring Straits, appears to rest on strict analogical reasoning. The distance of either group to Behring Straits is nearly the same. It cannot be doubted, that by calling again into action the energy, and the other admirable qualities which have been fostered and displayed in the Arctic voyages, and by persevering through a suc cession of seasons, a vessel might be successfully forced from the Atlantic to the Pacific, through that confined and encumbered portion of the sea, in which all the recent attempts have been made; and that this would be deemed, and deservedly deemed, an achievement of no ordinary character; but who, that reflects on the interest which has been excited in this country for two centuries and a-half, by the question of a north-west passage ;-on the heroic performances of the earlier navigators, in their frail and insufficient vessels :-and on all the efforts of modern times;-can forbear to wish that the crowning enterprise of so much exertion and so many hopes, may be more suitable to those expectations of a "free and navigable" passage, which formed the reasonable basis of this long-cherished project.* When, in 1583, Davis sailed through the Strait which has since borne his name, his heart misgave him when he was able to discern, though in the extreme distance, "land on both sides of him." "Notwithstanding, desirous to know the certainty," he proceeded, and when he found himself in latitude 75°, in "a great sea, free from ice, large, very salt, blue, and of an unsearchable depth," his hopes *It must be borne in mind, that "the north-west passage," and "the determination and survey of the north coast of America," are distinct geographical problems; the latter, in which the name of Franklin stands preeminent, and which by means of the recent highly praiseworthy exertions of the Hudson's Bay Company, is now nearly completed, is one of the collateral fruits of the interest originally excited by the question of "the north-west passage." revived," and it seemed most manifest that the passage was free, and without impediment." Those who believe that the recent researches are far indeed from disproving the existence of such a passage as Davis sought, will undoubtedly find in M. von Wrangell's narrative a strong support to their opinion, in the probability which it sanctions, of the existence of an open sea in that portion of the passage which has not yet been traversed by ships, namely, between the meridians of Melville Island and Behring Straits. EDWARD SABINE. London, May 25, 1840. CONTENTS. Page Gradual Discovery of the Siberian Coast General Re- view of the Voyages undertaken previously to the Year 1820, in the Polar Ocean, between the Sea of Karskoie and Behring Straits-Inaccuracies of the Maps and Surveys-Object of the Journey from Jakuzk to Nishne Kolymsk-Pack Horses- First Bivouac-The Jakuti-Jakutian Settlement-Mioro- Jurti, Clothing, Customs, Songs, Food, Villages, National Cha- racteristics-The River Aldan-The River Tukulan-Forest Bivouac-Werchow Mountains-Wandering Tungusi-Baralow and Tabolog Stations-Saschsiwersk-Inhabitants of the District -The River Alaseia-The Sardach Station-Sredne Kolymsk |