northern part of Spitzbergen, which affords their natural food. They could be yoked to sledges framed of the lightest materials, adapted for the accommodation of the adventurers, and the conveyance of the requisites. The provisions for the adventurers, for compactness, might consist of portable soups, potted meats, &c., and compressed lichen for the rein-deer. The instruments and apparatus might be in a great measure confined to indispensables, and those of the most portable kinds; such as tents, defensive weapons, sextants, chronometers, magnetic needles, thermometers, &c.

As the rein-deer is, however, a delicate animal, difficult to. guide, and might be troublesome if thin or broken ice were required to be passed,-dogs would seem in some respects to be preferable. In either case, the animals must be procured from the countries wherein they are trained, and drivers would probably be required with them. The journey might be accelerated by expanding a sail to every favourable breeze, at the same time the animals would be relieved from the oppression of their draught. It would appear from the reputed speed of the rein-deer, that, under favourable circumstances, the journey might be accomplished even in a fortnight, allowing time for rest and accidental delays. It would require a month or six weeks with dogs, at a moderate speed; and, in the event of the failure of these animals on the journey, it does not seem impossible that the return should be effected on foot, with

sledges for the provisions and apparatus.

(a.) Soft snow would diminish the speed, and augment the fatigue of the animal; to avoid which, therefore, it would be necessary to set out by the close of the month of April or the beginning of May; or, at least, some time before the severity of the frost should be too greatly relaxed.

(b.) Want of continuity of the ice, would certainly occasion a troublesome interruption; it might nevertheless be overcome, by having the sledges adapted to answer the purpose of boats; and it is to be expected, that although openings amidst the ice should occur, yet a winding course might in general be pursued, so as to prevent any very great stoppage.

(c.) Many of the most prodigious fields are entirely free from abrupt hummocks, from one extremity to the other, and field ice, as it appears in general, would be easily passable.

(d.) The degree of interruption from mountainous ice, would depend on the quality of its surface.

If, as is most probable, it were smooth, and free from abrupt slopes, it would not prevent the success of the expedition.

2. The direct route would be pointed out, for some part of the way at least, by the magnetic needle; and when its pole should be directed towards the zenith, should that position ever obtain, the sun would be the only guide. Or, the position of the true north being once ascertained, three sledges on a line, at a convenient distance apart, might enable the

leading

leading one to keep a direct course. A chronometer would be an indispensable requisite, as the opportunity for lunar observations could not be expected to occur sufficiently often. Were the Pole gained, the bearing of the sun at the time of noon, by a chronometer adjusted to the meridian of North-west Spitzbergen, would afford a line of direction for the return; and, the position in regard to longitude (were the sun visible) could be corrected, at least twice a-day, as the latitude decreased. The degrees of longitude being so contracted, any required position would be pointed out by the watch, with the greatest precision.

3. (a.) Among the dangers to be apprehended, the coldness of the air stands prominent. As, however, the cold is not sensibly different between the latitudes of 70° and 80° with a strong north wind, it may be presumed that at the Pole itself, it would be very little more oppressive than at the borders of the main ice, in the 81st degree of north latitude, under a hard northerly gale: and since this cold is supportable, that of the Pole may be deemed so likewise. The injurious effects of the severity of the weather, might be avoided by a judicious choice of woollen clothing; the external air being met by an outward garment of varnished silk, and the face defended by a mask, with eyes of glass. The exterior garment would, at the same time, be water-proof, and thus capable of shielding the body from accidental moisture.

(b.) The white bear is the only

ferocious animal known to inhabit those regions, and he rarely makes an attack upon man. At any rate, he might be repulsed by any of fensive weapon. And, as the prey of the bears is scarce in the most northern latitudes, they would not probably occur in any abundance. 4. Hitherto no insurmountable objection has been presented: a few serious obstacles, should they occur, remain to be considered.

(a.) Mountainous land, like mountainous ice, would check the progress of the expedition, in proportion to the ruggedness of its surface, and the steepness of its cliffs. Its occurrence would, nevertheless, form an interesting discovery.

(b.) From the pretended excursions of the Dutch, many have believed that the sea at the Pole is free from ice; were this really the case, the circumstance would certainly be an extraordinary one; but I consider it too improbable to render it necessary to hazard any opinion concerning it.

(c.) From the facts stated in pages 319, 320 of this paper, I think we derive a sanction for calculating on clear weather at all times but with southerly storms; and as these occur but rarely, the progress of the journey would not probably be suspended by an obscure sky, except for short periods and at distant intervals.

Notwithstanding I have now distinctly considered every obvious objection and difficulty to be surmounted, I am nevertheless sensible, that in the realising of any project for discovery, whether at sea or on land, there will occur many adventitious circumstances

by S. five or six leagues, has three high hummocks nearly of an equal, height, two on the northern extremity and one more to the southward. The haze of the atmosphere was too great to observe whether the extremities were low, apparently no vegetation, hills formed of a metallic substance.

Arzenie Island. West south westerly direction from Jarnain in latitude 24° 56′ N. longitude, per chronometer 52° 33′ E. bearing SSW. nine miles, is rather high, a rugged appearance. About a cable's length off the eastern and western extremities there are two rocks a little above water; and on the north-east side a shoal extends nearly a mile from the shore, composed of rocks and coral sand. The Favourite anchored under this island, with the centre of the island bearing S. by EE. five or six miles in 12 fathoms, fine coral sand and shells.

I could not discover any fresh water on this island, but from ravines occasioned from the heavy rains, I have no doubt by sinking wells, water might be procured. The soil consists of metallic substance, no trees, and only a few herbs; the southern side exceedingly rugged, and in breadth I imagine two or three miles, and seven miles in length, which terminates to the WSW. in a low sandy point.

Dalmy Island.-South westerly direction from Arzenie in latitude 24° 36′ N. longitude, per chronometer, 52° 24′ E. bearing SW. S. four leagues, appears rather high; darker colour than the former island; has to the northward a round hill, below which the boundary is bluff but not high; the

northern extremity terminates in a low sand, off which a shoal extends nearly two miles, and ought not to be approached under seven fathoms, as the overfalls are sudden; to the south eastward the island is nearly of an equal height, two or three hummocks above a very low sandy point from north to south, and is about six miles in length, beyond which the pilot informed me a shoal extends to a considerable distance; and it is recommended not to go to the southward of this island, as the overfalls are sudden, and several small islands and sand-banks extend from the Main, which is said to be very low, and distant twenty miles to the southward of this island.

The channel between Arzenie and Dalmy is perfectly clear of shoals, but the overfalls are sudden from 15 to 21 and 12 to 7 fathoms, fine coral sand.

Seer Beni Yass Island-South easterly direction from Dalmy, in latitude 24° 34′ N. longitude, per chronometer, 52° 40′ E. bearing SE. by S. five leagues, rather high in the center, and very rugged appearance terminating to the north western extremity in a low sandy point, apparently seven or eight miles in length.

The pilot informed me the point nearly joins the main land, leaving a narrow channel only navigable for small pearl boats. The whole coast to the westward being very low, off which there are several small islands, and they are considered dangerous to approach. The channel between Arzenie and Seer Beni Yass is deemed safe by the pilot.

Danie Island.-North westerly direction

direction from Dalmy, in latitude 25° 1' N. longitude, per chronometer, 52° 20′ E. is very low, nearly on a level with the sea, about two miles in length, and very narrow; the colour of the sand so nearly resembles the horizon in hazy weather, that great caution and a good look-out are requisite when approaching it.

Sherarou Island.-To the north westerly direction of Danie, in latitude 25° 13′ N. longitude, per chronometer, 52° 18′ E. bearing NNW. 12 miles, appears low, with two small hummocks on each extremity; and off the northern point, at half a mile, a small rock projects above water, and a few smaller rocks off some white sandy bays at the foot of the hummocks, which appear formed of dark metallic substance: the island is narrow, and about three or four miles in length in a north-western direction from this isle, the coast ought to be approached with care, as it is very low, but said to be clear of shoals.

The channel between Danie and Sherarou is clear of shoals, but the overfalls are rather sudden; Eut we had not less than 34 fathoms, sand and a mixture of white coral.

Hawlool Island.-North easterly direction of Sherarou, in latitude 25° 41′ N. longitude, per chronometer, 52° 23′ E. bearing NNW. distance 10 miles, appears high in the centre, gradually decreasing at each extremity; no trees and no appearance of vegetation; the water deep close too.

The above described islands ap

pear formed of the same metallic substance as the islands of Polior, the tombs, &c. &c. off the Persian side of the Gulph, of a brownish colour, their base being formed of coral. They are said not to produce any good fresh water; but, by digging wells, I have every reason to imagine from the appearance of the soil, and what I witnessed on the island of Arzenie, the rain having formed high banks by the rapidity of its torrents, good water might be procured. I do not imagine any of these islands are equal to much cultivation without the aid of considerable indus try; but their situation appears particularly convenient, as they are placed nearly in the centre of a very extensive pearl fishery, on which the finest pearls in the world are produced-the season for the fishery from April to September: the extent of the bank is 200 miles in length, east and west, and north and south 70 miles.

The exact position of these islands I am afraid will not be found quite accurate, as their positions are stated merely from cross bearings, and the strongly heated atmosphere had considerably affected the rate of my chronometer; and the sun and moon not being within distance together, with occasionally hazy weather, caused some difficulty to be surmounted with respect to judging of the imaginary distance off shore, but I hope their situations are sufficiently accurate to render the strangers to this side of the Gulph some assistance in navigating their vessels.