THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA
ROUND
ASIA AND EUROPE.
VOL. I.
THE
VOYAGE OF THE VEGA
ROUND
ASIA AND EUROPE
WITH A HISTORICAL REVIEW
OF PREVIOUS JOURNEYS ALONG THE NORTH COAST OF THE
OLD WORLD
BY
A.E. NORDENSKIÖLD
TRANSLATED BY ALEXANDER LESLIE
WITH FIVE STEEL PORTRAITS, NUMEROUS MAPS, AND ILLUSTRATIONS
London
MACMILLON AND CO.
1881
IN TWO VOLUMES—VOL. I TO HIS MAJESTY
KING OSCAR II.
THE HIGH PROTECTOR OF THE VEGA EXPEDITION
THIS SKETCH OF THE VOYAGE
HE SO MAGNANIMOUSLY AND GENEROUSLY PROMOTED
IS WITH THE DEEPEST GRATITUDE
MOST HUMBLY
DEDICATED
BY
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
In the work now published I have, along with the sketch of the voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe, of the natural conditions of the north coast of Siberia, of the animal and vegetable life prevailing there, and of the peoples with whom we came in contact in the course of our journey, endeavoured to give a review, as complete as space permitted, of previous exploratory voyages to the Asiatic Polar Sea. It would have been very ungrateful on my part if I had not referred at some length to our predecessors, who with indescribable struggles and difficulties—and generally with the sacrifice of health and life—paved the way along which we advanced, made possible the victory we achieved. In this way besides the work itself has gained a much-needed variety, for nearly all the narratives of the older North-East voyages contain in abundance what a sketch of our adventures has not to offer; for many readers perhaps expect to find in a book such as this accounts of dangers and misfortunes of a thousand sorts by land and sea. May the contrast which thus becomes apparent between the difficulties our predecessors had to contend with and those which the Vega met with during her voyage incite to new exploratory expeditions to the sea, which now, for the first time, has been ploughed by the keel of a sea-going vessel, and conduce to dissipate a prejudice which for centuries has kept the most extensive cultivable territory on the globe shut out from the great Oceans of the World.
The work is furnished with numerous maps and illustrations, and is provided with accurate references to sources of geographical information. For this I am indebted both to the liberal conception which my publisher, Herr FRANS BEIJER, formed of the way in which the work should be executed, and the assistance I have received while it was passing through the press from Herr E.W. Dahlgren, amanuensis at the Royal Library, for which it is a pleasant duty publicly to offer them my hearty thanks.
A.E. NORDENSKIÖLD.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
Having been honoured by a request from Baron Nordenskiöld that I would undertake the translation of the work in which he gives an account of the voyage by which the North-East Passage was at last achieved, and Asia and Europe circumnavigated for the first time, I have done my best to reproduce in English the sense of the Swedish original as faithfully as possible, and at the same time to preserve the style of the author as far as the varying idioms of the two languages permit.
I have to thank two ladies for the help they kindly gave me in reading proofs, and my friend Herr GUSTAF LINDSTRÖM, for valuable assistance rendered in various ways.
Where not otherwise indicated, temperature is stated in degrees of the Centigrade or Celsius thermometer. Longitude is invariably reckoned from the meridian of Greenwich.
Where distance is stated in miles without qualification, the miles are Swedish (one of which is equal to 6.64 English miles), except at [page 372], Vol. I., where the geographical square miles are German, each equal to sixteen English geographical square miles.
ALEX. LESLIE.
CHERRYVALE, ABERDEEN, 24th November, 1881.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
Typographical errors corrected, and alternative spellings noticed during the preparation of this text has been placed
CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
Departure—Tromsoe—Members of the Exhibition—Stay at Maosoe—Limit of Trees—Climate—Scurvy and Antiscorbutics—The first doubling of North Cape—Othere's account of his Travels—Ideas concerning the Geography of Scandinavia current during the first half of the sixteenth century—The oldest Maps of the North—Herbertstein's account of Istoma's voyage—Gustaf Vasa and the North-East Passage—Willoughby and Chancellor's voyages
Departure from Maosoe—Gooseland—State of the Ice—The Vessels of the Expedition assemble at Chabarova—The Samoyed town there—The Church—Russians and Samoyeds—Visit to Chabarova in 1875—Purchase of Samoyed Idols—Dress and dwellings of the Samoyeds—Comparison of the Polar Races—Sacrificial Places and Samoyed Grave on Waygats Island visited—Former accounts of the Samoyeds—Their place in Ethnography.
From the Animal World of Novaya Zemlya—The Fulmar Petrel—The Rotge or Little Auk—Brünnich's Guillemot—The Black Guillemot—The Arctic Puffin—The Gulls—Richardson's Skua—The Tern—Ducks and Geese—The Swan—Waders—The Snow Bunting—The Ptarmigan—The Snowy Owl—The Reindeer—The Polar Bear—The Arctic Fox—The Lemming—Insects—The Walrus—The Seal—Whales.
The Origin of the names Yugor Schar and Kara Sea—Rules for Sailing through Yugor Schar—The "Highest Mountain" on Earth—Anchorages—Entering the Kara Sea—Its Surroundings—The Inland-ice of Novaya Zemlya—True Icebergs rare in certain parts of the Polar Sea—The Natural Conditions of the Kara Sea—Animals, Plants, Bog-ore—Passage across the Kara Sea—The Influence of the Ice on the Sea-bottom—Fresh-water Diatoms on Sea-ice—Arrival at Port Dickson—Animal Life there—Settlers and Settlements at the Mouth of the Yenisej—The Flora at Port Dickson—Evertebrates—Excursion to White Island—Yalmal—Previous Visits—Nummelin's Wintering on the Briochov Islands.
The history of the North-east Passage from 1556 to 1878—Burrough, 1556—Pet and Jackman, 1580—The first voyage of the Dutch, 1594—Oliver Brunel—The second voyage, 1595—The third voyage, 1596—Hudson, 1608—Gourdon, 1611—Bosman, 1625—De la Martinière, 1653—Vlamingh, 1664—Snobberger, 1675—Roule reaches a land north of Novaya Zemlya—Wood and Flawes, 1676—Discussion in England concerning the state of the ice in the Polar Sea—Views of the condition of the Polar Sea still divided—Payer and Weyprecht, 1872-74.
The North-east Voyages of the Russians and Norwegians—Rodivan Ivanov, 1690—The Great Northern Expedition 1734-37—The supposed Richness in metals of Novaya Zemlya—Iuschkov, 1757—Savva Loschkin, 1760—Rossmuislov, 1768—Lasarev, 1819—Lütke, 1821-24—Ivanov, 1822-28—Pachtussov, 1832-35—Von Baer, 1837—Zivolka and Moissejev, 1838-39—Von Krusenstern, 1860-62—The Origin and History of the Polar Sea Hunting—Carlsen, 1868—Ed. Johannesen, 1869-70—Ulve, Mack, and Quale, 1870—Mack, 1871—Discovery of the Relics of Barent's wintering—Tobiesen's wintering 1872-73—The Swedish Expeditions 1875 and 1876—Wiggins, 1876—Later voyages to and from the Yenisej.
Departure from Port Dickson—Landing on a rocky island east of the Yenisej—Self-dead animals—Discovery of crystals on the surface of the drift-ice—Cosmic dust—Stay in Actinia Bay—Johannesen's discovery of the island Ensamheten—Arrival at Cape Chelyuskin—The natural state of the land and sea there—Attempt to penetrate right eastwards to the New Siberian Islands—The effect of the mist—Abundant dredging-yield—Preobraschenie Island—Separation from the Lena at the mouth of the river Lena.
The voyage of the Fraser and the Express up the Yenisej and their return to Norway—Contract for the piloting of the Lena up the Lena river—The voyage of the Lena through the delta and up the river to Yakutsk—The natural state of Siberia in general—The river territories—The fitness of the land for cultivation and the necessity for improved communications—The great rivers, the future commercial highways of Siberia—Voyage up the Yenisej in 1875—Sibiriakoff's Island—The tundra—The primeval Siberian forest—The inhabitants of Western Siberia: the Russians, the Exiles, the "Asiatics"—Ways of travelling on the Yenisej, dog-boats, floating trading stores propelled by steam—New prospects for Siberia.
The new Siberian Islands—The Mammoth—Discovery of Mammoth and Rhinoceros mummies—Fossil Rhinoceros horns—Stolbovoj Island—Liachoff Island—First discovery of this island—Passage through the sound between this island and the mainland—Animal life there—Formation of ice in water above the freezing point—The Bear Islands—The quantity and dimensions of the ice begin to increase—Different kinds of sea-ice—Renewed attempt to leave the open channel along the coast—Lighthouse Island—Voyage along the coast to Cape Schelagskoj—Advance delayed by ice, shoals, and fog—First meeting with the Chukches—Landing and visits to Chukch villages—Discovery of abandoned encampments—Trade with the natives rendered difficult by the want of means of exchange—Stay at Irkaipij—Onkilon graves—Information regarding the Onkilon race—Renewed contact with the Chukches—Kolyutschin Bay—American statements regarding the state of the ice north of Behring's Straits—The Vega beset.
Wintering becomes necessary—The position of the Vega—The ice round the vessel—American ship in the neighbourhood of the Vega when frozen in—The nature of the neighbouring country—The Vega is prepared for wintering—Provision-depôt and observatories established on land—The winter dress—Temperature on board—Health and dietary—Cold, wind, and snow—The Chukches on board—Menka's visit—Letters sent home—Nordquist and Hovgaard's excursion to Menka's encampment—Another visit of Menka—The fate of the letters—Nordquist's journey to Pidlin—Find of a Chukch grave—Hunting—Scientific work—Life on board—Christmas Eve.
PORTRAITS.
Engraved on Steel by G.J. Stodart of London.
LITHOGRAPHED MAPS.
[1. Map of North Europe, from Nicholas Donis's edition of Ptolemy's Cosmographia, Ulm, 1482]
[2. Map of the North, from Jakob Ziegler's Schondia, Strassburg, 1532]
[7. Sketch-Map of Taimur Sound; Map of Actinia Bay, both by G. Bove]
[8. Map of the River System of Siberia]
LIST OF WOOD-CUTS IN VOL I.
The wood-cuts, when not otherwise stated below, were engraved at Herr Wilhelm Meyer's Xylographic Institute in Stockholm.
[1. The Vega under sail, drawn by Captain J. Hagg]
[2. The Vega—Longitudinal section, drawn by Lieut. C.A.M. Hjulhammar]
[3. " " Plan of arrangement under deck, drawn by ditto]
[4. " " Plan of upper deck, drawn by ditto]
[5. The Lena—Longitudinal section, drawn by Marine-engineer J. Pihlgren]
[6. " " Plan of arrangement under deck, drawn by ditto]
[7. " " Plan of upper deck, drawn by ditto]
[8. Flag of the Swedish Yacht Club, drawn by V. Andrén]
[9. Tromsoe, drawn by R. Haglund]
[10. Old World Polar dress, drawn by O. Sörling]
[11. New World Polar Dress, drawn by Docent A. Kornrup, Copenhagen]
[12. Limit of Trees in Norway, drawn by R. Haglund, engraved by J. Engberg]
[13. Limit of Trees in Siberia, drawn by ditto]
[14. The Cloudberry (Rubus Chamæmorus, L.), drawn by Mrs. Professor A. Anderssen]
[15. Norse Ship of the Tenth Century, drawn by Harald Schöyen, Christiania]
[16. Sebastian Cabot, engraved by Miss Ida Falander]
[17. Sir Hugh Willoughby, engraved by J. D. Cooper, London]
[19. Vardoe in our days, drawn by R. Haglund]
[20. Coast Landscape from Matotschkin Schar, drawn by R. Haglund]
[21. Church of Chabarova, drawn by V. Andrén]
[22. Samoyed Woman's Hood, drawn by O. Sörling]
[23. Samoyed Sleigh, drawn by R. Haglund]
[24. Lapp Akja, drawn by ditto; engraved by J. Engberg]
[25. Samoyed Sleigh and Idols]
[26. Samoyed Idols, drawn by O. Sörling]
[27. Samoyed Hair Ornaments, drawn by ditto]
[28. Samoyed Woman's Dress, drawn by R. Haglund]
[29. Samoyed Bolt with Knife, drawn by O. Sörling]
[30. Sacrificial Eminence on Vaygat's Island, drawn by R. Haglund; engraved by J. Engberg]
[31. Idols from the Sacrificial Cairn, drawn by O. Sörling]
[32. Sacrificial Cavity on Vaygat's Island, drawn by V. Andrén]
[33. Samoyed Grave on Vaygat's Island, drawn by R. Haglund; engraved by O. Dahlbäck]
[35. Samoyeds from Schleissing's Neu-entdektes Sieweria]
[36. Breeding-place for Little Auks, drawn by H. Haglund]
[37. The Little Auk, or Rotge (Mergulus Alle, L.), drawn by M. Westergren]
[38. The Loom, or Brünnich's Guillemot (Uria Brünnichii, Sabine), drawn by ditto]
[39. The Arctic Puffin (Mormon Arcticus, L.), drawn by ditto]
[40. The Black Guillemot (Uria Grylle, L.), drawn by ditto]
[41. Breeding-place for Glaucous Gulls, drawn by R. Haglund]
[45. Heads of the Eider, King Buck, Barnacle Goose, and White-fronted Goose, drawn by ditto]
[46. Bewick's Swan (Cygnus Bewickii, Yarr.), drawn by M. Westergren]
[47. Breastbone of Cygnus Bewickii, showing the peculiar position of the windpipe, drawn by ditto]
[48. Ptarmigan Fell, drawn by R. Haglund]
[49. The Snowy Owl (Strix nyctea, L.), drawn by M. Westergren]
[50. Reindeer Pasture, drawn by R. Haglund]
[51. Polar Bears, drawn by G. Mützel, engraved by K. Jahrmargt, both of Berlin]
[53. Walruses, drawn by M. Westergren]
[54. Walrus Tusks, drawn by ditto]
[55. Hunting Implements, drawn by O. Sörling]
[56. Walrus Hunting, after Olaus Magnus]
[57. Walruses (female with young)]
[58. Japanese Drawing of the Walrus]
[59. Young of the Greenland Seal, drawn by M. Westergren]
[60. The Bearded Seal (Phoca barbata, Fabr.), drawn by ditto]
[61. The Rough Seal (Phoca hispida, Erxl.), drawn by ditto]
[62. The White Whale (Delphinapterus leucas, Pallas), drawn by ditto]
[64. View from the Inland-ice of Greenland, drawn by H. Haglund]
[65. Greenland Ice-fjord, drawn by ditto]
[66. Slowly advancing Glacier, drawn by ditto]
[67. Glacier with Stationary Front, drawn by O. Sörling]
[68. Umbellula from the Kara Sea, drawn by M. Westergren]
[69. Elpidia Glacialis (Théel.), from the Kara Sea, drawn by ditto]
[70. Manganiferous Iron-ore Formations from the Kara Sea, drawn by O. Sörling]
[71. Section from the South Coast of Matotschkin Sound, drawn by the geologist, E. Erdman]
[72. Map of the Mouth of the Yenisej (zincograph)]
[73. Ruins of a Simovie at Krestovskoj, drawn by O. Sörling]
[74. Sieversia Glacialis, R. Br., from Port Dickson, drawn by Mrs. Prof. Anderssen]
[75. Evertebrates from Port Dickson, Yoldia artica, Gray, and Diastylis Rathkei, Kr., drawn by M. Westergren]
[76. Place of Sacrifice on Yalmal, drawn by R. Haglund]
[77. "Jordgammor" on the Briochov Islands, drawn by ditto]
[81. Jan Huyghen van Linschoten]
[82. Kilduin, in Russian Lapland, in 1594]
[83. Map of Fietum Nassovicum or Yugor Schar]
[84. Unsuccessful Fight with a Polar Bear]
[85. Barents' and Rijp's Vessels]
[90. Ammonite with Gold Lustre (Ammonites alternans, v. Buch) drawn by M. Westergren]
[91. View from Matotschkin Schar, drawn by R. Haglund]
[92. Friedrich Benjamin von Lütke, drawn and engraved by Miss Ida Falander]
[93. August Karlovitz Zivolka, drawn and engraved by ditto]
[94. Paul von Krusenstern, Junior, drawn and engraved by ditto]
[95. Michael Konstantinovitsch Sidoroff, drawn and engraved by ditto]
[96. Norwegian Hunting Sloop, drawn by Captain J. Hagg]
[97. Elling Carlson, engraved by J. D. Cooper, of London]
[98. Edward Hohn Johannesen, engraved by ditto]
[99. Sivert Kristian Tobiesen, engraved by ditto]
[100. Tobiesen's Winter House on Bear Island, drawn by R. Haglund]
[101. Joseph Wiggins, drawn by R. Haglund]
[102. David Ivanovitsch Schwanenberg, drawn and engraved by Miss Ida Falander]
[103. Gustaf Adolf Nummelin, drawn and engraved by ditto]
[104. The Sloop Utrennaja Saria, drawn by Captain J. Hagg]
[105. The Vega, and Lena anchored to an Ice-floe, drawn by R. Haglund]
[106. Hairstar from the Taimur Coast (Antedon Eschrictii, J. Müller) drawn by M. Westergren]
[107. Form of the Crystals found on the ice off the Taimur Coast]
[108. Section of the upper part of the Snow on a Drift-ice Field in 80° N.L.]
[109. Grass from Actinia Bay (Pleuropogon Sabini, R.Br.), drawn by Mrs. Professor Andersson]
[110. The Vega and Lena saluting Cape Chelyuskin, drawn by R. Haglund]
[111. View at Cape Chelyuskin during the stay of the Expedition, drawn by ditto]
[112. Draba Alpina, L., from Cape Chelyuskin, drawn by M. Westergren]
[113. The Beetle living farthest to the North (Micralymma Dicksoni, Mackl.) drawn by ditto]
[114. Ophiuroid from the Sea north of Cape Chelyuskin (Ophiacantha bidentata Retz.), drawn by ditto]
[115. Sea Spider (pycnogonid) from the Sea east of Cape Chelyuskin, drawn by ditto]
[116. Preobraschenie Island, drawn by R. Haglund]
[117. The steamer Fraser, drawn by ditto]
[118. The Steamer Lena, drawn by ditto]
[119. Hans Christian Johannesen, engraved by J.D. Cooper, London]
[120. Yakutsk in the Seventeenth Century]
[121. Yakutsk in our days, drawn by R. Haglund]
[122. River View from the Yenisej, drawn by ditto]
[123. Sub-fossil Marine Crustacea from the tundra, drawn by M. Westergren]
[124. Siberian River Boat, drawn by R. Haglund]
[125. Ostyak Tent, drawn by ditto]
[126. Towing with Dogs on the Yenisej, drawn by Professor R.D. Holm]
[127. Fishing-boats on the Ob, drawn R. Haglund]
[128. Graves in the Primeval Forest of Siberia, drawn by ditto]
[129. Chukch Village on a Siberian River, drawn by ditto]
[131. Restored Form of the Mammoth]
[132. Siberian Rhinoceros Horn, drawn by M. Westergren and V. Andrén]
[133. Stolbovoj Island, drawn by R. Haglund]
[134. Idothea Entomon, Lin., drawn by M. Westergren]
[135. Idothea Sabinei, Kröyer, drawn by ditto]
[136. Ljachoff's Island, drawn by E. Haglund]
[137. Beaker Sponges from the Sea off the mouth of the Kolyma, drawn by M. Westergren]
[138. Lighthouse Island, drawn by R. Haglund]
[139. Chukch Boats, drawn by O. Sörling]
[140. A Chukch in Seal-gut Great-coat, drawn and engraved by Miss Ida Falander]
[141. Chukch Tent, drawn by R. Haglund]
[142. Section of a Chukch Grave, drawn by O. Sörling]
[143. Irkaipij, drawn by R. Haglund]
[144. Ruins of an Onkilon House, drawn by O. Sörling]
[145. Implements found in the Ruins of an Onkilon House, drawn by ditto]
[146. Alga from Irkaipij (Laminaria Solidungula, J.G. Ag.), drawn by M. Westergren]
[147. Cormorant from Irkaipij (Graculus bierustatus, Pallas), drawn by ditto]
[148. Pieces of Ice from the Coast of the Chukch Peninsula, drawn by O. Sörling]
[149. Toross from the neighbourhood of the Vega's Winter Quarters, drawn by R. Haglund]
[150. The Vega in Winter Quarters, drawn by ditto]
[151. The Winter Dress of the Vega men, drawn by Jungstedt]
[152. Cod from Pitlekaj (Gadus navaga, Kolreuter), drawn by M. Westergren]
[153. Kautljkau, a Chukch Girl from Irgunnuk, drawn and engraved by Miss Ida Falander]
[154. Chukches Angling, drawn by O. Sörling]
[155. Ice-Sieve, drawn by ditto]
[156. Smelt from the Chukch Peninsula (Osmerus eperlanus, Lin.), drawn by M. Westergren]
[157. Wassili Menka, drawn by O. Sörling, engraved by Miss Ida Falander]
[158. Chukch Dog-Sleigh, drawn by ditto]
[159. Chukch Bone-carvings, drawn by O. Sörling]
[160. Hares from Chukch Land, drawn by M. Westergren]
[161. The Observatory at Pitlekaj, drawn by R. Haglund]
[163. Refraction Halo, drawn by ditto]
[164. Reflection Halo, drawn by ditto]
[165. Section of the Beach Strata at Pitlekaj]
[166. Christmas Eve on the Vega, drawn by V. Andrén]
[ERRATA] [ Transcriber's note: these have been applied to the text ]
Page 44, under Wood-cut for "chammmorus" read "chamæmorus."
Page 58, lines 21, 24, end 28 for "pearls" read "beads."
Page 140, line 13 from top, for"swallow" read "roll away."
Page 184, last line, for "one-third" read "one-and-a-half times."
Page 377, note, for "It is the general rule" read "For the northern hemisphere it is a general rule."
Page 476, line 12 from top, for "leggins" read "leggings."
Page 481, under wood-cut, for "half the natural size" read "one-third of the natural size."
Page 494, under wood-cut, for "half the natural size" read "one-third of the natural size."
The voyage, which it is my purpose to sketch in this book, owed its origin to two preceding expeditions from Sweden to the western part of the Siberian Polar Sea, in the course of which I reached the mouth of the Yenisej, the first time in 1875 in a walrus-hunting sloop, the Procven, and the second time in 1876 in a steamer, the Ymer.
After my return from the latter voyage, I came to the conclusion, that, on the ground of the experience thereby gained, and of the knowledge which, under the light of that experience, it was possible to obtain from old, especially from Russian, explorations of the north coast of Asia, I was warranted in asserting that the open navigable water, which two years in succession had carried me across the Kara Sea, formerly of so bad repute, to the mouth of the Yenisej, extended in all probability as far as Behring's Straits, and that a circumnavigation of the old world was thus within the bounds of possibility. It was natural that I should endeavour to take advantage of the opportunity for making new and important discoveries which thus presented itself. An opportunity had arisen for solving a geographical problem—the forcing a north-east passage to China and Japan—which for more than three hundred years had been a subject of competition between the world's foremost commercial states and most daring navigators, and which, if we view it in the light of a circumnavigation of the old world, had, for thousands of years back, been an object of desire for geographers. I determined, therefore, at first to make use, for this purpose, of the funds which Mr. A. SIBIRIAKOFF, after my return from the expedition of 1876, placed at my disposal for the continuation of researches in the Siberian Polar Sea. For a voyage of the extent now contemplated, this sum, however, was quite insufficient. On this account I turned to His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, with the inquiry whether any assistance in making preparations for the projected expedition might be reckoned upon from the public funds. King OSCAR, who, already as Crown Prince, had given a large contribution to the Torell expedition of 1861, immediately received my proposal with special warmth, and promised within a short time to invite the Swedish members of the Yenisej expeditions and others interested in our voyages of exploration in the north, to meet him for the purpose of consultation, asking me at the same time to be prepared against the meeting with a complete exposition of the reasons on which I grounded my views—differing so widely from the ideas commonly entertained—of the state of the ice in the sea off the north coast of Siberia.
This assembly took place at the palace in Stockholm, on the 26th January, 1877, which may be considered the birthday of the Vega Expedition, and was ushered in by a dinner, to which a large number of persons were invited, among whom were the members of the Swedish royal house that happened to be then in Stockholm; Prince JOHN OF GLÜCKSBURG; Dr. OSCAR
DICKSON, the Gothenburg merchant; Baron F.W. VON OTTER, Councillor of State and Minister of Marine, well known for his voyages in the Arctic waters in 1868 and 1871; Docent F.K. KJELLMAN, Dr. A. STUTXBERG, the former a member of the expedition which wintered at Mussel Bay in 1872-73, and of that which reached the Yenisej in 1875, the latter, of the Yenisej Expeditions of 1875 and 1876; and Docents HJALMAR THÉEL and A.N. LUNDSTRÖM, both members of the Yenisej Expedition of 1875.
After dinner the programme of the contemplated voyage was laid before the meeting, almost in the form in which it afterwards appeared in print in several languages. There then arose a lively discussion, in the course of which reasons were advanced for, and against the practicability of the plan. In particular the question concerning the state of the ice and the marine currents at Cape Chelyuskin gave occasion to an exhaustive discussion. It ended by His Majesty first of all declaring himself convinced of the practicability of the plan of the voyage, and prepared not only as king, but also as a private individual, to give substantial support to the enterprise. Dr. Oscar Dickson shared His Majesty's views, and promised to contribute to the not inconsiderable expenditure, which the new voyage of exploration would render necessary. This is the sixth expedition to the high north, the expenses of which have been defrayed to a greater or less extent by Dr. O. Dickson.[1] He became the banker of the Vega Expedition, inasmuch as to a considerable extent he advanced the necessary funds, but after our return the expenses were equally divided between His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, Dr. Dickson, and Mr. Sibiriakoff.
I very soon had the satisfaction of appointing, as superintendents of the botanical and zoological work of the expedition in this new Polar voyage, my old and tried friends from previous expeditions, Docents Dr. Kjellman and Dr. Stuxberg, observers so well known in Arctic literature. At a later period, another member of the expedition that wintered on Spitzbergen in 1872-73, Lieutenant (now Captain in the Swedish Navy) L. PALANDER, offered to accompany the new expedition as commander of the vessel—an offer which I gladly accepted, well knowing, as I did from previous voyages, Captain Palander's distinguished ability both as a seaman and an Arctic explorer. Further there joined the expedition Lieutenant GIACOMO BOVE, of the Italian Navy; Lieutenant A. HOVGAARD, of the Danish Navy; Medical candidate E. ALMQUIST, as medical officer; Lieutenant O. NORDQUIST, of the Russian Guards; Lieutenant E. BRUSEWITZ, of the Swedish Navy; together with twenty-one men—petty officers and crew, according to a list which will be found further on.
An expedition of such extent as that now projected, intended possibly to last two years, with a vessel of its own, a numerous well-paid personnel, and a considerable scientific staff, must of course be very costly. In order somewhat to diminish the expenses, I gave in, on the 25th August, 1877, a memorial to the Swedish Government with the prayer that the steamer Vega, which in the meantime had been purchased for the expedition, should be thoroughly overhauled and made completely seaworthy at the naval dockyard at Karlskrona; and that, as had been done in the case of the Arctic Expeditions of 1868 and 1872-73, certain grants of public money should be given to the officers and men of the Royal Swedish Navy, who might take part as volunteers in the projected expedition. With reference to this petition the Swedish Government was pleased, in terms of a letter of the Minister of Marine, dated the 31st December, 1877, both to grant sea-pay, &c., to the officer and eighteen men of the Royal Navy, who might take part in the expedition in question, and at the same time to resolve on making a proposal to the Diet in which additional grants were to be asked for it. The proposal to the Diet of 1878 was agreed to with that liberality which has always distinguished the representatives of the Swedish people when grants for scientific purposes have been asked for; which was also the case with a private motion made in the same Diet by the President, C.F. WAERN, member of the Academy of Sciences, whereby it was proposed to confer some further privileges on the undertaking.
It is impossible here to give at length the decision of the Diet, and the correspondence which was exchanged with the authorities with reference to it. But I am under an obligation of gratitude to refer to the exceedingly pleasant reception I met with everywhere, in the course of these negotiations, from officials of all ranks, and to give a brief account of the privileges which the expedition finally came to enjoy, mainly owing to the letter of the Government to the Marine Department, dated the 14th June, 1878.
Two officers and seventeen men of the Royal Swedish Navy having obtained permission to take part in the expedition as volunteers, I was authorised to receive on account of the expedition from the treasury of the Navy, at Karlskrona—with the obligation of returning that portion of the funds which might not be required, and on giving approved security—full sea pay for two years for the officers, petty officers, and men taking part in the expedition; pay for the medical officer, at the rate of 3,500 Swedish crowns a year, for the same time; and subsistence money for the men belonging to the Navy, at the rate of one and a half Swedish crowns per man per day. The sum, by which the cost of provisions exceeded the amount calculated at this rate, was defrayed by the expedition, which likewise gave a considerable addition to the pay of the sailors belonging to the Navy. I further obtained permission to receive, on account of the expedition, from the Navy stores at Karlskrona, provisions, medicines, coal, oil, and other necessary equipment, under obligation to pay for any excess of value over 10,000 Swedish crowns (about 550l.); and finally the vessel of the expedition was permitted to be equipped and made completely seaworthy at the naval dockyard at Karlskrona, on condition, however, that the excess of expenditure on repairs over 25,000 crowns (about 1,375l.) should be defrayed by the expedition.
THE VEGA.
1. Powder magazine.
2. Instrument room.
3. Sofa in gunroom.
4. Cabin for Lieut. Brusewitz
5. Cabin fur Lieuts. Bove and Hovgaard.
6. Pantry during winter.
7. Corridor.
8. Cabin for Dr. Stuxberg and Lieut. Nordquist.
9. Gunroom.
10. Table in gunroom.
11. Cabin for Dr. Almquist.
12. Cabin for Dr. Kjellman.
13. Stove.
14. Cabin for Capt. Palander.
15. Cabin for Prof. Nordenskiöld.
16. Corridor (descent to gunroom).
17. Coal bankers.
18. Boiler.
19. Storeroom 'tween decks.
20. Pilot's cabin.