AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 937, 8 May 1883, Page 2

AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Nature gives, on the authority of Dt Oscar Dickson, the following particulars of the programme of Nordenskj old’s proposed expedition The expedition will leave Sweden early in May next, in all probability in the Government steamer Sophia, and if the state of the ice is favorable to a landing on the east coast this will be effected ; but as this is not expected to be the case until later in the season, Baron Nordenskjold will proceed to the west coast, not for geographical discovery, but to study the appearance and extent of the inland ice on this side before attempting to penetrate from the eastern side. There are also known to. exist on the west coast some very large blocks of ironstone, perhaps of meteoric origin, which a party of the expedition will be despatched to examine. When these researches are finished and the state of the ice more favorable, the vessel will make her way from Cape Farewell along the eastern shore in the open channel, which is generally found between the coast and the drift ice. With regard to the “break” or oasis, believed by Baron Nordenskjold to exist in the interior of Greenland, to which we have previously referred, the explorer has been led to this conviction during his wanderings on the inland ice on a former occasion. He maintains that not only the constant advance of the icamaas, but the fact that the country does not rise continually in the interior, show that the whole land is not covered with perpetual suow and ice ; and this theory, he states, has been further corroborated by the studies made by him and others of the temperature and moisture of the air on the inland ice. The expedition, which will be accompanied by, a complete scientific staff, will also aim at studying the conditions of the drift-ice between Iceland and Gape Farewell, the fossil remains in Greenland, as well as the appearance and quantity of the cosmic dust there. One object will also be, if possible, to recover traces of the former Norse settlement. It is expected that the party will return in September next. Wa understand that the reason why Baron Nordenskjold has not issued any official programme concerning his expedition is that, being occupied with preparations for his journey and public duties, he would not be able to enter into any critical controversies as to his plans and theory.