ARTICLE II-PROFESSOR NORDENSKIÖLD AS AN ARCTIC EXPLORER.

The Arctic Voyages of Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld, 1858-1879. With illustrations and maps. London: Macmillan & Co. 1879.

"Only those who brave its dangers

Comprehend its mystery."

It was not to be expected that the deeds of one so justly famous as the subject of this paper should much longer wait for a historian. For twenty years he has been before the public as an eminent man of science, and a bold and successful discoverer in the Polar world. Within the last five years he has more particularly come into notice for his good fortune in navigating the Kara Sea-that terror of previous voyagersand proving it a practicable water-way between Europe and Asia. His remarkable feat of coasting by ship the entire northern shore of Siberia, and making the North-East Passage, places him in the fore rank of navigators of all times and nations.

The natural desire for more specific information regarding the life and travels of Professor Nordenskiöld may now be very fully gratified. The author of the work before us, Mr. Alexander Leslie, of Aberdeen, has given with the Professor's permission, and often in his own words, a quite complete account of the series of expeditions in which he had taken part previously to the voyage of the Vega. The last trip, so successfully concluded in the summer of 1879, is given in outline, and we are referred to the complete history of the expedition which will appear in due time from the pen of its originator and leading spirit. It is but little to say, that the book, necessarily incomplete, as narrating the deeds of a living and thoroughly energetic explorer, is very satisfactory, inasmuch as it brings into special prominence the history of that cluster of large frozen islands directly between Norway and the Pole. Suitable and clearly printed charts, and numerous characteristic engravings, together with a long list of works on

the Swedish Arctic expeditions in every department, add much to the value of the volume. The whole is prefaced by a racy autobiographical sketch of the Arctic hero, which rapidly traces the progressive steps of his extraordinary career. It is a fitting introduction to, and a means of communicating with, the splendid achievements of the Professor in his chosen field.

Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld was born at Helsingfors, in Finland, November 18, 1832. Descended from a race conspicuous for remarkable talents-particularly for "an ardent love of nature and of scientific research"-he seems to have inherited to the full these qualities, as he has turned them so notably to account. We meet the first known founder of the family in the beginning of the seventeenth century in the person of a Lieutenant Nordberg, of Upland. His son, who changed the family name to Nordenberg, was famed in his day for the novel means he employed to escape the plague which prevailed in Finland. This was no other than taking his family aboard ship, and for several months keeping away from land, till the plague was stayed. His sons were eminent both in state and science. One of them, "the common ancestor of the families bearing the name of Nordenskiöld now living in Sweden and Finland," was the father of Colonel Adolf Gustaf, who became possessor of the estate of Frugord, "in a forestcrowned valley in the department of Nyland," a property still held by the Nordenskiölds. In this genuine Norse home, replete with specimens of natural history, Nils Gustaf was born in 1792. Like many of his ancestors his attention early turned to the natural sciences; and under the instruction of the renowned Berzelius he became a distinguished mineralogist. Liberally supplied by the state with funds, he perfected himself by foreign travel for the post of Chief of the Mining Department in Finland, which he held for thirty years. This was the learned and honored father of the subject of this narrative. The mother's name was Margareta Sofia von Haartman.

I. EARLY LIFE.

At Frugord young Adolf Erik grew up surrounded by the books and collections of generations of a science-loving an cestry; and very early the boy began forming a museum of

minerals and insects for himself, and was often the companion of his father in his collecting tours. Transferred from the teaching of a private tutor to the gymnasium at Borgo the future Professor was at first marked "unsatisfactory" in nearly all his studies, and was declared to be distinguished "only by absolute idleness." A decided improvement, however, soon took place; and before long we find him at the University of Helsingfors, where chemistry, natural history, mathematics, physics, and especially mineralogy and geology, were studied with the greatest zest. The proficiency of the young student in his favorite studies speedily won for him offices of trust and bonor, which might naturally be expected to increase in importance and value. An untoward circumstance, growing out of the peculiar political relations of his native land, deranged the natural course of events.

Finland, with its dark wintry skies, and landscapes set in gloom, seems on that very account the better fitted to send forth those who should brave successfully the icy breath of the North. Lying entirely above the latitude of Cape Farewell, its surface largely lakes and fens, black forests of pine and firs crowning its uplands, while the hard granite crops out on every side, these, with the brief summers, and the long bleak winters accompanied by most destructive tornadoes, must surely make somewhat easy for the native Finn a transition to the dismal shores of Spitzbergen and Siberia. But Finland, under its forbidding surface, holds great stores of mineral wealth,— just as a well-worn hat sometimes covers a splendid brain, and a shabby coat a large and generous heart. Here, then, we find the two requisites for rendering the outfit of the youthful Nordenskiöld complete when he should stand face to face with his life-work.

One other thing was wanting. Within the walls of the University of Helsingfors and in the prolific mineral stores of his native land was enough to occupy his years, and even bring great fame to the son as to the father before him. But this was not to be. The age was ready for a vast outreach into the unknown regions within the Arctic Circle. He must not settle down in ease and opulence in the little world of Helsingfors. So surely is the chosen man fitted for his work, and also

driven to his work. This strip of marsh and pine-covered granite bills, bordering the eastern side of the Gulf of Bothnia, was long a territory coveted by both Russia and Sweden. The latter had the better claim: to the former it fell by the fortune of war in 1809. At the time Adolf began to receive offices and honors from his University the nervous and over officious Count von Berg was Governor general of the land. A students' merrymaking, accompanied by speeches, which, under the influence of wine and good cheer, were undeniably very vehe ment, very foolish and very harmless-as such declamations usually are—was the occasion of great terror to the Governorgeneral; and was the means eventually of causing Adolf, who had taken part in the proceedings, to turn to the more hospitable shores of Sweden, where he was most cordially received. Even then and there his future was awaiting him.

II-WORK IN SPITZBERGEN SEAS.

Some 500 nautical miles above Hammerfest, in Norway, slightly to the west of north, lies an assemblage of large landmasses bearing the general name of Spitzbergen. This country was first brought to the notice of Europe by the renowned Dutch pilot Barents, who on his third and last Arctic voyage discovered Bear Island, and, pushing north, ran up the west side of a land which he believed to be Greenland. When off the north-western point, the extraordinary flight of birds which hovered over the ship, and flew against the sails, led him to name the locality Vogelsang. He then steered to Novaya Zemlya, far to the eastward, where after incredible sufferings he found a grave. To so great a navigator was it given to bring this land to light. The next craft that reached its shores, only eleven years after, was the little Hopewell, piloted by no less famous a voyager, Henry Hudson. This brave man afterward sailed far to the west, and, like his predecessor in these waters, perished in the vicinity of his greatest discoveries. It is strange, indeed, that these two noble men came so near together once on this Newland, as Hudson named it, and then went far asunder, each to a glorious death.-"In a tract published in 1613, by Hessel Gerard, the land was called Spitzbergen," a name ever since retained. From this time on,

for two centuries, whale, seal, and walrus-fleets took possession of the waters around these islands. until their prey was either slaughtered or driven away. By this means the northern and western shores became familiar to Europeans, and tolerably accurate charts are given at an early day. From time to time. some earnest endeavor would be made in the way of discovery pure and simple. Masters Baffin and Fotherby, Captains Edge, Williamszoon, Scoresby, Tschitschakoff, Phipps, Buchan, Clavering, and Parry made such efforts. The Russians, as far back as 1764, built five houses at Bel Sound, intending to form a station here for the purpose of extended voyages to the north and west. Parties of their men wintered here while this vain project was being tried. Thus the southern, western, and northern sides of the Spitzbergen group have been, in one sense, well known for 270 years. But a really comprehensive and thoroughly scientific expedition to that icy waste, with its scanty vegetation, its snowy mantle, its glaciers, and black needle-like peaks-whence is derived its name is a thing of quite modern conception. To the Scandinavians is due this fruitful idea, which has been persistently followed by them. The Norwegian geologist, Keilhau, visited Spitzbergen in 1827. In 1837 Professor Lovén, of Stockholm, dredged along its coast and searched its fossil-bearing rocks. The very next year France sent an expedition thither, in which many Scandinavian savants took part, and gathered valuable results.

It was found, in the progress of discovery, highly important to understand minutely the geology and natural history of this group, and the hydrography of the surrounding seas. The proximity of the island to Europe, also, made access comparatively easy and certain. Professor Lovén grasped the situation and, inspiring with the same enthusiastic spirit Otto Torell, the result was that in the summer of 1858 the latter fitted out the little sloop Frithiof and bore away for West Spitzbergen. Most fortunately, Nordenskiöld was selected as geologist by his friend, the leading spirit of the expedition. Thus, at last, he who had been nurtured in gloomy and inclement Finland, and who knew with exactest knowledge every point of interest to the mineralogist in that country, was now transferred, with robust frame, and a generous enthusiasm,