202

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

OBJECT AND EXTENT OF DISCOVERY.

Penetrated, it is supposed, as far as Liakhow Island; and, after suffering many hardships, the leaders were murdered by their company.

Sailed eastward from the Kolyma as far as Svätoi Noss.

Performed long journeys, but without meeting any success.

Meeting with great quantities of drift ice, he returned, without effecting any discovery.

Set out later in the year, but again returned unsuccessful.

Partially explored Krestowoi, one of the Bear Isles, the existence of which had been asserted by Ivan Wilegin, a fur-hunter.

Were sent eastward, intending to reach the Obi; they were, however, unable to penetrate much beyond the Petchora.

Reinforced the preceding expedition, and, on the 11th September, 1737, reached the mouth of the River Obi.

Explored the Obi, and proceeded northwards; but on the 18th July, 1735, returned, in consequence of sickness breaking out.

Sailed eastward from the Gulf of Obi to the Tenissei, in ascending which
they were stopped by the ice 100 wersts below Turuchansk, on 1st
October, 1737, when both commanders were recalled.

Took command of the above expedition, to endeavour to double Cape Taimura,
but made no new discovery, failing in the main object of the enterprize.
Surveyed the river to its mouth.

Explored the coast from the Ienissei to the North-east Islands, in sledges,
when he returned.

Sailed north from the mouth of the river; passed the mouth of the Pässina; ran north to 75° 15′ lat.; returned to the Ienissei, and surveyed it as far as Ianisseisk.

DATE.

BY WHOM UNDERTAKEN.

STARTED FROM,

Kolymsk.

Kolymsk.
Kolymsk.

1734

Pawlow and Muraview Archangel

1736

Skuratow, Suchotin,

Petchora

204

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

OBJECT AND EXTENT OF DISCOVERY.

Visited New Siberia.

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

OBJECT AND EXTENT OF DISCOVERY.

This expedition, which was commanded by Lieutenant (now Baron) Von
Wrangell, and Lieutenant Anjou, is, whether viewed with regard to its
objects or results, by far the most important of any of the Russian north-
eastern explorations. To enter minutely into detail would here be a work
of supererogation; referring the reader to Colonel Sabine's translation of
the gallant commander's account of the voyage, it will be sufficient to
state, that they started from St. Petersburg, and explored the coast east-
ward from the Iakutsk, eventually doubling the formidable Cape Chelag-
skoi, visiting Kotelnoi and the Bear Isles, and making several journeys
on the Polar ice till they were stopped by open sea; returning to St.
Petersburg on the 15th August, 1824, having carried out the objects of
the expedition with the greatest courage and skill, and rendered invalu-
able services to the cause of science.

They sailed together, but, separating in a fog in the White Sea, Krotoff was
never more heard of. Pachtussof reached the southern shore of Nova
Zembla, examining the eastern coast as far as the Sawina, and, having
done this, entered the Matotshkin Shar; encountering a heavy gale, he
ran for Petchora, when, his vessel being wrecked, he went back to St.
Petersburg overland. He followed out his discoveries in 1834, having
been again sent out by the Russian government.

*

"Bulletin de l'Academie Impériale de Sciences de St. Petersburg," and Royal Geographical Society's Journal," v. viii., pp. 411-415.

205

CHAPTER XVIII.

Expedition commanded by Captains Parry and Lyon-Winter Quarters-Amusements - Eskimaux -Native Character — Iligliuk-Her Intelligence and Idea of Geography rendered Useful-Further progress-Fruitless Exertions-Second Winter-Return Home-Joyful Reception-Explorations of Mr. Scoresby while Whale Fishing-Discoveries made by Lieutenant-Colonel Sabine and Commander Clavering-Captain Parry's Third Voyage— Hecla and Fury sustain Great Damage -Abandonment of the Fury-Return Home.

THE failure of Captain Parry in the years 1819-20 to make the complete passage to Behring's Straits, was not looked upon at home as anything like a decided defeat, and it required little more than that officer's expressed opinion, that a passage would most probably be found in a lower latitude, and a connexion between Sir Thomas Rowe's Welcome, and Prince Regent's Inlet, to determine the government to fit out a fresh expedition to ascertain the truth or otherwise of this opinion.

On the 30th December 1820, a few months after his return from his former voyage, Captain Parry received his appointment to the Fury bomb, of three hundred and seventy-seven tons, and on the 4th January, 1821, Lieutenant George Francis Lyon, already celebrated as an African traveller, received his commission as commander of her consort, the Hecla.

On the 8th May, the Fury and Hecla, accompanied by the Nautilus transport, freighted with stores,