THE PROPOSED ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9446, 22 June 1891, Page 3

THE PROPOSED ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

(Dr J. J. W:id in the’ Sydney Morning Herald.) The history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration shows that, commencing with, she early Spanish sea captains of the seventeenth century, all the great seafaring nations have, borne an equally distinguished share iu the arduous task of penetrating into the highest latitudes of the earth, and it is a fact of some interest to the present inhabitants of Australia that the first discoveries made in the Antarctic were the result of the search for the unknown “Terra Australia” spoken of by ancient geographers, but forgotten for several centuries until brought to light by tho modern discoveries of Australia. In the Antarctic regions it will be observed that the general distribution of land and water is the exact reverse of what exists in the Arctic region. Instead of a

SEA SURROUNDED BY VAST CONTINENTS, all the lands contained within the Antarctic Circle are surrounded on every side by the waters of the Southern Ocean, which stretches for thousands of miles towards the shores of Australia, Africa and South America, Oae of the first questions to be solved by the proposed expedition is the extent of land to be found within the Antarctic Circle. Looking at the map of the South Polar region, two principal land masses will bo observed, one situated to the southward of Cape lioru, and known, as Graham Land, and the other to tho southward of New Zealand, and named by its discoverers Victoria Land. Both are remarkable for the great height of their mountain ranges, which rise from 7000 ft in the former to 15,000fb iu the latter country, equalling in height tho highest mountains of Europe and of Australasia ; and tiie shores of both ate guarded by numerous islands, mostly of volcanic origin. Between Victoria Land and Graham Land, and opposite the south coast of Australia, the chart records numerous indications of land, but only a few portions have been seen again since the day of their first discovery ; and the proof of their actual existence was one of the results expected from a new survey of the Antarctic regions. In only one or two instances has it been possible for the discoverers to effect a landing, on account of the belt of pack ice and cf ice floes, often from • ten to twenty miles v/ido, which separate them from the shore. A uniform mantle of white covers the polar world, and even the trained eye of a sailor finds it oftefr impossible to mark the boundary which separates sea and land, or to distinguish the summits of snow-covered mountains from the sharply cut outline of the white clouds which rise above the distant horizon. The sky, land and the sea.

ALMOST HIDDEN BY FLOATING ICEBERGS, form an imposing panorama of gigantic masses, clad in white, and towering above the head of the astonished navigator; when lighted up by the gorgeous tints of sun or by the silvery light of the moon, the Antarctic Sea and landscape make up a fairy scene never tp be forgotten. If we consider that this striking panorama has often been scanned through a veil of falling snow or during the confusion of a gale, can it be wondered at that the explorer, eager to grasp the long looked for reward of his perilous undertaking, imagined that he saw land, and placed upon his chart discoveries which had no counterpart in reality ? The uniform latitude nearly coinciding with the Antarctic Circle, in which these numerous indications of land have been placed, seem to afford evidence, not so much of the existence of a continuous coastline, or of a series of islands, as of a.boundary fixed by climatic conditions, and depending upon temperature and latitude. How desirable it is that the discoveries of land recorded by former navigators in the Antarctic regions should be verified by further observations, is rendered evident by the fact that Sir James Boas in longitude IGodeg. east, and Sir George Hares in longitude 95deg. east, sailed over sites still marked as land in modern charts of the Antarctic. As the Challenger met the pack ice in nearly the same position where Commander Wilkes, the discoverer of Termination Land, found it in 1840, it seems probable that this land, if .it really existed, would have to be looked- for to the eastward of longitude 05deg east, and to the southward of latitude- 65deg south. A land containing mountain ranges which rise oyer 10,000 ft in height is not necessarily a land, of continental proportions,' as for instance, New Zealand. Still wears justified in concluding that Victoria Land, the eastern coast line of which has been traced by Sir James Boss over a length of 500 miles, must extend a considerable distance to the westward, and also southward towards the Polo; so that it includes the site of the magnetic South Pole, plaoed by Boss in latitude 76deg south, longitude 154 deg east, about 200 miles to tho northwest of Mount Erebus. Whether the area bounded by tho Antarctic Circle contains mostly laud or mostly sea, it is certainly occupied for Che greater part of its surface by a VAST ACCUMULATION OF BNOW AND ICE, but unlike the Arctic region, which can only discharge the surplus of ice through a few narrow straits, the Antarctic can freely distribute its icebergs over the Southern Ocean, by which it is encircled on all sides. This contrast between the two Polar regions as regards tho distribution of land and water, has not attracted the attention of physical geographers as much as it deserves, considering that it furnishes a satisfactory explanation of the climatic contrast which has been observed between the North and South. Polar areas, and between Arctic and Antarctic ice formation. Tho Arctic zone is noted for its dry atmosphere, its extremes of cold, almost inconiDatible with human life, and its little annual rainfall or snowfall. On the contrary, the Antarctic zone is remarkable for its atmosphere, saturated with moisture, its uniform and comparatively mild temperature, and its abundant snowfall, as shown by the immense sheet of aaow s.nd icc which covers the Antarctic eea, Tho fringe of icebergs which girdled the South Pole has not inaptly been called the Antarctic ice barrier. It confronted all navigators who havo tried to penetrate into this region, and it is the moat formidable obstacle to further discoveries. Means must be devised to lift the explorer .from the deck of his ship to the top of the ice wall, and here captive balloons may be made useful. Captain Cook, who during the years 1773 and 1774 sailed round the whole antarctic region, was repulsed on three different occasions, when near the seventieth parallel of south latitude; But in 1841 and 1813 the expedition commanded by Sir James Boss was fortunate enough to discover A W.CAK JOINT IN THE ARMOUR of the Antarctic giant, and succeeded in penetrating to within a distance of seven hundred nautical miles from the South Pole. These discoveries of Sir James Boss have an important bearing upon the chances of success of the next expedition, since they show the possibility of finding navigable seas within the limits of the Antarctic Circle during the most favourable season of the year. Scientific observation would lead to the inference that the prevailing climate within the Antarctic Circle could hot roach tho extremes of cold experienced in tbe northern parts of America and Asia*’; and that conclusion is supported by the moderate temperatures observed by Cook, Boss, and Wares during their sojourn in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere. The summer months from December to March are the most favourable to Antarctic exploration. Tho voyages of ■-former navigators took place during these four months, so that we possess little or no information as regards the state of the weather during the remaining eight months of the year. It appears from the experience already gained that the navigator, once he has succeeded in crossing the bolt of storms between tbe parallels 40deg and GOieg . .latitude enters jqto a region of Polar calms,.most favourable for Scientific observation. It follows naturally that 1 ONE SEASON WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENT for tbe exploration of the Autarchic region, and that the work of the proposed expedition will occupy two or more summers. At

the commencement of each season the ship or ships, after refitting and taking in fresh, supplies in ' some part of the Southern hemisphere, would proceed towards a certain point in the Antarctic, aud return at the end of the season to work out and publish the results of the last cruise. In this respect, also, the south offered facilities not so easily secured iu the north, inasmuch as the ports of Australasia, of South Africa and of South ' America afford a readily accessible retreat to a scientific expedition engaged in the exploration of the Antarctic. The • uniform and temperate climate of the higher latitudes also favours the establishment of observing stations, where scientific, work could be carried on during the, wiptor months, and thus supplement the observations made during summer on board the exploring ships. Victoria Land, Graham. Land, and Falkland ; Islands,,', Kerguelen and the Macquarie Islands offer many, a sheltered spots where observing stations could be established, and frequent communication maintained* with the civilised world by means, of eteam vessels. As for the staff required ’ ■■Jor,: .these.... statuylß, our universities cqrtfcairi ‘scores of young men pf Miigh scientific attainments who would eagerly embrace the opportunity of engaging in useful work—ambitious as they are of winning their spurs in the service of science. All that is wanted are men, ships aud funds. With reference to the first two items, we are for the present relieved from all anxiety through

THE ENTERPRISING SPIRIT OF BARON ©SCAB DICKSON, the patron for years past of Arctic exploration, and of Baron Nordenskjold, the leader of the Vega expedition. Sweden and Norway propose to send a scientific expedition into the South Polar regions. Tho opinion generally entertained in Europe is that Australasia will lend support to any well - matured scheme having for its object the thorough scientific exploration of the Antarctic, and it is stated that the Eoyal Geographical Society of Australasia will probably be found willing to subscribe .£SOOO for the purpose. In reply to a communication received from Sweden, the Antarctic Committee, speaking in the name of the scientific societies of Australasia, promised to collect this amount, a portion of which has already been subscribed. It is hoped that the remainder of the sum will soon be collected and placed at the' disposal of Barons Dickson and Nordenskjold, who have declared themselves willing to fit out an expedition such as is proposed. Will we miss the opportunity of joining the nations cf the old world in a final effort towards the scientific conquest of the whole earth ? Many thousand years have elapsed since the human raca took possession of its destined dwelling place, from the snowy plains of the north to the sunny isles of the south, but it has been reserved for the nineteenth century to lift the veil which until now concealed the interiors of Africa, Asia, America and Australia, and complete the survey of the terrestial globe by the exploration of the Antarctic regions.