[249] Equal to 6.64 English miles.
[250] When it had become evident that we could make no further advance before next year, Lieut Brusewitz occasionally measured the thickness of the newly formed ice, with the following results:—
THICKNESS OF THE ICE.
1 December, 56 centimetres. 1 May. 154 centimetres
1 January, 92 ,, 15 ,, 162 ,,
1 February, 108 ,, 1 June, 154 ,,
15 ,, 120 ,, 15 ,, 151 ,,
1 March, 123 ,, 1 July, 104 ,,
1 April, 128 ,, 15 67 ,,(full of holes).
15 ,, 139 ,, 18 ,, The ice broke up.
[251] Low brush is probably to be met with in the interior of the Chukch peninsula at places which are protected from the cold north winds.
[252] According to H. Wild's newly-published large work, "Die Temperatur Verhältnisse des Russischen Reiches, 2e Halfte, St. Petersburg, 1881," the Old World's cold-pole lies in the neighbourhood of the town Werchojansk (67° 34' N.L. 133° 51' E.L. from Greenwich). The mean temperature of the different months and of the whole year is given in the note at page 411. If the data on which these figures rest are correct, the winter at Werchojansk is immensely colder than at the Vega's winter station.
[253] 1 lb.=100 ort=425.05 gram. 1 kanna=100 cubic inches=2.617 litres.
[254] To carry animals for slaughter on vessels during Polar expeditions cannot be sufficiently recommended. Their flesh acts beneficially by forming a change from the preserved provisions, which in course of time become exceedingly disagreeable, and their care a not less important interruption to the monotony of the winter life.
[255] I give here an extract from the Vocabulary, that the reader may form some idea of the language of the north-east point of Asia:—
Tnáergin
, heaven.