The continent of North America, would, in my opinion, be a more suitable place, for an exploring party to set out from, than the coast of Siberia. A company of men, well armed, could travel over land, and draw their provisions and baggage on hand sledges, on the snow or ice, as Hearne did during his journey, with light canoes for the purpose of crossing rivers and lakes, should such be found to obstruct their progress. In this manner, the party would soon cross the verge, or "barren grounds," as Hearne calls it, and arrive in that country of abundant game, of which the Indians informed him. Hearne, according to his journal, reached nearly the seventy-second degree of north latitude, and his general course is laid down as being north-westwardly, from Fort Churchill to the mouth of Copper-Mine river, which he says disembogues itself into the Northern sea, flowing in a northerly direction. Me-lo-no-bee, the Indian chief, who served as Hearne's guide from Hudson's Bay, pointed out the mouth of Copper-Mine river, as being in a north-eastwardly direction from Fort Churchill, and flowing in an eastwardly course. Subsequent discoveries have, I believe, determined Me-lo-no-bee to be correct in this particular, as that river has been ascertained to empty into the waters of the Atlantic north of Repulse Bay, several hundred miles distant from where Hearne lays it down on his map. It is so laid down in the map accompanying Ross' voyage of discovery. How Hearne could be so much mistaken in the course he travelled, as to lay it down at nearly a right angle from its true course, is rather unaccountable: he must have been deceived by the winding meridians of the verge, which turned him to the right; when to have passed directly into the concave, he ought, on arriving at a certain point, to have proceeded west of north, then west, and finally south-west, which would probably have conducted him to that country, which the Indian represented as being far to the west, or south-west, and so warm that there was never any frost. In this direction, an exploring party ought most probably to travel, first north until they come to the verge; where (if they are on the continent of America) the meridians begin to wind to the right, then gradually, as they advanced, incline to the west, then true west, then south of west, and finally, when entirely beyond the apparent verge, to the south-west, if not due south. In crossing the verge, the cold would no doubt be considerable: but cold in those regions, as measured by the thermometer, appears to us much greater than the feelings of those exposed to that temperature indicate. Hence it was, no doubt, that Parry's crew could hunt in winter, when the medium was below zero. And the Russians set out on their expedition over the ice in 1821, when the cold was thirty-two degrees Reaumur; and this too accounts for Hearne's sleeping in the snow, without fire, by only digging a hole, and lying therein, with his sledge turned up to windward. It does not appear that he complained of excessive cold; though he travelled nearly all winter. He had also several Indian women in company. The regions through which he passed, as well as that in which Ross and Parry were, are alleged to be the coldest of the earth; and that those men experienced as great a degree of cold as would be in passing the verge into the concave regions.
But I am of opinion that the most practicable, the most expeditious, and the best mode of exploring the interior regions would be by sea, and by way of the south polar opening, crossing the verge at the low side, in the Indian ocean, where it is presumed the sea is always open, and nearly free from ice. But, as we are residents of the northern hemisphere, the nearness of the north polar opening to us, and the more immediate advantages which would result to us from an intercourse with the countries within the concave to the north, would seem to point out that as the most proper direction to be pursued; though the difficulties to be encountered in passing the verge of the north polar opening, would doubtless be much greater than those of the south, the cold much severer, and the ice more compact and difficult to pass. However, notwithstanding all these difficulties, the object, I think, might be safely accomplished by sailing, either east of Spitzbergen, or between Spitzbergen and Greenland; where, writers, in whom confidence may be placed, inform us, that the sea is open all winter. The greatest difficulty to be apprehended, would be the accumulation of drifting ice in the summer season; but in the winter, that difficulty, perhaps, would not be presented as in the fall or commencement of winter, the ice would attach itself to one shore or the other, and become permanent.
The Russians who wintered on Spitzbergen, say that the sea was open during the whole winter, quite across the north end of the island. Several sailors who were once left on an island near Spitsbergen, lived there several years; though destitute of almost every necessary of life, they were not only able to support the cold of the winters, but even to supply themselves with provisions, and light, in those dreary regions. They finally returned in health and safety to their native country and friends. This island is probably as cold as any spot that is known to our sphere.
A vessel, almost at any time in summer, could sail to, and remain at Spitzbergen, (having the necessary conveniences on board to make the crew comfortable) for two or three years. They could lie all winter at the north part of the island, and after being there long enough to become acquainted with the nature and changes in the sea to the north of them, they could take some favorable opportunity, and reach the pole, (if the earth be a globe) or the interior concave regions. The distance from the north of Spitzbergen to the pole is only six hundred geographical miles.
Another favorable direction for making the discovery is, by Bhering's straits on the north-west coast of America: And an additional advantage which is presented by this direction, is, that if the vessels should be obstructed by, or frozen in the ice, the party could proceed by land on the shore of America, (which is supposed to communicate with the concave regions,) a party remaining with the vessels till the others returned.
In case an expedition of discovery should be fitted out for the purpose of making the attempt, by either route, the safety of the party would require that two vessels should be equipped with rather more than an ordinary number of men, and with a double number of boats at least; some so light and portable as to be easily carried by men over ice, or necks of land, should it become necessary.
Vessels propelled by steam would be preferable to any other, as they could more easily avoid the floating ice in passing the verge; as, also ascend rapid rivers in the interior, should such be discovered, and it be found necessary to ascend them. The vessels should be equipped with masts, sails, and every part of rigging necessary for sailing; with a ballast of coal, which should not be used, or any other fuel for steam purposes, until they come within the neighbourhood of the ice, through which, by pursuing a proper course, it is believed, they would in a few days pass, and arrive at a more temperate climate, and a country where they would be abundantly supplied with both wood and provisions. Perhaps it would be advisable to take on board a small boat, with a proportionate steam-engine, for the purpose of running up shallow rivers, or along coasts, to make more minute observations.
But the most important matter of all to be observed, and that on which the success of the expedition must depend, would be a proper observance of the principles of the theory, and a due attention to the winding meridians, and curvatures of the parallels of latitude, when the verge shall be crossed; and which will require the party to be continually varying their course as they proceed forward in accordance with the place at which the attempt shall be made.
The expense of an expedition of this kind, would not be very great; at least not considerable when compared with the magnitude of the object to be accomplished, though I have not made, nor do I consider myself adequate to make minute estimates on the subject. But I should conclude that a sum of one or two hundred thousand dollars would be amply sufficient to defray all expenses attending such an expedition. Should an attempt be made by way of the south polar opening, with vessels fitted out as for a whaling voyage, the expense would probably not be the one fifth part of that sum. And were an expedition undertaken over land, from some post high north on the continent of America, the expense must be still less.