History of Discovery in the Arctic Regions--Expeditions of Thorne and Hore--Of Sir Hugh Willoughby--Martin Frobisher and his adventures--Discoveries of Davis--Hudson, his discovery of Hudson Bay, Jan Mayen, and Cape Wolstenholm--His fate--Baffin’s voyages--Highway to the North Pole--Expedition of Ross and Parry--Parry’s second expedition--Loss of the _Fury_--Overland journeys--Franklin’s last expedition--The search after Franklin--Discovery of relics--Captain Penny’s expedition--Sir Robert M’Clure’s discovery of the North-West Passage--Voyage of M’Clintock--Lieutenant Hobson’s discoveries--Dr. Kane’s expedition--Explores Smith Sound--Discovers the Humboldt Glacier and Kennedy Channel--Wintering in the Arctic Regions--Dr. Hayes’ expedition--Voyage of the _Germania_ and the _Hansa_--Loss of the latter--Escape of the crew on an ice-raft--Arrival at Greenland--Adventures of the _Germania_--Barents and Carlsen--Austrian expedition under Payer--Voyage of the _Polaris_--Death of Hall--Tyson’s voyage on an ice-raft--Rescued by the _Tigress_--Captain Buddington abandons the _Polaris_--His winter quarters--Boat voyage--Safe arrival--British expedition of 1875–76--Departure of the _Alert_ and _Discovery_--Narrative of the expedition--Winter amusements--The sledging-parties--Important discoveries--No road to the Pole--Return home--Cruise of the Pandora 222–337 [Illustration: NORTH POLAR REGIONS] List of Illustrations. 1. THE CREW OF THE “HANSA” DRAGGING THEIR BOATS ACROSS THE ICE (FRONTISPIECE). 2. A DESERT OF ICE IN THE ARCTIC REGION, 13 3. THE SWAMPS OF THE OBI, 16 4. IN THE FOREST ZONE OF THE NORTH (FULL-PAGE), 17 5. THE MIDNIGHT SUN (FULL-PAGE), 23 6. OFF THE COAST OF GREENLAND, 25 7. MOONLIGHT IN THE POLAR WORLD, 26 8. THE AURORA BOREALIS, 28 9. THE AURORA BOREALIS--THE CORONA, 29 10. ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS:--REFLECTION OF ICEBERGS, 32 11. ADVENT OF SPRING IN THE POLAR REGIONS, 35 12. URSA MAJOR AND URSA MINOR, 36 13. NEBULA IN ANDROMEDA, 39 14. ARCHED ICEBERG OFF THE GREENLAND COAST, 42 15. AMONG THE BERGS--A NARROW ESCAPE, 43 16. ICEBERG AND ICE-FIELD, MELVILLE BAY, GREENLAND, 45 17. ORIGIN OF ICEBERGS--EXTENSION OF A GLACIER SEAWARDS, 47