THE GREAT FROZEN SEA [Illustration: "ALERT" AND "DISCOVERY."] THE GREAT FROZEN SEA _A PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF THE VOYAGE OF THE "ALERT"_ DURING THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION OF 1875-6 BY REAR-ADMIRAL ALBERT HASTINGS MARKHAM, R.N. (LATE COMMANDER OF H.M.S. "ALERT") AUTHOR OF "A WHALING CRUISE TO BAFFIN'S BAY AND THE GULF OF BOOTHIA," AND "THE CRUISE OF THE 'ROSARIO'" "There's a flag on the mast, and it points to the north, And the north holds the land that I love; I will steer back to northward, the heavenly course, Of the winds guiding sure from above." FRITHIOF'S "SAGA" SEVENTH EDITION LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., LT^D 1894 (_The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved._) TO The Memory of REAR-ADMIRAL SHERARD OSBORN, C.B., WHO, WHILE HE LIVED, WAS THE MOVING SPIRIT IN SECURING THE DESPATCH OF THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION, AND WHOSE PAST DEEDS IN THE SAME FIELD REFLECTED A BRIGHT RAY OF HOPEFUL LIGHT ON THOSE WHO STROVE TO EMULATE HIS EXAMPLE WHILST FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS, This little Work IS REVERENTLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. The History of the Arctic Expedition of 1875-76, and the record of its results, will be found in the work of Sir George Nares. My object in publishing the present volume is to furnish a popular narrative of memorable events as they presented themselves to an individual member of the Expedition, and especially of the work of sledge travelling over the frozen polar ocean. It was written a few months after our return to England, but its appearance has been purposely deferred until the publication of the work by Sir George Nares. The same reasons still exist for continuing the work of Arctic exploration as were adduced for commencing it in 1875. It is impossible to complete so great a work in one campaign, and the results of the late Expedition ought only to whet our appetites, and stimulate us to undertake further discoveries. The narrative of Sir George Nares will show the completeness of the work accomplished, so far as the route by Smith Sound is concerned, and with the appendices containing the numerous and valuable scientific results, will prove the importance of Arctic discovery. But there are other routes remaining to be explored, which will yield equally useful results. Behring Strait is a portal leading to a vast region, the history of which has hitherto been as a sealed book. An expedition to the east coast of Greenland for the purpose of connecting our discoveries at Cape Britannia with those of the Germans at Cape Bismarck, and thus solving the interesting geographical problem regarding the insularity of Greenland, would be of the greatest importance.