Chapter I: Preface

The object of the following pages is to describe the Polar World in its principal natural features, to point out the influence of its long winter-night and fleeting summer on the development of vegetable and animal existence, and finally to picture man waging the battle of life against the dreadful climate of the high latitudes of our globe either as the inhabitant of their gloomy solitudes, or as the bold investigator of their mysteries.

The table of contents shows the great variety of interesting subjects embraced within a comparatively narrow compass; and as my constant aim has been to convey solid instruction under an entertaining form, I venture to hope that the public will grant this new work the favorable reception given to my previous writings.

G. HARTWIG.

NOTE BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR.

I have made no alterations in the text of Dr. Hartwig’s book beyond changing the orthography of a few geographical and ethnological terms so that they shall conform to the mode of representation usual in our maps and books of travel. For example, I substitute _Nova Zembla_ for “Novaya Zemla”, and _Samoïedes_ for “Samojedes.” Here and there throughout the work I have added a sentence or a paragraph. The two chapters on “Alaska” and “The Innuits” have been supplied by me; and for them Dr. Hartwig is in no way responsible.

The Illustrations have been wholly selected and arranged by me. I found at my disposal an immense number of illustrations which seemed to me better to elucidate the text than those introduced by Dr. Hartwig. In the List of Illustrations the names of the authors to whom I am indebted are supplied. The following gives the names of the authors, and the titles of the works from which the illustrations have been taken:

ATKINSON, THOMAS WITLAM: “Travels in the Regions of the Upper Amoor;”
and “Oriental and Western Siberia.”

BROWNE, J. ROSS: “The Land of Thor.”

DUFFERIN, LORD: “Letters from High Latitudes.”

HALL, CHARLES FRANCIS: “Arctic Researches, and Life among the
Esquimaux.”

HARPER’S MAGAZINE: The Illustrations credited to this periodical have
been furnished during many years by more than a score of travellers
and voyagers. They are in every case authentic.

LAMONT, JAMES: “Seasons with the Sea-Horses; or, Sporting Adventures
in the Northern Seas.”

MILTON, VISCOUNT: “North-west Passage by Land.”

WHYMPER, FREDERICK: “Alaska, and British America.”

WOOD, REV. J. G.: “Natural History;” and “Homes without Hands.”

I trust that I have throughout wrought in the spirit of the author; and that my labors will enhance the value of his admirable book.

A. H. G.

CONTENTS.

Page

CHAPTER I.

THE ARCTIC LANDS.

The barren Grounds or Tundri.--Abundance of animal Life on the
Tundri in Summer.--Their Silence and Desolation in Winter.--
Protection afforded to Vegetation by the Snow.--Flower-growth
in the highest Latitudes.--Character of Tundra Vegetation.--
Southern Boundary-line of the barren Grounds.--Their Extent.--
The forest Zone.--Arctic Trees.--Slowness of their Growth.--
Monotony of the Northern Forests.--Mosquitoes.--The various
Causes which determine the Severity of an Arctic Climate.--
Insular and Continental Position.--Currents.--Winds.--
Extremes of Cold observed by Sir E. Belcher and Dr. Kane.--
How is Man able to support the Rigors of an Arctic Winter?--
Proofs of a milder Climate having once reigned in the Arctic
Regions.--Its Cause according to Dr. Oswald Heer.--Peculiar
Beauties of the Arctic Regions.--Sunset.--Long lunar
Nights.--The Aurora. 17

CHAPTER II.

ARCTIC LAND QUADRUPEDS AND BIRDS.

The Reindeer.--Structure of its Foot.--Clattering Noise when
walking.--Antlers.--Extraordinary olfactory Powers.--The
Icelandic Moss.--Present and Former Range of the Reindeer.--
Its invaluable Qualities as an Arctic domestic Animal.--
Revolts against Oppression.--Enemies of the Reindeer.--The
Wolf.--The Glutton or Wolverine.--Gad-flies.--The Elk or
Moose-deer.--The Musk-ox.--The Wild Sheep of the Rocky
Mountains.--The Siberian Argali.--The Arctic Fox.--Its
Burrows.--The Lemmings.--Their Migrations and Enemies.--
Arctic Anatidæ.--The Snow-bunting.--The Lapland Bunting.--
The Sea-eagle.--Drowned by a Dolphin. 34

CHAPTER III.

THE ARCTIC SEAS.

Dangers peculiar to the Arctic Sea.--Ice-fields.--Hummocks.--
Collision of Ice-fields.--Icebergs.--Their Origin.--Their
Size.--The Glaciers which give them Birth.--Their Beauty.--
Sometimes useful Auxiliaries to the Mariner.--Dangers of
anchoring to a Berg.--A crumbling Berg.--The Ice-blink.--
Fogs.--Transparency of the Atmosphere.--Phenomena of
Reflection and Refraction.--Causes which prevent the
Accumulation of Polar Ice.--Tides.--Currents.--Ice a bad
Conductor of Heat.--Wise Provisions of Nature. 45

CHAPTER IV.

ARCTIC MARINE ANIMALS.

Populousness of the Arctic Seas.--The Greenland Whale.--The
Fin Whales.--The Narwhal.--The Beluga, or White Dolphin.--
The Black Dolphin.--His wholesale Massacre on the Faeroe
Islands.--The Orc, or Grampus.--The Seals.--The Walrus.--
Its acute Smell.--History of a young Walrus.--Parental
Affection.--The Polar Bear.--His Sagacity.--Hibernation of
the She-bear.--Sea-birds. 59

CHAPTER V.

ICELAND.

Volcanic Origin of the Island.--The Klofa Jökul.--
Lava-streams.--The Burning Mountains of Krisuvik.--The
Mud-caldrons of Reykjahlid.--The Tungo-hver at Reykholt.--
The Great Geysir.--The Strokkr.--Crystal Pools.--The
Almanuagja.--The Surts-hellir.--Beautiful Ice-cave.--The
Gotha Foss.--The Detti Foss.--Climate.--Vegetation.--
Cattle.--Barbarous Mode of Sheep-sheering.--Reindeer.--
Polar Bears.--Birds.--The Eider-duck.--Videy.--Vigr.--
The Wild Swan.--The Raven.--The Jerfalcon.--The Giant auk,
or Geirfugl.--Fish.--Fishing Season.--The White Shark.--
Mineral Kingdom.--Sulphur.--Peat.--Drift-wood. 68

CHAPTER VI.

HISTORY OF ICELAND.

Discovery of the Island by Naddodr in 861.--Gardar.--Floki of
the Ravens.--Ingolfr and Leif.--Ulfliot the Lawgiver.--The
Althing.--Thingvalla.--Introduction of Christianity into the
Island.--Frederick the Saxon and Thorwold the Traveller.--
Thangbrand.--Golden Age of Icelandic Literature.--Snorri
Sturleson.--The Island submits to Hakon, King of Norway, in
1254.--Long Series of Calamities.--Great Eruption of the
Skapta Jökul in 1783.--Commercial Monopoly.--Better Times in
Prospect. 89

CHAPTER VII.

THE ICELANDERS.

Skalholt.--Reykjavik.--The Fair.--The Peasant and the
Merchant.--A Clergyman in his Cups.--Hay-making.--The
Icelander’s Hut.--Churches.--Poverty of the Clergy.--Jon
Thorlaksen.--The Seminary of Reykjavik.--Beneficial Influence
of the Clergy.--Home Education.--The Icelander’s Winter’s
Evening.--Taste for Literature.--The Language.--The Public
Library at Reykjavik.--The Icelandic Literary Society.--
Icelandic Newspapers.--Longevity.--Leprosy.--Travelling in
Iceland.--Fording the Rivers.--Crossing of the Skeidara by
Mr. Holland.--A Night’s Bivouac. 98

CHAPTER VIII.

THE WESTMAN ISLANDS.

The Westmans.--Their extreme Difficulty of Access.--How they
became peopled.--Heimaey.--Kaufstathir and Ofanleyte.--
Sheep-hoisting.--Egg-gathering.--Dreadful Mortality among
the Children.--The Ginklofi.--Gentleman John.--The Algerine
Pirates.--Dreadful Sufferings of the Islanders. 114

CHAPTER IX.

FROM DRONTHEIM TO THE NORTH CAPE.

Mild Climate of the Norwegian Coast.--Its Causes.--The
Norwegian Peasant.--Norwegian Constitution.--Romantic coast
Scenery.--Drontheim.--Greiffenfeld Holme and Väre.--The
Sea-eagle.--The Herring-fisheries.--The Lofoten Islands.--
The Cod-fisheries.--Wretched Condition of the Fishermen.--
Tromsö.--Altenfiord.--The Copper Mines.--Hammerfest the most
northern Town in the World.--The North Cape. 120