The Polar World A popular description of man and nature in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the globe

[Illustration: 1. ESQUIMAUX DOG-TEAM.]




  THE POLAR WORLD:

  A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF
  MAN AND NATURE
  IN THE
  ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC REGIONS OF THE GLOBE.


  BY DR. G. HARTWIG,

  AUTHOR OF

  “THE SEA AND ITS LIVING WONDERS,” “THE HARMONIES OF NATURE,”
  AND “THE TROPICAL WORLD.”


  WITH ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS AND ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THREE
  ILLUSTRATIONS.


  NEW YORK:
  HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
  FRANKLIN SQUARE.
  1869.




  Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by

  HARPER & BROTHERS,

  In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for
  the Southern District of New York.




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.