Nishne Kolymsk-Domestic Arrangements- Preparations for Prosecuting the Objects of the Expedition-Well-founded Doubts respecting the Discoveries of Serjeant Andrejew- Arrival of the English Traveller, Captain Cochrane-The New Year-Evening Party-Arrival of the Mate Kosmin-Prepa- rations for a Journey with Dogs and Sledges-Necessary De- viation from the Original Plan-Tidings of the Arrival of First Ice Journey over the Sea-Departure from Nishne Kolymsk - Sucharnoje Island - Baranow Rocks-Flat low Coast Great Baranow River-Cold-First traces of the Tschuktschi-Meteor-Cape Schelagskoi-Kosmin Rock- M. von Matiuschkin's Account of the Fair at Ostrownoje- Second Ice Journey - Preparations — Plan — Departure— Bear Hunt - First Encampment on the Ice of the Polar Sea― Four Pillar Island—Ice broken up and covered with Sea-Water Hummocks-Deposit of Provisions State of the Ice- Nishne Kolymsk Spring-Scarcity-Fisheries for the supply of the Expedition-Building a Shallop-Plans for the Summer-Warm Weather-Musquitoes-Embark in the new boat-Accident to M. von Matiuschkin- Rein-Deer Hunting in the Tundra-Arrival at Tschukotschie-Departure of M. Kosmin to survey the Coast as far as the Indigirka-Return up the Kolyma-Tent burnt-Arrival at Nishne Kolymsk-Visit to the Jakuti of Sredne Kolymsk―Their Summer Life and Ha- The Lesser Aniuj-Departure from Nishne Kolymsk-Mam- moth Bones-Arrival at Plotbischtsche-Aboriginal Population of this District-Present Inhabitauts-Causes of the Scantiness of the Population-Jukahiri-Migration of the Rein-deer in Spring and Summer-Departure from Plotbischtsche-Argu- The Greater Aniuj-Journey continued on Horseback—The Mountain-Chain of the Greater Aniuj-The Kameschkowa--- Fur-Hunting-Traps-Tigischka-Arrival at Sladnoje and Lobasnoje-The Emperor's Name-day-Failure of the Rein- deer Hunt-Famine-Return by Water-Inhabitants of the Banks of the Greater Aniuj-Tungusi, Lamuti, Tschuwanzi, and Jakuti-Their modes of Life, and Numbers-Schamanism and Schamans-Dolgoje-Arrival at Bol'schaja Brussanka— Freezing of the River-Continuation of the Journey in Sledges Drawn by Dogs-Baskowo-Arrival at Nishne Kolymsk- Survey of the Coast of the Polar Sea from the Lesser Tschu- Third Journey on the Ice of the Polar Sea-Preparations -Mortality among the Dogs-Departure from Nishne Kolymsk -Journey towards the North-Waves of Drifted Snow-En- counters with White Bears-Deposit of Provisions--Difficul- ties-Accident--High Hummocks-Second Deposit of Provi- sions-The Expedition Divided-False Appearances of Land -Return to the Deposits of Provisions-The Expedition Re- united-Proceed Northward again-Easter-Breaking up of the Ice-Hummocks-Turn to the Eastward-State of the Ice -Cape Schelagskoi — Arrival at the First Deposit of Pro- INTRODUCTION. Gradual Discovery of the Siberian Coast.-General Review of the Voyages undertaken previously to the Year 1820, in the Polar Ocean, between the Sea of Karskoie and Behring Straits.-Inaccuracies of the Maps and Surveys.-Object of the Expeditions undertaken in 1820-1823, on the Polar Ocean and along the Northern Coast of Siberia. THE whole of the immense extent of country from the White Sea to Behring Straits, embracing 145 degrees of longitude along the coast of Asia and Europe, has been discovered, surveyed, and described by Russians. All the attempts of other maritime nations to find a passage by the Polar Sea from Europe to China, or from the Pacific into the Atlantic, have been limited, in the West by the Karskoie Sea, and in the East by the meridian of the Cape North. The impediments which stopt the progress of others, have been conquered by Russians, accustomed to the severity of the climate, and to the privations inseparable from it. The first voyages to these icy deserts were undertaken by private individuals, attracted by the hope b of large profits from a trade in the costly furs of the animals with which those regions abound. At a later period, armed expeditions were sent out by the government, sometimes by land, and sometimes by sea, in large flat boats,* which creeping along the coast, reduced the tribes residing there, one after another, to Russian subjection. At a still later period scientific expeditions were sent out by the Government at a considerable expense, the sole object of which was to make an accarate survey of the countries already visited, and to discover others. Many of the voyages to the coasts and islands of the Polar Ocean have hitherto remained entirely unknown to the public; as, however, in describing my own expedition, I shall have frequent occasion to speak of the labours of those who preceded me, a brief review of them may be regarded as a suitable and indeed necessary introduction. The coast of the Polar Ocean was partially known to Russian navigators as early as the middle of the 16th century. They were accustomed to sail in small flat vessels, or ladji, from the White Sea and from the mouth of the Petchora, across the Sea of Karskoie, as far as the entrances of the Obi and Jenisëi. Sometimes they performed the whole voyage by sea; in general, however, to lessen the distance, they were in the habit of drawing their boats across the isthmus which divides the Gulph of Obi from the Karskoie Sea. In the latter case, their route was as follows: they sailed from the *Kótschy, broad, flat, decked-boats, of about twelve fathoms in length. They are usually impelled by oars, but, when the wind is favourable, make use of sails also. |