fore decided to look for the island in question by taking a S.S.W. W. direction towards the Cape Krestowoi of Leontjew's map. The E.N.E. wind rose gradually, but as it was in our backs, and the snow was smooth, we had soon gone over 44 wersts, notwithstanding the drifting snow, when we suddenly perceived that we were no longer on the ice, but on land. At first we thought we had reached the island we were seeking, but in a few minutes we heard an exclamation from one of our drivers, who had found a fox-trap bearing his own mark, whereby we knew that we were on the mainland, not far from the River Agasonowka. He conducted us, notwithstanding the thick drift, to a balagan at the mouth of the river, where we had once more the comfort of a roof and walls. Our provisions being now exhausted, and the season far advanced, we determined to return home by the shortest route. I would gladly have taken the opportunity of laying down this part of the coast, but the state of the weather made it impossible. The wind was from the N.E., and became more and more violent, and the atmosphere was completely darkened by the driving snow. We abandoned ourselves entirely to the guidance of our drivers, who were thoroughly acquainted with the district. They brought us, on the 25th of April, to a powarna near the mouth of the greater Tschukotschje, where the shore forms a high cape.

On the 26th we crossed the hills to a river called Jakutskaja Wiska, a distance of 24 wersts, and after driving six wersts farther across a tundra, we came to the Jakuts lake, where one of our drivers had a store of fish, from which he entertained us. The fish were preserved in a kind of cellar hewn out of the ice of the lake: the opening had been closed with ice and snow, over which water had been poured, so that the surface of the lake showed no traces of the store beneath, and it was perfectly inaccessi

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ble to bears. While we were busied in opening and reclosing the ice-cellar, a large herd of reindeer ran by at no great distance. The sight of them had nearly cost us dear, for our dogs all set off in pursuit, and we had great difficulty in recalling them. We slept at a balagan 30 wersts farther on.

On the 27th of April the weather changed, the snow ceased, and we had a cutting S.W. wind, with a temperature of -2°. We came on a beaten track, which conducted us across a lake to a village on the lesser Tschukotschje. This place, which consists of fifteen old huts and a ruined barrack, is deserted in winter, but is resorted to in summer for fishing by the inhabitants of the village of Pochodsk, fifty wersts distant, and which we reached late in the night. Poor as this settlement is, its aspect filled us with pleasurable sensations; we saw a few places among the huts where the spring had melted the snow, and where brown earth was visible; smoking chimneys, and the faint glimmer of lamps through the ice windows, told us that we were again among human beings. The barking of the dogs announced our arrival, and from every door we heard the grateful sound of the Russian "welcome." We were soon seated, surrounded by smiling faces, near a stove in a warm room, where we could throw off our frozen furs, and really rest from the toils and privations of the icy desert. Our kind hosts soon placed before us the best entertainment their poverty could furnish, giving us, among other things, some fresh-killed ptarmigan in our soup; and thus, in the enjoyment of comforts to which we had been long unaccustomed, and in friendly conversation, the hours passed rapidly away.

We continued our journey the next day, and arrived at Nishne Kolymsk on the 28th of April, after an absence of 36 days, during which we had travelled 1210 wersts with the same dogs.

CHAPTER VIII.

Nishne Kolymsk.-Spring.-Scarcity.-Fisheries for the supply of the Expedition.-Building a Shallop.-Plans for the Summer.-Warm Weather.-Moschetoes.-Embark in the new Boat.-Accident to M. Matiuschkin.-Reindeer Hunting in the Tundra.-Arrival at Tschukotschje.-Departure of M. Kosmin to survey the Coast as far as the Indigirka.-Return up the Kolyma.-Tent burned.-Arrival at Nishne Kolymsk. -Visit to the Jakuti of Sredne Kolymsk.-Their Summer Life and Habitations.-Traditions.-Albuty.-Early Snow.Return to Nishne Kolymsk.-Arrival of MM. Matiuschkin, Kyber, and Kosmin.

On arriving at Nishne Kolymsk, we found that spring had already brought its accustomed scarcity, with the consequent train of suffering and disease. As soon as the ice of the river began to melt, the whole population dispersed to their summer habitations on the banks of the different rivers in pursuit of fish and game. The experience of the past year had taught us that we could not rely on the natives for the supplies necessary for our expedition, as they make but inadequate provision for their own wants, and that for this we must depend upon ourselves. I therefore hastened to send some people with nets and baskets to the most favourable fishingplaces before the sledging season was quite over, and fixed on the lesser Tschukotschje as the headquarters of our several parties, it being a very productive river, and less frequented than most others. Tatarinow was charged with the general superintendence of the fisheries, and I felt secure that we should obtain a sufficient supply.

My next care was how we could best employ the short summer. I decided that one division should proceed on horseback to survey the coast between

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the Kolyma and the Indigirka, and that another division should make an accurate survey of the mouths of the Kolyma in boats. A small dwelling, also, and a magazine for provisions, were to be erected at the mouth of the great Baranicha, for the use of our coming winter expedition. Lastly, Dr. Kyber, who had now recovered from his illness, undertook, by his own desire, to examine the country on the banks of the greater and the lesser Aniuj.

It may seem strange that we should have proposed to make a coast survey on horseback rather than with reindeer or in boats; but a full consideration of the subject convinced me that reindeer would not be equal, in summer, to such long days' journeys as we should require to make, and that they would be also more expensive than horses; and that boats would not answer, on account of the extensive shallows and sandbanks, which prevent a near approach to the shore; and, moreover, that any small vessel would run great risk of destruction from the large pieces of ice which are always drifting along the coast. We agreed with the Jakuti of Sredne Kolymsk for a sufficient number of horses, and for trustworthy guides_ acquainted with the country. The coast survey I intrusted to M. Matiuschkin, and undertook that of the Kolyma myself. I farther profited by a journey which our travelling companion, M. Bereshnoi, was about to make on horseback to the eastern Tundra to search for mammoth bones,* to send with him Sergeant Reschet

*Throughout Siberia, but more especially in the northern and northeastern parts, mammoth bones and teeth (or, as they are there called, horns) are found in clay hills, in the Tundras, and along the banks of the rivers. The best season for searching for these antediluvian remains is in spring, when the streams, swollen by the melting snows, overflow their banks and undermine the hills; and it is at this season that the inhabitants resort to those localities which are known to be productive. Very long journeys are often taken for this object, and usually with good success.

nikow, with a good carpenter and two assistants, to build a large powarna and a storehouse of driftwood at a convenient spot near the Baranicha River.

During our absence on our second journey over the ice, M. Kosmin had been engaged in the building of a large boat or shallop, which he had brought to a successful conclusion in spite of the deficiencies of all kinds under which he laboured.. He had fortunately found under the snow a sufficient quantity of knee-timber for the framework, and after the scaffolding was erected, and the artificers understood their instructions, the work proceeded so rapidly that in May a vessel was completed, of excellent construction in all its parts.

On the 25th of May the ice of the river broke up, and on the following night the first shower of rain fell. The banks and sunny slopes began now to be covered with grass; the willows opened their buds and put forth young leaves, and the short summer advanced rapidly; the temperature increased to + 55°, and even to +68°, and the progress of vegetation was sensible to the eye; but the enjoyment we felt in returning spring was of short duration. The 4th of June brought, as at this season are usual, immense swarms of moschetoes, whose insufferable stings obliged us to take refuge in the house, and to keep up in front of the doors and windows a constant smoke, by which we were almost suffocated, and our eyes greatly inflamed. We rejoiced, therefore, most heartily, when, on the 9th of June, a strong north wind suddenly lowered the temperature from +59° to +38°, and drove away these troublesome enemies. At length we could enjoy the delight of breathing the air of heaven without either being tormented by insects or frozen; we roamed, therefore, with our guns over the country, seldom returning till late in the evening, and always loaded with wildfowl. The first bird of passage had been seen on the 29th of April; but now large flights were con