104 Chapter IV. 



be high land, but nevertheless this was strange. Yes 

 there it lies like a low shadow over the horizon on the 

 port bow. It is land it is Vaigats Island. Soon we 

 sight more of it abaft the beam, then too the mainland 

 on the south side of the strait. More and more of it 

 comes in sight it increases rapidly. All low and level 

 land, no heights, no variety, no apparent opening for 

 the strait ahead. Thence it stretches away to the north 

 and south in a soft low curve. This is the threshold 

 of Asia's boundless plains, so different from all we have 

 been used to. 



We now glided into the strait with its low rocky 

 shores on either side. The strata of the rocks lie end- 

 ways, and are crumpled and broken, but on the surface 

 everything is level and smooth. No one who travels 

 over the flat green plains and tundras would have any 

 idea of the mysteries and upheavals that lie hidden 

 beneath the sward. Here once upon a time were 

 mountains and valleys, now all worn away and washed 

 out. 



We looked out for Khabarova. On the north side of 

 the sound there was a mark ; a shipwrecked sloop lay 

 on the shore, it was a Norwegian sealer. The wreck of 

 a smaller vessel lay by its side. On the south side was 

 a flag-staff, and on it a red flag ; Khabarova must then 

 lie behind it. At last one or two buildings or shanties 

 appeared behind a promontory, and soon the whole place 

 lay exposed to view, consisting of tents and a few houses. 



