Farewell to Norway. 127 



east wind blew, and at night the cold was so severe 

 that two reindeer-calves were frozen to death ; and 

 besides this two grown ones were carried oft" by wolves." 

 The caravan had often to cross rapid rivers, where 

 it was sometimes very difficult to find a ford. They 

 were frequently obliged 10 construct a bridge with the 

 help of tent poles and sometimes blocks of ice, and it 

 occasionally took them a whole day to get across. By 

 degrees their supply of wood was used up, and it was 

 difficult to get food cooked. Few r bushes were to be 

 found. On June 1 7th they met a Syriane reindeer 

 driver and trader ; from him they bought two bottles 

 of wine (brandy) at 70 kopecks each. "It was, as is 

 customary, a very friendly encounter, and ended with 

 treatings on both sides. One can see a long way on the 

 tundra ; the Syriane's keen eye detects another herd, or 

 smoke from inhabited tents, 10 versts off; and a nomad 

 who has discovered the presence of another human 

 being 10 or 12 versts off never lets slips the oppor- 

 tunity of visiting him in his camp, having a talk, and 

 being regaled with tea, or, in preference, brandy. The 

 clay after, June iSth, some Samoyedes, who had heard of 

 the caravan, came on four sledges to the camp. They 

 were entertained with tea. The conversation, carried on 

 in Samoyecle, was about the health of the reindeer, our 

 journey, and the way to Yugor Strait. When the 

 scanty news of the tundra had been well discussed 

 they took their departure." 



