128 Chapter IV. 



By the end of June, when they had got through all 

 the ramifications of the Little Ural Mountains, the time 

 was drawing near when, according to his agreement, 

 Trontheim was due at Yuofor Strait. He was obliged 



o o 



to hasten the rate of travelling, which was not an easy 

 matter, with more than 40 sledges and 450 reindeer, 

 not counting the calves. He, therefore, determined to 

 divide the caravan into two parts, leave the women, 

 children, and domestic animals behind, and push forward 

 without any baggage, except the necessary food. So on 

 June 28th "thirty sledges, tents, etc., were left with the 

 women and children, who were to live their nomadic life 

 as best they could. The male Syrianes took ten sledges 

 and went on with Trontheim." At last, on July 9th, 

 after more wanderings, they saw the sea from a "high 

 hill," and next clay they reached Khabarova, where 

 Trontheim learned that no steamer had arrived yet in 

 Yugor Strait, nor had any sail been seen. At this time 

 the whole shore of Yuo-or Strait and all the sea within 



O 



sight was covered with ice, driven there by northerly 

 winds. The sea was not quite open till July 22nd. 

 Trontheim passed the time while he was waiting for 

 the Fram in hunting and making excursions with his 



o o 



dogs, which were in excellent condition. He was often 

 in the Sibiriakoff colony, a meeting place for the 

 Samoyedes of the district, who come here in considerable 

 numbers to dispose of their wares. And it was a 

 melancholy phase of life he saw here in this little " world- 



