106 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



up by the sun and free from snow. A large Polar bear was 

 seen parading the beach, with eyes and nose turned toward 

 the bay to inspect the new arrival ; frightened by their salute, 

 it took to flight and escaped the balls of the Swedes. 



At noon on the 20th the vessels sailed on, meeting with 

 much drift-ice, and the floes soon increased in size till pro- 

 gress through them was almost impossible. Open water was 

 again reached on the 23d, and with a fresh breeze the vessels 

 moved rapidly along without the aid of steam, over a perfectly 

 smooth sea. High, picturesque mountains were seen inland. 

 On arriving at the mouth of the Lena, a favorable wind and 

 an open sea induced Nordenskiold to continue on without 

 stopping, and the Vega and the Lena accordingly parted on 

 the night of August 27th the former to continue its east- 

 ward course ; the latter to ascend the Lena. . 



Before the Lena left Tromsoe, the agent of the owner 

 entered into a formal contract with a Yakut pilot, who agreed 

 to meet the vessel at the north point of the delta and take it 

 up the river to Yakutsk. He was to travel to the Arctic 

 Ocean in Mav, and to erect on some eminence near the shore 



m, I 



of Tumat Island a signal-tower of drift-wood or earth, like a 

 Cossack mound, not lower than seven feet. On this founda- 

 tion he was to erect a pyramidal frame of three or more 

 thick logs, on the top of which was to be fixed a flag-staff 

 with a pulley-block for a flag, which was to be hoisted at least 

 42 feet from the ground. He was to guard the landmark 

 thus erected until the river froze in the autumn, and Avhen 

 the nights became dark he was to light fires on the land and 

 hang lanterns to the flag-staff. 



It was also provided in the contract, that during his whole 

 term of service the pilot, and his interpreter, " must be 

 always sober (never intoxicated), behave faithfully and 

 courteously, and punctually comply with the captain's orders." 

 He was to receive as pay for all these services and self-deni- 

 als the sum of 900 roubles, one-third of which was to be paid 

 in advance. 



The contract had been entered into with the friendly co- 



