116 THE JEANNETTB ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



shoals too difficult, and was compelled to return to the house 

 where \ve slept on the 19th. On returning to the house we found 

 Bushielle Koolgiak, who voluntarily offered to pilot me to 

 Bulun, but after three days' hard work stopped at the house 

 of Spiridon. Next day set out, and brought up at the house 

 of Nicoli Chagre. The ice was forming in the river, and the 

 natives informed me that we could not proceed south until 

 the sledding season commenced, which would be in about 

 fifteen days. 



On the next day I made an effort to get up the river with 

 three native pilots, but after grounding very often the pilots 

 insisted on returning, and the condition of the party did not 

 warrant me in advancing, for most of us were very much 

 exhausted, were suffering from frozen feet and legs, and lack 

 of food, the majority being unable to walk. The natives 

 gave us quarters, and a limited quantity of fish and decayed 

 gee?e. 



On October 8th a Russian exile, named Koosmah Ere- 

 maotT, discovered us accidentally. He gave us salt and all 

 the food his scanty supply allowed, and agreed to go to Bu- 

 lun to inform the commandant of that place of our presence 

 and distressed condition, and obtain food and transporta- 

 tion. 



Koosmah started for Bulun October 16th, and took 

 Chagre with him, and was to have returned in five days ; but 

 he did not return until the evening of October 29th, when he 

 brought a small supply of food and a letter from Baishoff, 

 Commandant of Bulun, who was to be at Bykoff on Novem- 

 ber 1st, with reindeer and sleds to carry the whole party to 

 Bulun. Koosmah also brought a letter from two of the 

 first cutter's crew, whom he met at Kumak Surka in charge 

 of three natives, who were transporting them to Bulun. 

 This letter was the first intelligence I had of the first cutter ; 

 the following is a copy : 



" NOVEMBER GTH. 



Arctic steamer Jcannette lost on the llth of June; 

 landed on Siberia the 25th of September, or thereabouts ; 



