118 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



south on the west bank of the Lena, and to send relief if 

 found, being told that the others would follow their foot- 

 steps. When the two men started, the party was at a halt 

 on the north bank of a large western branch of the Lena. 

 The two men ascended that branch about five miles to make 

 a crossing, and then traveled southeast to a hut situated on 

 the Lena bank. After fourteen days of intense suffering 

 and slow progress they reached Bulcour, and were found by 

 three natives, who supplied them with food and transported 

 them to Bulun by deer-sleds, arriving at that place October 

 27th. 



The commandant of Bulun took good care of Nindermann 

 and Noros, but was unable to understand them. He gave 

 them material, and they wrote a long dispatch addressed to 

 the American Minister at St. Petersburg, which the com- 

 mandant took with him to Bykoff. Mr. Danenhower imme- 

 diately sent it to me by special courier, together with an 

 order from the commandant to a subordinate at Bulun to 

 furnish me with an outfit, and appointing Kumak Surka as a 

 rendezvous, at which place I met him and the remainder of 

 my party on November 5th. After a consultation, I ordered 

 Mr. Danenhower to proceed south with all the party except 

 James H. Bartlett, first-class fireman, who was to remain 

 at Bulun to communicate with me. 



I started north on that evening, November 5th, to the 

 relief of Lieutenant DeLong, having with me two natives 

 and two dog-trains, with provisions for ten days. Stopped 

 at Kumak Surka, November 5th. Traveled fifty versts 

 November 6th, and reached Bulcour.* Found two deserted 

 houses and traces of the two men, Nindermann and Noros. 

 Weather-bound November 7th ; traveled sixty-five versts on 

 November 8th ; examined small hut where the two men had 

 slept, and where a number of sleds were stowed. Slept in 

 snow-bank that night. November 9th, travelled eighty-five 



* A verst is two-thirds of a mile. 



