126 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



Whoever finds this paper is requested to forward it to 

 the Secretary of the Navy, with a note of the time and place 

 at which found. 



[Copies of the above in six languages followed.] 

 A record was left about one-half mile north of the south- 

 ern end of Semenoffsld Island, buried under a stake. The 

 thirty-three persons composing the officers and crew of the 

 Jeannette left that island in three boats on the morning 

 of the 12th inst. (one week ago). That same night we were 

 separated in a gale of wind, and have seen nothing of them 

 since. Orders had been given, in the event of such an acci- 

 dent, for each boat to make the best of its way to a settle- 

 ment on the Lena River, before waiting for anybody. My 

 boat made the land in the morning of the 16th inst., and I 

 suppose we are at the Lena Delta. I have had no chance 

 to get sight for position since I left Semenoffski Island. After 

 trying for two days to get in shore without grounding, or to 

 reach one of the river mouths, I abandoned my boat and 

 waded one-and-a-half miles, carrying our provisions and 

 outfit with us. We must now try, with God's help, to walk 

 to a settlement, which I believe to be ninety-five miles dis- 

 tant. We are all well ; have four days' provisions, arms 

 and ammunition, and are carrying with us only ship's books 

 and papers, and blankets, tents, and some medicines ; there- 

 fore our chance of getting through seems good. 



GEORGE W. BELONG, 

 Lieutenant United States Navy, Commanding. 



COPY OF RECOED NO. 2. 



[This record was found in a hut by a Yakut hunter, and 

 given to Mr. Melville at Upper Bulun, on the 12th day of 

 November, 1881.] 



ARCTIC EXPLORING STEAMER JEANNETTE, 



AT A HUT ON THE LENA DELTA, 

 BELIEVED TO BE NEAR TCHOLHOGOJE, 

 Thursday, 22d of September, 1881. 



