HUNTING ON SEMENOFFSKI ISLAND. 231 



This was September 6th, I think. We stayed there about 

 thirty-six hours. Large parties were sent out hunting, as 

 numerous deer tracks had been seen. Next morning we got 

 under way again and worked along shore until about noon, 

 when we had to make a long and laborious portage, during 

 which Mr. Dunbar fell down exhausted and with palpitation 

 of the heart. We continued until midnight, and then camp- 

 ed on a bleak, desolate spot. Next morning, September 7th, 

 we shaped a course for the island of Stolbovoi from the south 

 point of Kotelnoi, fifty-one miles distant to the southwest. 

 We had fresh breezes the first day, and during the night got 

 into a very bad place and came very near being smashed up 

 by drift ice. We passed in sight of Stolbovoi ; but it was not 

 considered worth while to land on the barren island, which 

 was, besides, too distant. 



On the night of September 9th, we hauled up on a piece of 

 ice off the north end of Semenoffski Island, and there 

 slept. On September 10th, we rounded the north end of 

 this island and came down the west shore, stopping to cook 

 dinner and to examine the island. Having seen the tracks 

 of deer going toward the south end of the island, the captain 

 suggested that a party of hunters deploy across it and ad- 

 vance to the south in hopes of getting a deer. About ten of 

 us went. I went along the beach with Kuehne and Johnson, 

 Bartlett, Noros, Collins, and the Indians skirting the hills. 

 We raised a doe and fawn running to the northward as fast 

 as possible, they having previously seen the boats. Several 

 shots were fired, and the doe fell under Noros' last shot. 

 We hurled the body down a steep bluff to Chipp, who had it 

 butchered, and the captain ordered all served out, having 

 previously given orders for all hands to camp. 



That evening the captain told Melville that he and many 

 of his party were badly used up and must have rest and a 

 full meal before proceeding. All these days for the past 

 twenty we had been on very short allowance and had never 

 had a full meal. Melville said that he and his party were 

 in excellent condition and wanted to move on, and did not 



