CHAPTER XXXVII. 



ENGINEER MELVILLE'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED. 

 (THE VOYAGE FROM SEMENOFFSKY AND SEARCH FOR DE LONG.) 



MR. MELVILLE describes the voyage from Semenoffsky 

 Island and separation of the boats as follows : 



" We remained at Semenoffsky Island over Sunday, and on 

 Monday morning all three boats were launched. We had 

 filled everything we could with snow to be melted for water. 

 We made a good run along the island until noon, and had 

 our dinner on the edge of the floe, with clear water to the 

 southward. 



Previous to this there had been some discussion as to the 

 best point to land upon on the Siberian coast. Captain De 

 Long asked the opinions of all the officers. Lieutenant 

 Chipp was very decided that we should make for Cape 

 Barldn, as once in its vicinity the boats could not mistake 

 the coast, running as it does to the west or to the south in 

 a direct coast line. When my opinion was asked, I urged 

 that if an attempt was made to enter the Lena at all, it 

 should be done by way of the eastern mouth ; and I called 

 to mind the fact that the captain of the 'Lena' had been 

 unable to effect an entrance by any of the northern mouths, 

 but had eventually entered the river by the eastern mouth. 

 I also suggested that the mouths of the Yana or the Indi- 

 girka would be better places for landing, offering at least 

 no perplexity of entrances. Captain De Long listened to 

 both of us, and then decided the matter in his quiet manner 

 by saying: 



' Mr. Melville, I think Mr. Chipp is right. We will make 

 for Barkin, and then for the Light Tower and Sagaster, and 

 the northern mouth of the Lena.' 



(462) 



