122 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



frozen ; after which he worked manfully at the oars without 

 a murmur, enduring the most intense pain. 



Yours respectfully, GEORGE W. MELVILLE, 



Passed Assistant Engineer, United States Navy. 



Before leaving Bulun for Yakutsk in December, 1881, Mr. 

 Melville gave Gregory M. Baishoff, the Russian commandant 

 at Bulun, verbal directions to commence at once a search for 

 the missing seamen ; and to stimulate the natives, a reward 

 was offered for the recovery of the people, books and papers. 

 While on his way to Yakutsk he also wrote to the command- 

 ant a letter of instructions, which was translated by an exile 

 and conveyed to Bulun. The following is a copy thereof : 



It is my desire and the wish of the government of the 

 United States of America, and of the projectors of the 

 American expedition, that a diligent and constant search be 

 made for my missing comrades of both boats. Lieutenant 

 DeLong and his party, consisting of twelve persons, will be 

 found near the west bank of the Lena River. 



They are south of the small hunting-station which is 

 west of the house known among the Yakuts as Qu Vina. 

 They could not possibly have marched as far south as Bul- 

 com. Therefore, be they dead or alive, they are between Qu 

 Vina and Bulcour. I have already traveled over this ground, 

 but I followed the river bank. Therefore, it is necessary 

 that a more careful search be made on the high ground back 

 from the river for a short distance, as well as along the river 

 bank. 



I examined many huts and small houses, but could not 

 possibly examine ail of them. Therefore it is necessary that 

 all every house, large or small--be examined for books and 

 papers or the persons of the party. Men without food and 

 with but little clothing would naturally seek shelter in huts 

 along the line of march, and if exhausted, might be in one 

 of the huts. 



They would leave their books and papers in a hut if 

 unable to carry them further. If they carried their books 



