KUSMAH, THE EXILE. 829 



skin, and, when walking on slippery ice, over-shoes of the 

 same material, which give quite a secure footing. They 

 seemed not to be acquainted with seal-skin, and prized small 

 pieces which 1 gave them very highly. 



The natives at this settlement occupy themselves in fishing 

 and hunting. Men and women attend the nets, and the 

 women are often seen bringing in the fish, drawing water and 

 cutting wood, and repairing fish-nets, dog-harnesses, and such 

 things. Some of the women are very skillful sewers, and 

 set a great value on thimbles and steel needles. They make 

 the clothing, including moccasins. The men hunt with 

 flint-lock rifles of small bore, and also use bows and arrows 

 for killing geese, which they do at the time of year when 

 these birds are moulting. 



On the 27th of September we started to leave these people, 

 under the guidance of one native and the Russian exile 

 whom I have mentioned before ; but, owing to bad weather 

 and shoal water, we were obliged to turn back and seek again 

 their kindness and hospitality. A few days before this we 

 had light snows, which indicated that winter was near at 

 hand. On the 28th the river was frozen nearly across. 



One day early in October another Russian exile, Kusmah 

 EremorT, made his appearance in the village. I discovered 

 him and took him to our hut, that Lieutenant Danenhower 

 and Mr. Melville might see him. They made arrangements 

 for him "to go to Bulun to communicate with the authorities 

 there. This man was absent much longer than anticipated. 

 The result of this trip was that he brought back information 

 that the Commandant of Bulun would be at our village in 

 a few days, and also a brief note from Nindermann and 

 Noros announcing that the first cutter party had landed ; 

 that Nindermann and Noros had reached Bulun ; that the 

 captain's party was in need of clothing and assistance, and 

 so had sent these two men on in advance. 



Kusmah brought with him forty pounds of black bread, 

 about three pounds of very poor unsalted butter, some salt 

 which we very much needed, about twelve ounces of sugar, 



