CHAPTER XXVII. 



MR. NEWCOMB'S NARRATIVE. 



(CONTINUED.) 



TTTE traveled by dogs as far as Kumak Surka, and from 

 that place to Bulun we traveled by deer. At Kumak 

 Surka we met Mr. Melville, who was now on his way north 

 with some supplies to render what assistance he could to the 

 captain's party. He took old Bushielle back with him. 



Bidding good-bye to Melville at this place, we started on 

 and arrived at Bulun on Sunday, Nov. 6th, about six o'clock, 

 A.M., after a very rough journey, chilled through and hungry. 

 We had often been obliged to run beside the sleds to keep 

 from freezing. I attended service in the forenoon at the 

 Russian church. 



Bulun is the northernmost Russian settlement in Siberia. 

 It is a trading station on the right bank of the Lena River. 

 It consists of one church, a lot of log houses plastered out- 

 side with mud, and a trading store with store-houses. 

 Everything here in the way of food and clothing is very 

 expensive. Sugar is fifty cents a pound ; cotton handker- 

 chiefs fifty cents each. Even fuel is scarce, though coal is 

 said to be found in this vicinity. While here some knives, 

 handkerchiefs, and calico for towels were furnished us ; also 

 some leaf tobacco. 



Owing to the lack of accommodations for our whole party 

 traveling together from Bulun, we divided. Part of us with 

 Lieutenant Danenhower left here for Werchoiansk, on the 

 Yana River, by deer sleds, on Saturday evening, November 

 12th, accompanied by five natives to drive our deer. The 

 distance was 900 versts, or about 600 miles. 



Crossing over very rough and badly jammed up ice in the 



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