344 THE JEANNETTB ABCTTC EXPEDITION. 



ings, and comfortable baths. Thus we were quite well pro- 

 vided for again. We also, a few days later, got other 

 clothing, including boots, new mittens, caps, etc. Mr. Dan- 

 enhower had received some funds through the Russian 

 authorities, and a little spending money was given to each 

 one of us. 



We went out shopping several times, and whenever any of 

 our party appeared on the street, numbers of people were 

 attracted to take a look. In one instance three of us went 

 into a store to get some caps. These stores are near the 

 market place in fact they form a part of the general bazaar 

 of the city and a number of people were about at their dif- 

 ferent vocations. Soon after we got into the store people 

 began to come in until the store was crowded, and the street 

 outside was literally blocked with people as we passed out. 

 They were Yakuts and Cossacks, and were so numerous that 

 I had to push them aside to get into the sleigh to ride back 

 to our house. They had assembled to see the Americans, 

 probably the first (at all events the first party of many) who 

 had ever visited that country. 



We occupied the time a few days before Christmas in 

 writing, and on Saturday, December 24th, our party gave a 

 supper at the hotel to some of our Yakutsk acquaintances. 

 This proved a sociable affair, and passed off pleasantly. 



The next day, Sunday, was Christmas. On this day we 

 had our photographs taken, and then a number of our party 

 went visiting, and were very hospitably entertained. The 

 people were warm-hearted, and always appeared glad to 

 see us. 



On Wednesday, December 28th, four of our party and a 

 gentleman who resides in Yakutsk took a drive of some twelve 

 versts, to a village occupied by five or six hundred unmarried 

 males and females. They are a very peculiar race of people, 

 made up of all the different nationalities, and of a singular 

 religious belief. Many of them are exiles, and all of them 

 are very thrifty, working at different vocations. Their 

 houses were generally very tidy-looking, and one of them, 



