448 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



to Yakutsk, that she was affianced to an officer of the regi- 

 ment stationed there, and this would be the first time she 

 had ever been away from Sredne Kolymsk. 



During my sojourn in Sredne, as well as in Nishni Kol- 

 ymsk, I was frequently invited to partake of the hospitality 

 of some of the inhabitants. At all such entertainments it 

 seemed to be a principle with the host to insist upon my 

 drinking a glass of vodka that is, diluted alcohol about 

 every five minutes. At first I thought I must submit my- 

 self to the custom of the country and sustain myself as best 

 I could, and the consequence was that when dinner was over 

 I had not the slightest idea whether I had eaten anything or 

 not, but I was quite sure that I had drank something. 

 Later I found out that all that was required was that you 

 should sip the liquor and thus avoid the evil consequences 

 of heavy drinking, and governed my drinking accordingly. 

 I learned that the Russian rule is a glass of vodka before 

 dinner, before each plate, during each plate, after eacli plate 

 and after dinner that is all." 



From Sredne Kolymsk Mr. Gilder journeyed to Verk- 

 hoyausk, where he heard of the loss of the Jeannette and 

 turned north to join Melville, as stated in Chapter XXXII. 

 Meantime the news of the burning of the Rodgers was 

 carried to Yakutsk by a special courier, and transmitted to 

 the United States by telegraph from Irkutsk. 



