202 



A VOYAGE TO 



1779- wretched than their fituation muft be during the winter 

 ^ ' , _, months. They were at this time removing from their jourts 

 into their balagans t which afforded us an opportunity of ex- 

 amining both thefe forts of habitations ; and they will be 

 hereafter more particularly defcribed. The people invited 

 us into their houfes with great good humour ; a general 

 air of cheerfulncfs and content was every where vifible, to- 

 which the approaching change of feafon might probably not 

 a little contribute. 



On our return to the Tbion's, we found fupper prepared 

 for us, which differed in nothing from our former repaft ; 

 and concluded with our treating the Toion and his wife with 

 fome of the fpirits, we had brought with us, made into 

 punch. Captain Gore, who had great generofity on all oc- 

 cafions, having afterward made them fome valuable pre- 

 fents, they retired to the kitchen, leaving us in poffeffion of 

 the outward room, where, fpreading our bear-fkins on the 

 benches, we were glad to get a little repofe, having fettled 

 with our conductors to refume our journey, as foon as the 

 ground ihould be judged fit for travelling. 



About nine o'clock, the fame evening, we were awakened 

 by the melancholy bowlings of the dogs, which continued all 

 the time our baggage was ladling upon the fledges ; but, as 

 foon as they were yoked, and we were all prepared to fet our, 

 this changed into a light cheerful yelping, which intirely 

 ceafed the inftant they marched off. Bur, before we fet out, 

 the Reader may expetft to be made more particularly ac- 

 quainted with this curious mode of travelling. 



The figure of the fledges will be bed conceived by the 

 annexed engraving, which was taken from one I brought 

 over with me, that is now in the poffeffion of Sir Afhton 

 Lever. The body is about four feet and a half long, and a 

 foot wide, made in the form of a crefcent, of light tough 

 2 wood, 



