102 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



here appear to be in a wretched condition. Each fam- 

 ily of about a dozen, adults and children, roamed about 

 in its baidera. 



[to MRS. DE LONG.] 



August 27th. — The schooner arrived last evening, 

 and we are now hoisting in the last of the coal and pro- 



Native's Knife of Bone. 



visions, and shall leave at seven o'clock this evening. 

 The weather is beautiful, light southerly breeze, and 

 smooth sea, and I am anxious to be off. And yet it 

 seems like saying good-by once more. However, I am 

 in this thing and I am going to see it through. 



I have interviewed the chief who saw the steamer 

 several times since, and I have about come to the con- 

 clusion that it was Nordenskjold's steamer that he saw. 

 When I telegraphed the Secretary asking if the rumors 

 concerning the Swedish Expedition were reliable, he 

 referred to the Secretary of State. This Secretary tel- 

 egraphed to our Minister at Stockholm, and the Minister 

 telegraphed back that Nordenskjold, when last heard 

 from, was at Cape Serdze Kamen, and was to leave in 

 May. Now Cape Serdze Kamen is one hundred and 

 thirty miles from here, and there is a settlement on the 

 Cape. I have decided to go there and make an in- 

 quiry, and if I find the Swedes were there and have 

 left, I shall push for Wrangel Land at once ; if not — 

 and there is the sticker — 1 sujDpose I shall have to 

 grope along until I find where they did winter. We 

 have nearly one hundred and sixty tons coal, and all 



