THE NEAV SIBERIAN ISLANDS. 731 



the water out of my boat until I could find a floe piece large 

 enough to hold on by until you came up. 



While waiting, we were beset as you see. If your boat 

 and people are in a position of security, wait where you are 

 until the end of this gale or a shift of wind enables us to join. 

 My intention is to make at the first opportunity for the south 

 cape of Kotelnoi, or a convenient landing-place near it on the 

 southeast coast, and as soon as water is laid in and weather 

 favors to go as far as Barkin (Lena Delta) via Stolbovoi 

 Island. The distance from south cape of Kotelnoi Island to 

 Stolbovoi is sixty-five miles southwest by west, and from Stol- 

 bovoi to Barkin one hundred and twelve miles west southwest 

 (see your chart). You will be prepared, after falling in with 

 me, to send one man to the first cutter and one man to the 

 whaleboat, for your load must be reduced so that you can 

 keep up. 



Make every effort to keep within sight, and, if possible, 

 within hail at all times hereafter ; but if by any mischance we 

 should become separated again, make the best of your way to 

 the Lena River, and try to reach some settlement large enough 

 to feed and shelter your men before thinking about waiting for 

 me. I do not think the land is more than ten miles off. We 

 came alongside of this floe in ten and a half fathoms water and 

 have drifted into three and a half fathoms. 



I intend hereafter to keep a small black flag at the mast- 

 head of the first cutter whenever the sail is not set. 

 Very respectfully, 



Geo. W. De Long, 

 Lieut. U. S. Navy, Commanding Arctic Expedition. 



Lieut. C. W. Chipp, Executive Officer, Commanding Second Cutter. 



To-day, at dinner, the whaleboat and first cutter fairly 

 divided twelve clucks (seven to me, five to Melville) 

 which had been shot, — two at Faddejew Island, and 

 ten which were shot on the 1st hist. I knew the sec- 

 ond cutter had one duck and three sanderlings, and I 

 wished to keep our stock until we came together and 



