THE NEW SIBERIAN ISLANDS. 745 



consequence, I had nine or ten people on the war-path 

 across this narrow strip of land. Proceeded slowly 

 along shore with the boats, and was soon agreeably sur- 

 prised at hearing several shots, followed by the cry, 

 " He is down ! " Being near the south end of the isl- 

 and, I proceeded to round it to pick up the people, but, 

 finding the shore too steep, I returned, and was pro- 

 ceeding along the west side of the island when I met 

 the second cutter with a fine deer in the bow. I at 

 once ran in to a small bay, ordered the boats unloaded, 

 the deer dressed, and a meal prepared immediately. I 

 was much pleased with the information that drift-wood 

 was lying on the east beach of the island ; that the 

 hunters had fired at two deer, though one escaped ; and 

 that a flock of grouse (ptarmigan) had been seen. 



As I had made up my mind to remain Sunday, either 

 on this island or on Wassilewski, I concluded to be sat- 

 isfied with what I found here, and remain. Food, fuel, 

 and water secured, dry clothing, and a rest in prospect, 

 certainly I was justified in thinking a bird in the hand 

 worth two in the bush. Reindeer moss and scurvy 

 grass are abundant. As soon as we get something to 

 eat I shall send out the guns to secure that other deer, 

 and the bear, if such an animal is on the island. The 

 wind had veered to E., the thermometer at 32.5°. 



Wassilewski Island in sight to the southward. The 

 southern end of this (Semenovski) Island is worn away 

 almost to a knife-edge. Standing around it in a boat, 

 one would suppose he was passing under the bows of 

 some very sharp ship. So intense has been the action 

 of the cold that large masses have fallen off the sides 

 of the island and lie prostrate on the beach ; and huge 

 cracks indicate where other land slides will occur be- 

 fore many seasons. There is, unpleasantly enough, ice 



