THE LENA DELTA. 767 



Took an account of our deer meat on hand. Meat 

 free from bone, fifty-four and a half pounds ; meat 

 on the bone, fourteen pounds; bones for soup, fifteen 

 pounds. After we had served out twenty-two pounds 

 meat on the bone for supper to-night, the fourteen 

 pounds on the bone w r e shall have for breakfast in the 

 morning, and the fifty-four and a half pounds clear 

 meat we carry with us. 



At three p. m. we each had one pint soup made from 

 marrow bones. At six p. m. had supper of tea, one and 

 a half pounds meat on bones, and then set to work boil- 

 ing down remaining soup bones for breakfast. 



September 2Ath, Saturday. — Called all hands at 4.20; 

 at 5.20 had soup, and at six tea and one pound meat 

 on bones. Temperature 27.5° ; mild and pleasant. 

 Commenced preparations for departure at seven. Com- 

 pleted record [of movements of the party], placed it 

 in tinder box, and lashed it up on house-post inside. 

 Started the sick ahead under the doctor's lead at 8.05, 

 and at 8.20 I brought up the rear with Gortz, leaving 

 my Winchester rifle in the hut as a surprise to the 

 next visitor. 



Followed along the bank of the river, rounding one 

 creek and going across the ice of another, and pro- 

 ceeded until 11.20, by which time we had made good 

 about three and a half miles to the southward, allow- 

 ing for all crooks and turns. Passed the ruins of three 

 huts. Upon rounding the creek, at the end of which 

 these huts were situated, and reaching the river again, 

 I was struck with the fact that it was no longer frozen 

 over, quite a little sea was raised by the wind showing 

 deeper water, and that the shores shelved rapidly out- 

 ward. Discouraged at the slow pace at which the men 

 staggered along under their loads, and worried by the 



