THE LENA DELTA. 777 



tasted to us fresh and good, both raw and cooked. 

 About one and a half miles from us the river was freez- 

 ing, and in a day or so might be fit to walk over ; but 

 no timber for a raft could be found. A few old deer 

 tracks were seen, but no deer. Nothing encouraging 

 in this forenoon's work. 



I caused this morning a black flag to be displayed on 

 poles lashed together, about twenty feet in height, but 

 the weather is so thick I do not think it will attract 

 anybody. A large gull was drawn toward it, and Alexey 

 shot him, ensuring us gull soup for supper. 



Parties out for wood after dinner. Alexey and Ninde- 

 mann rigging fish-lines. Sam plucking and making 

 ready gull. Cook chopping wood, and others repairing 

 or patching our hut or their clothes. At six had sup- 

 per, one half pint gull soup, one half pound fried meat. 

 At dark built fires again on the point in hope of at- 

 tracting attention ; but the attention of whom ? At 

 eight turned in. The wind moderated considerably, 

 and backed to W. N. W., and as the water smoothed 

 down I was glad to see ice form on both rivers. 



September 30th, Friday. — One hundred and tenth 

 day. Called the cook at six a. m. Breakfast at 6.50. 

 Tea and one half pound fried meat. Light west breeze. 

 Barometer 30.10 at 65°. Temperature 16.5° at nine. 

 The main river is covered over with a sheet of ice, and 

 I have sent Nindemann to examine it for a crossing 

 place. Our hut remains comfortable for the first hours 

 of the night, but towards daylight it becomes so cold 

 and uncomfortable that sleep is out of the question. 

 Boyd and Sam are discharged from the sick-list to duty. 

 Ericksen is no better, and it is a foregone conclusion 

 that he must lose four of the toes of his right foot, and 

 one of his left foot. The doctor commenced slicing 



