852 THE VOYAGE OF THE JE ANNETTE. 



only had he himself recovered from the effects of his 

 exposure, but he was relieved of the care of a partially 

 disabled party, and he was armed with all necessary 

 authority and means. Accordingly he settled all the 

 claims which the people in the district had against the 

 whaleboat party, inquired into the conduct of Kusmah, 

 whom he suspected to have played them false when he 

 had sent him from Geeomovialocke to Bulun, brought 

 to some sort of justice the petty authorities who had 

 refused proper care of his people when they were in 

 their wretched condition, and summarily broke up, with 

 the Espravnik's aid, a ring which had been formed to 

 get control of all the provisions of the country and ad- 

 vance the price to the Americans. 



In the course of this month he learned much of the 

 poverty of the natives, and of the risks of starvation 

 and freezing which were run in this bleak and desti- 

 tute land. Once at least he was able to rescue one 

 party from starvation, and by energy and resolution he 

 carried through his plans until, on the 16th of March, 

 he was able to set out in company with Nindemann 

 upon his first search. 



They left Kas Karta and found the place, Usterda, 

 where Captain De Long had crossed the river to the 

 westward. Nindemann at once recognized the spot, and 

 they now made search for the hut where Ericksen had 

 died ; for if they could once find that, their track after- 

 ward would be greatly simplified. They inquired of 

 their native attendants for all the huts in the neighbor- 

 hood, describing particularly the one for which they 

 were in search, and following the clues given them 

 went in every direction, but without success. The 

 snow lay deep on the ground, effectually covering any 

 traces of previous travelers, and they were themselves 



