282 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



the hire would cost. The fact is that it is now close to 

 the commencement of the fishing season, and boats are in 

 demand. Boat-building is going on rapidly in the town, 

 the great strong keels being made from the stem and root 

 of a larch, and hewn out of the solid. Not only are boats 

 in demand, but labour also, and instead of 10 or 12 roubles 

 per month, we have to pay our pilot 16 roubles and a 

 second man 15 roubles per month, and we are obliged to 

 engage either one or two more still. 



We receive wonderful accounts of the strength of the 

 current of the Petchora from Arendt and Znaminsky. 

 They say it runs at the rate of 16 miles an hour, but 

 judging from the stories Alston and I were told of the 

 necessity of having four men on the Dvina in summer, 

 and our only having two, we are inclined to doubt great 

 part of what we hear. However, it won't do to go on the 

 great river ill-provided with men, cost what it may. 



The thaw continued to-night, and looked like the first 

 serious attempt to melt the snow. 



May 1. 



On Saturday, the 1st of May, the thaw continued, and 

 so soft did the snow become in places that I broke one 

 of my snow-skates (luiji), my weight taking effect in 

 the centre and the ends being still supported by the 

 snow. 



We went up a valley clothed with spruce behind the 

 town (of Ust Zylma), where the country rolls away in 

 endless low hills and valleys clothed in forest. A Yellow- 

 hammer singing was all we heard or saw, except the 

 common birds before named. Not a single Snow Bunting 

 remained in the town, and all are doubtless feeding else- 

 where. Insects and spiders were seen on the surface of 

 the snow, and a warm wind blew from the south. 



When we came in to write up our journals, etc., M. 



