270 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



which we took to be Crossbills,* on one of the islands, 

 we attempted to follow them up across the intervening 

 belt of willows. We did get across the space of a 

 hundred yards or more, sinking often up to our waists 

 in the deep snow, and only once more proved to our 

 dissatisfaction the utter uselessness of attempting any 

 collecting aside from the hard roads without snow-shoes. 



We had a good view of the town from the first to the 

 second bend of the river, or rather, along the semicircular 

 sweep which it makes in turning from its east and west 

 course to its south and north one. It is a long, narrow 

 town, not, we think, so much as three versts in length — 

 nearer two. It is backed by low hills with forest of 

 spruce-fir behind. The churches stand about the centre 

 of the town. Later we hope to make a rough bird's-eye 

 sketch of it. 



Captain Engel called on us on his return from Ijma, 

 and afterwards we went out with him to examine some 

 Eeindeer in the town, concerning which I give particulars 

 in the chapter on the Samoyedes (see Appendix) . 



After inspecting the Deer, etc., we went to M. Arendt's 

 house and drank tea. Presently the Captain brought 

 in a man whom he strongly recommended as a good pilot, 

 and we engaged him as one of our crew, at 16 roubles per 

 month. To-morrow the engagement is to be formally 

 ratified before the Ispravnik. 



A]}ril 22. 

 On Thursday, the 22nd of April, we took a walk up the 

 river to some earth cliffs or banks. A quantity of detritus 

 had fallen down and accumulated at the base, or perhaps 

 had been partly brought down by the river ice from a 

 distance. Amongst it we found mountain limestone 



'■ As we never afterwards met with Crossbills, and saw Bull- 

 finches at the same place, we were probably mistaken, 



