PETCHORA 273 



The sledge always upset towards my side, and See- 

 bohm with his spring-seat, cushion, and the whole bundle 

 of rugs, great-coats, and waterproof sheets, came on the 

 top of poor me. 



Things were generally soon righted ; but constantly 

 getting out and in, and being in perpetual expectation of 

 upsets, banished all hope of sleep, so we gave that up as 

 a bad job. Seebohm generally fell lightly, but had a 

 Tichborne been in his place there would have been but 

 httle breath left in my body at the end of the journey. 



A'pril 24. 



However, our remains arrived none the worse for wear 

 at Umskaia about 6 a.m. on Saturday, the 24th of April, 

 and after a cup of tea we went out to look for birds. We 

 had purchased two pairs of snow-skates before starting, 

 and so were fully prepared ; but few birds were to be 

 seen, and we shot only four Bullfinches and two Kedpolls. 

 Two splendid AVhite-tailed or Sea Eagles came overhead, 

 but far out of shot. 



By dint of tight tying and twisting of ropes and prising 

 of the pavoska into its proper place, etc., we made a 

 good job of it, and — wonderful to relate — got back to Ust 

 Zylma without a single upset, about 1 a.m. on Sunday 

 morning. 



April 25. 



The 2.5th of April being Easter Sunday, about three 

 o'clock in the morning we witnessed the service in the 

 Orthodox Greek Church. We missed the grand cere- 

 mony at midnight, and only saw the simple service, to 

 which the people were summoned by the church bells 

 jangling. We came in when the priest was reading at 

 the foot of the steps what we took to be equivalent to the 

 second lesson. Then followed a chant, then the Litany, 

 then the communion elements were brought in to be 



