224 IN CAMP AT DVOINIK 



returned to the wreck, but by a different route from that 

 which my companion had taken. I took the boat across 

 to the north twin cape, and was an hour pulling half a 

 verst against the heavy gale. I then skirted the margin 

 of a long narrow inlet, exactly like the dried-up bed of 

 a river, running some miles into the tundra, bending 

 round almost behind the inland sea. I had not gone 

 more than a mile when I heard the cackle of geese ; 

 a bend of the river bed gave me an opportunity of 

 stalking them, and when I came within sight I beheld 

 an extraordinary and interesting scene. At least one 

 hundred old geese, and quite as many young ones, 

 perhaps even twice or thrice that number, were marching 

 like a regiment of soldiers. The vanguard, consisting 

 of old birds, was halfway across the stream ; the rear, 

 composed principally of goslings, was running down the 

 steep bank towards the water's edge as fast as their 

 young legs could carry them. Both banks of the river, 

 where the geese had doubtless been feeding, were 

 strewn with feathers, and in five minutes I picked 

 up a handful of quills. The flock was evidently 

 migrating to the interior of the tundra, moulting as it 

 went along. 



On the top of the high embankment bordering the 

 river I came upon a wooden monument, about a foot 

 in height and width, and from two to three feet in length. 

 The wood was entirely rotten, and I easily broke and 

 tore open the lid that still covered it. Inside I found 

 bones like those of a dog, a broken vessel of glazed 

 earthenware, the rusty remains of an iron vase, and 

 an abundance of mould. Outside were fragments of 

 bleached bone, like the remains of an infant's skull. 

 This was doubtless a Samoyede's tomb ; but we could 

 not determine if it was that of an infant, whose remains 



