VI.] PACHTUSSOV'S VOYAGES, 1833-35. 215 



same time as Pachtussov's, the lodja returned heavily laden 

 with the spoils of the chase, but on the other hand nothing 

 was ever heard of the Ycniscj. A concern, not without 

 justification, for its fate, and the desire to acquire as good 

 knowledge of the east coast of the North Island as had been 

 obtained of that of the South, gave occasion to Pachtussov's 

 second voyage. 



For this the Government fitted out two vessels, a schooner and 

 a " carbasse," which were named after the two officers of the 

 Ycniscj, Krotov and Kasakov. The command of the former was 

 undertaken by Pachtussov, and of the latter by the mate 

 ZivoLKA. This time they wintered in 1834-35 on the south 

 side of Matotschkin Sound at the mouth of the river Tschirakina, 

 in a house built for the purpose, for which they used, besides 

 materials brought with them, the remains of three old huts, 

 found in the neighbourhood, and the wreck of Possmuislov's 

 vessel which still lay on the beach. The house was a palace in 

 comparison with that in which Pachtussov wintered before. 

 It consisted of two rooms, one 21 feet by 16 feet, intended' 

 for the crew (fourteen men), the other 12 feet by 10 feet, 

 for the officers and surgeon, with a bath-house in addition. 

 Matotschkin Sound was frozen over for the first time on the |th 

 November. The thermometer never sank below the freezing- 

 point of mercury, and the cold of winter could be easily borne, 

 because the crew wore the Samoyed dress. But the snow- 

 storms were so severe, that sometimes it was impossible for eight 

 days at a time to leave the house, which was so snowed up that 

 the opening in the roof for smoke had several times to be used 

 as a door. The house had no true chimney, but was built like a 

 Lapp hut. Eleven of the bears, who came in large numbers 

 to the hut, were killed, one of them on the roof and another in 

 the porch. During winter the crew were kept in constant em- 

 ployment in killing foxes and at other work. Their state of 

 health was also very good for the circumstances of the time. 

 Only two men died. In spring Matotschkin Sound and part of 

 the east coast of the North Island were surveyed by means of 

 sledge journeys, after which an attempt was made during summer 

 to circumnavigate the North Island, but without success. Light- 

 ning accompanied by heavy rain was observed on the |th June. 

 On the ^YxA September they sailed back to Archangel. Unfortu- 

 nately soon after his arrival there Pachtussov fell ill of nervous 

 fever and died on the ^|th November, 1835. It w^as a great loss, 

 for by his devotion to the task he had undertaken, by judgment, 

 courage, and endurance, he takes one of the foremost places 

 among the Polar explorers of all countries. Besides, few of the 

 older Arctic expeditions have brought home such a series of 

 valuable astronomical determinations of position, geodetical 



