23G THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap. 



up the fuel by meaus of a piece of irou, which they took from 

 the keel of the boat, and of which they made, by hammering 

 with stones, a sort of knife. Of some nails, which they also 

 took from the boat, they likewise forged needles by means of 

 stones ; they used reindeer sinews for thread, and of the hides 

 they sewed clothes for themselves. They lived in the hut until 

 some time in April. During this time they shot eleven rein- 

 deer and a bear, so that they did not actually suffer hunger ; but 

 in the middle of April they had powder remaining for only 

 three shots, and they now saw the impossibility of supporting 

 themselves longer at that place, wherefore they determined to 

 go farther south, in order, if possible, to reach Vaygats Island. 

 They went by land along the sea-shore, leaving the boat behind. 

 After the lapse of some days they came to the same Samoyeds 

 with whom the other four of the crew were, and they now re- 

 mained till the middle of June with the Samoyeds, who gave 

 them the same hospitable treatment as their companions in 

 misfortune. When at the time specified it was determined to 

 fetch the boat from the Russian hut, in order that they might 

 make their way southwards, Johan Andersson, a Swede by 

 birth, declared that he wished to remain with the Samoyeds, 

 and was not willing to accompany the other five on their 

 homeward journey. 



The latter now dragged the boat for two days over the ice ; 

 but when it became too heavy they had to cut it through the 

 middle and leave a half behind. Of a large sealskin, which 

 they got from the Samoyeds, they made a stern to the other 

 half, which they continued to drag over the ice for three days, 

 until they came to open water. Then they rowed in the 

 truncated boat ten days, until they reached a fast ice-border at 

 the Vaygats Island, where they again fell in with Samoyeds. 

 Even by these, who could speak neither Russian nor Quaen, and 

 by whom they could with difficulty make themselves under- 

 stood, they were well received. They remained there eight 

 days and got good entertainment. These Samoyeds had tame 

 reindeer, with which they sent the shipwrecked men on their 

 way southwards, till they fell in with a vessel, with which four 

 returned to NorAvay. Lars Larsen now did not wish to go 

 home, preferring to remain with the Samoyed family which he 

 had last met with. Samoyed life, however, must not be so 

 pleasant after all, for in a year or two both the men who had 

 remained among the Samoyeds returned home. As a reward 

 for the hospitality which the shipwrecked walrus-hunters had 

 received from the Samoyeds on Gooseland, the Norwegian 

 Government presented them with a number of gifts, consisting 

 of- clothes, pearls, breechloaders, with ammunition, &c., which 

 were handed over to them with festive speeches and toasts on 



