398 THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap. 



correct, that it extended as far as Behring's Straits. But we 

 could not now place complete reliance on their statements, since 

 we had rewarded with extra treating some predictions, relating 

 to ice and weather, that were favourable to us. Even between 

 the vessel's anchorage and the land various cracks had been 

 formed, through which the sea water had forced its way under 

 the snow, and in which some of us got cold foot or leg baths 

 during our walks to and from the land. 



The Chukches at Irgunnuk were now successful in killincr a 

 Polar bear and seventy seals, of which some were ostentatiously 

 set up in rows, along with frozen slices of blubber, along the 

 outer walls of the tents, and others were laid doAvn in the 

 blubber cellars, which were soon filled to overflowing. At 



TL-iir 



WSi 



THE EN'C.iMPMENT PITLEKAJ ABANDONED BY ITS INHABITANTS ON THE ISTH FEBRUARY, ISTO. 



(After a drawing by O. Nordquist.) 



Yinretlen, the encampment nearer us, the hunters on the other 

 liand had obtained only eight seals. Gladness and want of care 

 f )r the morrow at all events prevailed here also, and our skin- 

 clad friends availed themselves of the opportunity to exhibit a 

 self-satisfied disdain of the simple provisions from the Vegrf. 

 which the day before they had begged for with gestures so pitiful, 

 and on which they must, in a day or two, again depend. The 

 children, who had fallen off during recent weeks, if not in com- 

 parison with European children, at least with well-fed Cluikch 

 ones, began speedily to regain their former condition, and likewise 

 the older people. Begging ceased for some days, but the vessel's 

 deck still formed a favourite rendezvous for crowds of men. 



