64 CRUISE OF TDE STEAMER CUKWIX. 



July 31, 1884. — At 3.30 a. iii., ii.s the first faint gleams nt" liglit appeared in the sky, Andre 

 awoke me from a deep sleep and suggested that we start as soon as possible for our camp on the 

 river before the heat of the day set in. Xatorak had already made some tea and baked S()me bread 

 on a stiek, and al'ter partaking of this limited refreshment we startetlon our return. The air was 

 cold at this time of day, ami for this reason the mosquitoes did not trouble us much. I found 

 myself very stifl' and sore after the walk of the day before, but this soon wore off and we started 

 down the side of the mountain at a famous rate. Each of us had quite a load of stone, and 

 in addition to this, Andre had the wiiole of the camp outfit dangling from his belt or strapi)ed to 

 liis shoulders. Even witli this tremendous load he frolicketl around like a young colt turned to 

 pasture, sometimes disappearing ashe followed the tiack of a beai'down some mountain ravine and 

 then bursting thiough a thicket a mile awa}' and rushing down tt)wards us with the numerous 

 articles of his pack dangling and clattering in tiie wind. liis high si)irits were infectious and 

 I forgot my fatigue and walked along quite well for about five miles, when we reached the edge 

 of a dense forest of pines and plunged into its dismal recesses. Here we were beset i>y myriads 

 of mosquitoes and saudilies, which attacked us with a persistence and violence utte\ly beyond 

 description. Sometimes in crossing a morass I would be compelled to ste.uly myself by hohliug 

 on to the limbs of a fallen tree. At such times the horrible pests would attack my face, neck, 

 and head with venomous force which no pen can descril)e. After about two hours of this kind 

 of work we emerged upon the open tundra, and a fresh breeze springing up we threw ourselves 

 down and buried our heads in the yielding moss and grass until the wind had blown the mos- 

 quitoes away. I can not tell how nuich 1 suffered during tills day. i only know that when we 

 reached the river at 5 p. m. 1 was almost insensible from pain and exhaustion. Our boots were 

 worn through, aiul Andre had to tie i)ieces of blanket around my feet to protect them. Despite 

 this precaution they were (Mit and bruised and so much swollen that he had to cut the boots to get 

 them off. When we reached the river I was informed that Lieutenant Stouey, U. S. N., had pas.sed 

 up and had left a note, kindly offering me any assistance he might be able to render our party. 

 Finding myself too exhausteil to go any further at present, I dispatciied a note to Mr. .^IcLenegan, 

 requesting him to bring forward the launch with all possible sjieed The shaman of the village 

 oppositeour encampment volunteered to act as guide ior the launch, and I sent him down with 

 instructions to stand in the lauiuih's bow and i)ointout the best channel for Mr. McLeiu-gan. These 

 arrangements having been completed, I turned in to sleep and did not awake until next day near 

 noon. 



Augmt 1, 1884. — We were at work all day making i»rei)arations for the arrival of the launcii 

 and for an ininiciliate startup the river. The skin boat had had two days' good drying and a 

 thorough o\eiliauling liy the Indians of the village. The shaman, wiio had been opposed to t)ur 

 mountain trip, and whose influence had prevented others from helping us, now came forward and 

 teiulered his assistance to us. He jiromised to go bark with ns up the river and prevail njion the 

 Indians to help us. All the jiay he desired was a little something to eat and to be allowi'd the 

 privilege of making the trip in the steam-launch. The water in the river was rapidly falling, and 

 the current decreasing, so that everything seemed prt>pilious for our expedition. We went up a 

 slouyh of the river and ratted down some wood suit;ible lor the launcli to burn, and by night we 

 had cut sufficient to last her two days. At. 10 p. m. the shaman was seen paddling towards our 

 camp at a rapi<l rate, and I felt sure something had gone wrong. He brought a nott^ from Jlr. 

 McLenegan saying that the (ireman had let the water lun down in the boiler, and had burnt the 

 tubes, how seriously he could only tell after an examination, which he would make immediately 

 I sent word down asking Mr. JIcLenegan to inform me at once of the extent of the damage, intend- 

 ing to start right away in the skin boat and allow him to overtake me should t!ie injury jirove such 

 as could be rejiaired. By this means we could cut wood at convenient distances, and thus avoid 

 the necessity of stojjping the launch for this purpose. 



August 2, 1.SS4. — All the morning we looked anxiously down the river for the apjjearance of 

 the launch, but she did not come. I'oward 12 o'clock we discovered a canoe about a mile off 



