D'iscovery of the Bemains of a Maimnolh. \M 



But what astonished me still more, was the picturesque 

 view of the opposite side of tlie Lena. This river, which is 

 one of the largest in Siberi;i, majesticaHy rolls its waters 

 through the mountainous cliain of Verschejansk : it is here, 

 near its mouth, entirely devoid of islands, and much nar- 

 rower, deeper and more rapid than in any place of its course. 

 The mountains here appear in a great variety of forms-; they 

 are of a brilliant whiteness, and of a savage and horriJ 

 aspect; sometimes they represent immense columns whicii 

 rise into the clouds, sometimes thev resemble the ruins of 

 anlient forts, and as if they were parts detached from the 

 mutilated remains of grotesque and giffantic figures. 



Further off the horizon is terminated by a chain of high 

 mountains, where eternal snow and iee dart back the rays of 

 the sun. 



These landscapes are of exquisite beauty; an expert 

 draughtsman would look in vain for similar viexvs in any 

 other place of Siberia ; and I am not astonished that the 

 picturesque situation of Kumak-Surka should become the ob- 

 ject of a national song, known solely on the shores of the 

 Frozen Sea. I reserve the communication of this curious 

 article until I publish the detailed account of my journey. 



The course of the winds having at last changed, I thought 

 of pursuing my route, and I had my rein-deer brought 

 across the river. Next day at day-break, I set out accom- 

 panied by a Toungouse chief, Ossip Shoumachuff, and bv- 

 BellkofT, a merchant of Schigansk, and attended by my 

 huntsman, three Cossacs, and ten Toungou.-es. 



The Toungouse chief was the first person who discovered 

 the mammoth, and he was proprietor of the territory 

 through which our route lay. Bellkoft" the merchant hni 

 spent nearly his whole life on the shores of the Frozen Sea. 

 His zeal, and the details he procuj-ed me, have the strongest 

 claims to my gratitude: I am even indebted to him for the 

 preservation of my life at a moment of imminent danger. 



At first I found great difiicuity in sitting upon a rein- 

 deer; for, the saddle being attached by a girth of leather only, 

 it was very insecure, and often occasioned me very disagree- 

 able falls, Be'-idcs. my position was verv inconvenient for 



want 



