1317.) reaching the North Pole from Spitxbergen. $83 
A.—The storms of snow are very frequent, continuing for two, 
three, and four days, and sometimes for as many weeks; but the 
latter do not occur above once or twice in a year. 
7- Q.—Is the cold much more severe at Spitzbergen than at 
Archangel? Has the degree ever been ascertained by the thermos 
meter? If it has, what was it? 
A.—From the fishermen’s remarks, the cold is more severe at 
Spitzbergen than at Archangel; but the degree is not known, as 
the people who go there have no thermometers. 
8. O.—Is the cold ever so intense as to render going abroad dan- 
gerous ? 
A.—The cold is never so severe as to hinder the fishermen, they 
being accustomed to it, from exposing themselves ; but sometimes 
the winds and drifts of snow confine them to their huts. 
9. Q.—Admitting it to be so, by what exercise do the Russians 
keep off the scurvy ? 
4A.—When the last-mentioned weather is an obstacle to their 
leaving their huts, they keep off the scurvy by the exercise of throw- 
ing the snow from off and around their huts, which from stormy 
weather are often buried; and in order to get out, they are then 
obliged to make a passage through the roof. ‘They likewise oppose 
the distemper by making use of a particular sallad or herb, which 
grows there on stones, and with which they generally provide them- 
selves in due time against winter; but sometimes, from necessity, 
they are obliged to dig through the snow for it. Some of it they 
eat without any preparation; and a part they scald with water, and 
drink the liquid. They also carry with them for the same purpose, 
as a preventive, a raspberry, called in Russia moroshka, which they 
preserve by baking with rye flour, which they eat; and when 
pressed, drink the juice. They also take fir tops with them, which 
they boil ; and the water they drink as an antidote likewise against 
the scurvy. 
10. Q.—In what manner are the huts constructed? . 
A.—The huts the people use they always take with them in their 
vessels, and on their arrival there put them together. They are 
constructed of thin boards, and in the same manner as the pea- 
sants’ houses here. They likewise generally take bricks with them 
for building their stoves ; but when they fall short, clay found there 
is made use of in their stead. Their largest hut, which is erected 
in the neighbourhood of their vessels, boats, &c. is from 20 to 25 
feet square, and serves as a station and magazine; but those huts 
the men erect who go in quest of skins are only from seven to eight 
feet square, and in the autumn are carried along the shores in 
boats, and put up at distances from each other of 10 to 50 Russian 
versts. They take the necessary provisions with them for the whole 
oe to serve two or three men, as many generally occupying each 
ut. 
11. Q.—What fuel have they, and in what manner are their huts 
heated ? 
