12 



CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



At first they denied all knowledge of the reported discovery of the wreck, but subsequently, 

 having acknowledged that they had heard of the wreck being seen west of Koliatchin Bay, they 

 told so many wonderful and improbable tales in relation to it as almost to shake our faith in all of 

 them. They were a good-natured, careless lot, and when told of the object of our visit, and asked 



EAST CArE, SOUTHWEST, DISTANCE 6 MILES. 



if one of their number would go with us, they laughed heartily and said, "What is the use of look- 

 ing for them if they have been there so long?" pointing to the north. "They must all be dead." 

 After some persuasion and promises of liberal rewards, two of them consented to accompany us if 

 we would shoot walrus for their families to subsist upon during their absence. This we readily 

 promised, provided we could find the walrus, but as we were convinced that this was only an excuse, we 

 offered them a few pounds of tobacco, which was readily accepted. One of them proved to be such 

 a great talker that Joe, who was a man of very few words, said, after listening to him awhile, "I 

 think it is more better we don't take this fellow — too much talk," and in deference to Joe's wishes 

 the loquacious Tapkanian was left behind. The other, a large, quiet, good natured fellow, accom- 

 panied us, and was found useful, although not altogether truthful. He seemed to think we were 

 in search of information which it was in his special province to supply, and some of the flights of 

 imagination he indulged in were truly surprising. We also bought from these people a very fine 

 sled. Having signified a desire to visit the settlement, we were invited to ride there upon the dog 

 sleds, about a dozen of which, with from five to eight dogs attached to each, were found after 

 climbing over the rough hummocky ice for perhaps half a mile. Although the undertaking seemed 

 one of great hazard, we determined to venture, and, taking seats on the sleds as directed, we suc- 

 ceeded either in holding on or falling in such a way as to avoid having our bones broken when 

 thrown off until we reached the settlement, where we were kindly received. Deerskins were spread 

 on the ground for us to rest on, and a pair of mittens of peculiar make presented to each. The 

 houses have the same general appearance as those at Marcus Bay, but, being built on sandy soil, 

 wefe drier and more comfortable looking. The settlement is near the wintering place of the Vega 

 in 1878-'79. In one of the houses we were shown a silver fork and spoon which had been presented 

 to one of the old men by Professor Nordenskjold, for whom they all seemed to entertain a friendly 

 feeling and who was called by them Captain Enshall. 



At first they denied all knowledge of the Vega, as in the case of the wreck, but a number of 

 leading questions disclosed the fact that they remei bered her very distinctly. Whether their 

 reticence on this point arose from defective memory, failure to understand the original questions, 

 or that lying is a part of their nature, it is impossible to tell. I am inclined to think the latter 

 comes nearest the true cause. They are great liars naturally, and their association with white men 

 has not improved them. They are so accustomed to being lied to by the whisky traders that they 

 take it for granted that all white men are untruthful until they receive proof to the contrary. Their 

 suspicious nature is well illustrated in an instance that came under the notice of Lieutenant Her- 

 ring during his sledge journey along the Siberian coast. Some letters were given the chief at the 

 Koliatchiu settlement to be delivered to any vessel or party of white men that might visit the coast. 



