REPORT OF KAMCHATKA 25 



ing the sea ; that their habitat was vaguely defined, 

 and their haunts in the interior quite unknown ; that, 

 in his opinion, the most hkely grounds were the wild- 

 est and most impracticable in the southernmost parts 

 of the peninsula, round the Kurile Lake, but that few 

 natives were acquainted with that country. Professor 

 Sliounine also informed me that bears were to be 

 found in great numbers on all the hills, but that 

 caribou betake themselves in summer towards the 

 Arctic Ocean, and emigrate all together in large herds ; 

 they return towards the end of August, and pour into 

 the peninsula for their winter quarters. Most of these 

 statements we found to be correct. He added that 

 salmon abounded in everv stream at that time of vear, 

 and that we should get plenty of fishing. Prospects 

 seemed bright except as regards caribou. Of the 

 latter we picked up several fine antlers, showing the 

 large size to which they attain. Before our departure 

 I received the most welcome news that Monsieur 

 Isvolsky, the newly appointed Russian minister in 

 Japan, was about to start with his family to join his 

 post, and that we should probably travel together. 

 Notwithstanding the un.tiring pleasure of his com- 

 pany, and that of Madame Isvolsky, for all of us, 

 I had heard of various difficulties for travellers be- 

 yond Irkutsk, eg. that the line Irkutsk- Stretensk 



