DRY AND WET TUNDRAS 151 



the caravan-men, who was acquainted with the coun- 

 try, whether sheep were to be found on the slopes of 

 the neighbouring hills. Though he appeared to confirm 

 their presence in these parts, his assertions were to be 

 received with considerable caution, as natives are wont 

 to assert what they believe is expected. Owing to the 

 previous day's downpour, mosquitoes were less trouble- 

 some during this march ; they joined us again towards 

 evening on the outskirts of Natchiki. In the after- 

 noon, for the first time, we came across tracks of bear 

 in the mud, and one of the party actually caught 

 sight of one, disturbed by our imposing procession. 

 Athough at no altitude, we had to cross patches of 

 snow here and there. Three or four miles before 

 reaching Natchiki our caravan came to a small 

 "dry" tundra; this was the top of the pass — if it may 

 be so called — dividing the system of the Avatcha 

 from the w^atersheds of the Bolshaia and Kamchatka 

 Rivers. Natives talk of a "dry" and a "wet" tundra; 

 the former definition implies the pony sinking up to 

 its knees, while the latter may swallow up the animal 

 entirely. I noticed how careful the horses were in 

 stepping along the tundra, constantly avoiding placino- 

 their feet on occasional emerald-green patches of grass, 

 which were indeed treacherous. From here we de- 

 scended into a broad vallev, that of the Bolshaia 



