i64 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



with that of decayed fish, was no pleasant addition 

 to our comfort. Round these springs we discovered 

 attempts on the part of the natives to grow vegetables, 

 in the shape of a few small patches of ploughed land. 

 The warmth emanating from the almost boiling- 

 water afforded the sole spot in the neighbourhood 

 where potatoes could be cultivated. Later, in the 

 Paratunka district, I came across similar volcanic 

 springs, which are, I believe, disseminated all over 

 the peninsula, and constitute natural hot-houses. I 

 was shown the root of a plant known as the Sarand, 

 which natives gather in large quantities in the woods, 

 and which is regarded as the local potato; we met 

 several parties of women in search of this precious 

 plant round the various settlements through which 

 we passed, bilberries and birch bark being likewise 

 eao^erly collected by the Kamchadale ladies. We 

 had now lost a couple of days owing to continuous 

 rain, and although the sky was threatening and heavy 

 dark clouds encircled the hills, we resolved to strike 

 camp on the foll(j\ving morning m 7vu/e for Malka. 



We started, as decided, at 7.30 a.m., in torrents of 

 rain. Our course at first led us in a due westerly 

 direction, down the Natchiki valley, with a view of cir- 

 cumventing a block of mountains at our back. Passing 

 throuo-h marshv wastes and monotonous birch woods, 



