CHAPTER \T. 



Resolve to try the country beyond the Kamchatskaia Vershina— Photo- 

 graphing the source of the Kamchatka River— Two bears seen — A 

 small mountain lake — Two sheep sighted— Plagued by mosquitoes- 

 Lunch on a snowfield— A three-year-old sheep shot— Eight bears in 

 view at once on the snow — Striped grey marmots numerous — Gillie's 

 adventure with a bear — Littledale kills a young ram — Crossing the 

 Bystraia — Birch forest and swamps— Fresh tracks of bear — Intense 

 heat and mosquitoes — Another young ram shot — The heart saved for 

 native medicine — A stampede amongst the horses— Proceed towards 

 Petropavlovsk and camp near Koriak — Despatch a messenger from 

 Khutor for boats to cross the bay— A white dog of the Kamchatkan 

 breed bought — A good haul of salmon— Medicinal use of bear's 

 bladders— Start in double canoes for the mouth of the Avatcha^ 

 Crossing the bar — The launch with boats in tow — News of the war 

 in China — Embark on board the Tsi/sikar for Nikolaie\sk at the 

 mouth of the Amur opposite Sakhalin — Fishing in the harbour — 

 Seals— Start for the sheep range south of Avatcha Bay— Littledale 

 remains at Petropavlovsk — The mouth of the Paratunka river — 

 Through birch forest and across a lake to Kluchi — The village of 

 Kluchi described — Torrents of rain — The men refuse to proceed- 

 Fine head of caribou — Another start — The sheep ground reached and 

 a herd sighted— A difficult stalk and a good ram killed — Return to- 

 camp amidst general rejoicing. 



^^UMMER was now at its apogee; vegetation. 



^^ which grows so fast in northern regions and shows 

 so vividly the wonderful resources ot nature, starts 

 also in the space of a day towards its speedy decline. 



