THE PARATUNKA RIVER 231 



it his datcha), a mile beyond the Paratunka River, 

 close to the settlement of Kluchi, where a natural 

 hot spring' spouted out of his very garden. Here he 

 proposed to accompany me, whilst his son would 

 guide us up the nullah. Littledale, who was rather 

 sceptical as to the result of this expedition, yet wish- 

 ful, on the other hand, that I should obtain a trophy, 

 decided to remain at Petropavlovsk with my wife. 

 I immediately applied to the Ispravnik with the re- 

 quest to send for ponies to meet me the following day 

 on the opposite shore of the bay ; a messenger was 

 sent to Kluchi, and on the morning of the 25th of 

 July I bade farewell to my companions. My boat, 

 with the General and myself and as few stores and 

 baggage as possible, was towed across Avatcha Bay 

 by the Government launch. At eight a.m. we landed 

 safely at the mouth of the Paratunka and found ponies 

 and men from Kluchi already awaiting us. Loads 

 were soon distributed and packed on the horses, 

 whilst I rode on, Nikolai leading the way. The path 

 was a good one, denoting a fair amount of traffic, and 

 taking us through a thick birch forest, brought us to 

 a picturesque little lake, across which Podprougine 

 punted us in his dug-out, while the rest of the caravan 

 proceeded to make a circuit by land. On the other 

 side of the lake a small stream, hardly seven yards 



