CHAPTEE VL 



KAMSCHATKA {continued). 



Abundance of bears — Ptarmigan — The Palfearctic region — Valley of the Bolcheresk — 

 Arrive at the Kanischatka Eiver — Dense growth of annuals — The sable — Methods 

 of catching it — Puschina — Kaiuschatkan birds — Verglaski fishes the river — 

 Karaschatkan salmon — The Tchervitchi — Krasna — Haiko — Garbusa — Kisutchi 

 — Gultsi — Other salmon — Habits of bears when fishing — We arrive at Sherowmy. 



We left Gunal on the morning of August 27th. Our two clays' 

 rest had done us all good, and Cook's disabled leg, which had at 

 one time caused us some anxiety, was sufficiently well to risk 

 going on. The injured member had not prevented his super- 

 intending the making of some most excellent bilberry jam. We 

 had killed a fatted calf, of which, after much hagglmg, we had 

 become the possessors for the sum of twelve roubles; and the 

 carcase had been duly converted into veal and a good supply of 

 stock. From our saddles hung several couple of mallard, and the 

 larder on the whole was in as satisfactory a condition as it well 

 could be. We had woke to a heavy mist, which rendered even 

 near objects distinguishable with difficulty, but it lifted gradually 

 under the rays of a bright sun, and before we were well off, and 

 had turned to catch the last glimpse of the beautiful scenery 

 around our late camp, the day had become all that the most 

 exifjeant of travellers could desire. Under hot suns like these the 

 signs of autumn appear with wonderful rapidity, and we noticed 

 that the tints were distinctly Ijrighter than they had been but 

 three days before. 



