114 



EAMSGHATKA. 



[chap. 



He had been hard hit, and marks of blood were plentifully visible 

 as we took up the spoor. The vegetation was, however, so thick, 

 and everywhere so overrun with the trail of these animals, that 

 before long we had to give up the search, in spite of the aid of 

 Vergiaski. We therefore returned, and striking camp, proceeded 

 up the valley of the Bolcheresk Eiver, as on the previous day. 

 The river here runs due south through a flat plain covered with 

 yellow grass and about three or four miles in width. It is hemmed 



REINDEER RIDING, KAMSCHATKA lUYER. 



in by mountains which are at first of no great height, but as the 

 head of the valley is approached the scenery becomes finer. We 

 rode towards it under heavy rain, but before long the weather 

 cleared, and disclosed to view a gloomy gorge on our right, about 

 eight miles distant, from which the river evidently debouched. At 

 the same time another valley became apparent, joining in from 

 a north-north-westerly direction, and the stream which flowed 

 through it appeared to have the same source as the Bolcheresk, or 

 at least to rise at no great distance from it. We had got at last 

 to the head waters of the Kamschatka Eiver ! 



