WRANGELL. 237 



been known to travel a hundred miles a day witliout being injured by it. A 

 team consists commonly of twelve dogs, and it is of importance that they should 

 be accustomed to draw together. The quick and steady going of the team, 

 as well as tlie safety of the travellei", mainly depends on tlie docility and sa- 

 gacity of the foremost dog or leader. No pains are tlierefore spared in his edu- 

 cation, so that he may understand and obey his master's orders, and prevent the 

 rest from starting off in pui'suit of the stone-foxes or other animals that may 

 chance to cross their path. Their usual food is frozen tisli, and ten good her- 

 rings ars said to be a jjroper daily allowance for each dog while on duty. 

 When not actively employed, they are obliged to content themselves witli offal, 

 and towards spring, Avlien the winter's provisions are generally exhausted, they 

 suffer the keenest hunger. 



This season is also a hard time for the wandering tribes of tlie neighbor- 

 hood. Tlien they flock to Nishne-Kolymsk, and to the other Russian settle- 

 ments on the Kolyma, but here also famine stares them in the face. There is, 

 indeed, a public corn magazine, but the price of flour is raised by the cost of 

 transport to such an exorbitant height, as to be completely beyond the reach of 

 the majority of the people. Three such dreadful springs did Wrangell pass at 

 Kolymsk, witnessing scenes of misery never to be forgotten. 



But when the distress of the people has reached its highest point, relief is 

 generally at hand. Troops of migratory birds come from the south, and fur- 

 nish sonu> food for the despairing population. The supply is increased in June, 

 wlien the ice breaks on the Kolyma, for in spite of the faultiness of the nets 

 and the want of skill of tlie fishermen, the river is the principal source of plenty 

 during the summer, and supplies, moreover, the chief provisions for the follow- 

 ing winter. But with these gifts the Kolyma brings the plague of inundations, 

 so that during the summer of 1822 Wrangell was obliged to spend a whole 

 week on the flat roof of his hut. 



The chief resource of the Jukahires of the River Aniuj is the reindeer chase, 

 the success of which mainly decides whether famine or some degree of comfort 

 is to be their lot during the coming winter. The passage of the reindeer takes 

 place twice a year ; in spring, when the mosquitoes compel theni to seek the 

 sea-shore, where they feed on the moss of the tundra, and in autumn, when the 

 increasing cold forces them to retire fi'om the coast. The spring migration, 

 which begins about the middle of May, is not very profitable, partly because 

 the animals are meagre, and their furs in bad condition, and partly because it 

 is more diflicult to kill them as they pass the frozen rivers. The chief hunting 

 is in August and September, when the herds, consisting each of several thou- 

 sand deer, return to the forests. They invariably cross the river at a ])articular 

 spot, where a flat sandy bank makes their landing easier ; and hei'c they press 

 more closely together, under the guidance of the strongest animals of the herd. 



The passage takes place after some hesitation, and in a few minutes the 

 river is covered with swimming reindeer. The hunters, hidden in cieeks or 

 behind stones and bushes, now shoot forth in their small boats and wound as 

 many as they can. While they are thus busy, they run some risk of being over- 

 turned in the turmoil, for the bucks defend themselves with their horns, their 



