64 CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 



JuJij 31, 1884. — At 3.30 a. m., as the first faint gleams of light appeared in the sky, Andre 

 awoke mo from a deep sleep and suggested that we start as soon as possible for our camp on the 

 river before the heat of the day set ia. Natorak had already made some tea and baked some bread 

 on a stick, and after partaking of this limited refreshment we started on our return. The air was 

 cold at this time of day, and for this rea.son the mosquitoes did not trouble ns Tuucli. I fouiiil 

 myself very stiff and sore after the walk of the day before, but this soon wore off and we started 

 down the side of the mountain at a famous rate. Each of us had quite a load of stone, and 

 in addition to tliis, Andre had the whole of the camp outfit dangling from his belt or strapped to 

 his shoulders. Even with this tremendous load he frolicked around like a young colt turned to 

 pasture, sometimes disappearing ashe followed the track of a beardown some mountain ravine and 

 tlien buisting tlirough a thicket a mile away and rushing down towards us with the numerous 

 articles of his pack dangling and clattering in the wind. His high spirits were infectious and 

 I forgot my fatigue and walked along quite well for about five miles, when we reached the edge 

 of a dense forest of pines and plung('d into its dismal recesses. Here we were beset by myriads 

 of mosquitoes and sand-flies, which attacked us with a persistence and violence utterly beyond 

 description. Sometimes in crossing a morass I would be compelled to steady myself by holding 

 on to the limbs of a fallen tree. At such times the horrible pests would attack my face, neck, 

 and head with venomous force which no pen can describe. After about two hours of this kind 

 of work we emerged upon the open tundra, and a fresh breeze springing up we thiew ourselves 

 down and buried our heads in the yielding moss and grass until the wind had blown the mos- 

 quitoes away. I can not tell how much I suffered during this day. I oidy know that when we 

 reached the river at 5 p. m. I was almost insensible from pain and exhaustion. Our boots were 

 worn through, and Andre had to tie pieces of blanket around my feet to protect them. Despite 

 this precaution they were cut and bruised and so much swollen that he had to cut the boots to get 

 them off. When we reached the river I was informed that Lieutenant Stoney, U. S. N., had passed 

 up and had left a note, kindly offering me any assistance he might be able to render our party. 

 Finding myself too exhausted to go any further at present, I dispatched a note to Mr. ]\rcLenegan, 

 requesting him to bring forward the launch with all possible speed. The shaman of the village 

 oppositeourencami)ment volunteered to act as guide for the launch, and I sent him down with 

 instructions to stand in the launch's bow and pointout the best channel for Mr. McLenegan. These 

 arrangements having been completed, I turned in to sleep and did not awake until next day near 

 noon. 



August 1, 1884. — We were at work all day making i)reparations for the arrival of the launcli 

 and for an immediate start up the river. The skin boat had had two days' good drying and a 

 thorough overhauling by the Indians of the village. The shaman, who had been opposc<l to our 

 mountain trip, and whose influence had prevented others from helping us, now came forward and 

 tendered his assistance to us. He promised to go back with us up the river and prevail upon the 

 Indians to help ns. All the pay ho desired was a little something to eat and to be allowed the 

 privilege of making the trip in the steam-launch. The water in the river was rapidly falling, and 

 the current decreasing, so that everything seemed propitious for our expedition. We went up a 

 slough of the river and rafted down some wood suitable for the launch to burn, and by night we 

 had cut suflicieut to last her two days. At 10 p. m. the shaman was seen i)addling towards our 

 camp at a rapid rate, and I felt sure something had gone wrong. He brought a note from Mr. 

 McLenegan saying that the fireman had let the water run down in the boiler, and had burnt (he 

 tubes, how seriously he could only tell after an examination, which lie would make immediately. 

 I sent word down asking Mr. McLenegan to inform me at once of the extent of the damage, intend- 

 ing to start right away in the skin boat and allow him to overtake me should the injury j)rove such 

 as could be repaired. By this means we could cut wood at convenient distances, and thus avoid 

 the necessity of stojiping the launch for this jjurpose. 



August 2, 1884. — All the morning we looked anxiously down the river for the ai)j)earance of 

 the launch, but she did not come. Toward 12 o'clock we discovered a canoe about a mile off 



