CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



SIBERIA— FUR-TRADE AND GOLD-DIGGfiSGS. 



Siberia.— Its imiiieiise Extent and Capabilities.— The Exiles.— Mentschikoflf.-Dolgorouky.— Munich.— 

 The Criminals.— The free Siberian Peasant.— Extremes of Heat and Cold.— Fur-bearint,^ Animals.— 

 The Sable.— The Ermine.— The Siberian Weasel.— The Sea-otter.— The black Fox.— The Lynx.— 

 The Squirrel.— The varying Hare.— The Suslik.— Importance of the Fur-trade for the Northern 

 Provinces of the Russian Empire.— The Gold-diggings of Eastern Siberia.— The Taiga.— Expenses 

 and Difficulties of searching Expeditions.— Costs of Produce, and enormous Profits of successful 

 Speculators.— Their senseless Extravagance.— First Discovery of Gold in the Ural Mountains.— 

 Jakowlew and Demidow. — Nishne-Tagilsk Pa„g 904 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



middendorff's adventures in taimurland. 



For what Purpose was Middendorffs Voyage to Taimurland undertaken?— Difficulties and Obstacles.— 



Expedition down the Taimur River to the Polar Sea.— Storm on Taimur Lake.— Loss of the Boat.— 



Jliddendorff ill and ulone in 75° N. Lat.— Saved by a grateful Samoiede.— Climate and Vegetation of 



Taimurland 220 



CHAPTER XIX. 



the jakuts. 

 Their energetic Nationality.— Their Descent.— Their gloomy Character.— Summer and Winter Dwell- 

 ings.— The Jakut Horse.— Incredible Powers of Endurance of the Jakuts.— Tlieir Sharpness of Vis- 

 ion.— Surprising local Memory.— Their manual Dexterity.— Leather, Poniards, Carpets. —Jakut 

 Gluttons. — Superstitious Fear of the Mountain-spirit Ljeschei.— Offerings of Horse-hair.— Improvised 

 Songs.— The River Jakut 228 



CHAPTER XX. 



wrangell. 

 His distinguished Services as an Arctic Explorer. — From Petersburg to Jakutsk in 1820. — Trade of 

 Jakutsk.— From Jakutsk to Nishne-Kolymsk.— The Badarlny.— Dreadful Climate of Nishne-Ko- 

 lymsk.—SummerPlagues.— Vegetation.— Animal Life. —Reindeer-hunting.— Famine.— Inundations. 

 —The Siberian Dog.— First Journeys over the Ice of the Polar Sea, and Ex pi oration -of the Coast 

 beyond Cape Shelagskoi in 1821.— Dreadful Dangers and Hardships.— Matiuschkin's Sledge-journey 

 over the Polar Sea in 1822.— Last Adventures on the Polar Sea. — A Run for Life.— Return to St. 

 Petersburg 233 



CHAPTER XXI. 



THE TUNGUSI. 



Their Relationship to the Mantchou. — Dreadful Condition of the outcast Nomads. — Character of 

 the Tungusi. — Their Outfit for the Chase. — Bear-hunting. — Dwellings. — Diet. — A Night's Halt with 

 Tungusi in the Forest. — Ochotsk 244 



CHAPTER XXII. 



GEORGE WILLIAM STELLER. 



His Birth. — Enters the Russian Service.— Scientific Journey to Kamchatka.— Accompanies Bering on his 

 second Voyage of Discovery.— Lands on the Island of Kaiak.— Shameful Conduct of Bering.— Ship- 

 wreck on Bering Island.— Bering's Death.— Return to Kamchatka.— Loss of Property.— Persecutions 

 of the Siberian Authorities.— Frozen to Death at Tjumen '. 248 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



KAMCHATKA. 



Climate.— Fertility.— Luxuriant Vegetation. —Fish.— Sea-birds.— Kamchatkan Bird-catchers.— The Bay 

 of Avatscha.— Petropaylosk.— The Kamchatkans.— Their phj'sical and moral Qualities.— The Fri- 

 tillaria Sarrana.— The Muchamor. — Bears.— Dogs 254 



