CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



SIBERIA — FUR-TRADE AND GOLD-DIGGINGS. 



Siberia.-Its immense Extent and Capabilities.-TheExiles.-Mentschikoff.-Dolgorouky.-Miinich.- 

 The Criminals.— The free Siberian Peasant.— Extremes of Heat and Cold.— Fur-bearing 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 Deniidow.— Nishne-Tagilsk Page 204 



CHAPTER XYIII. 



biiddendouff's adventcres in taimurland. 



For what Purpose was Middendorf!"s Voyage to Taimurland undertaken ?— Difficulties and Obstacles.— 



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



Middendorff ill and alone in 75° N. Lat.— Saved by a gi-ateful Samoiede.— Climate and Vegetation of 



Taimurland 220 



CHAPTER XIX. 



THE JAKDTS. 



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

 ings.— The Jakut Horse.— Incredible Powers of Endurance of the Jakuts.— Their 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. 



WRAN'GELL. 



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

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



lymsk. Summer Plagues. — Vegetation. — Animal Life. — Reindeer-hunting.— Famine. — Inundations. 



Xhe Siberian Dog.— First Journeys over the Ice of the Polar Sea, and Exploration 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 2'i-l 



CHAPTER XXII. 



GEORGE WIEEIAM 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. — Fi-ozen 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 physical and moral Qualities. — The Fri- 

 tiUaria Sanvmn.— The ]\ruchanior.— Bears.— Dogs , , 254 



