190 



ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



The second hut had its complement of blubber in 

 the entrance-room, but the inner part had been evidently 

 used as a chapel. There were the Madonna and a saint 

 or two, left cruelly alone. Before them hung their 

 lamps with none to light them, and the gilt about their 

 setting was all tarnished by the fogs. On the floor was 

 a packet of incense, a bundle of tapers, a censer and a 

 charcoal-heater — and this was about the sum. It was 

 depressing. 







THE CHAPEL AT SCHAROK 



Outside it was more melancholy still. For here was a 

 place of burial, but not railed off. Only there were 

 many Russian crosses with legends and queer patterns, 

 some fallen down. 



Foxes had burrowed into the graves ; glaucous gulls 

 sat on the crosses and scarcely moved at our approach. 

 Seal-fat was everywhere ; in great lumps and smearings 

 upon the grass, and on everything that lay about. 



