288 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



the thermometer in the tent registered 68°, and it felt 

 oppressively hot. 



Hyland went down to Scharok with Mekolka, and 

 brought up the news that the ice was gone, and even 

 the «"ulf looked clear. But that there was no sio-n of 

 the Saxon. 



I picked the first flower of Veronica alpina. 



August gtk. — We had such heavy rain last night that 

 most of my time to-day was taken up with drying our 

 things. 



But one most important event must be put on record, 

 because it was the occasion of at least as much interest 

 as a christening in England. I refer to the piercing of 

 the baby's right ear. Katrina did it with a needle, and 

 then put in a metal ring. There was quite a gathering 

 in the choom. The child which was held by Ustynia in 

 the centre of a ring of observers protested very little. 



I remarked, when speaking of the admirable way in 

 which Samoyed children are brought up, that they are 

 controlled by kindness. It so happened that on this day 

 we saw for the first and only time a child punished. 

 Little Wanka's father, Verrmyah, wanted the boy, for 

 some reason ; but when called he was playing with an 

 old pet reindeer and would not come. His father called 

 in vain three times, and then, without a sign of loss of 

 temper, went up and ' spanked ' the boy for disobedience. 



Hyland and I were both much struck with this solitary 

 instance of punishment given or needed. 



