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refracted. For, rising- as it seems in quite a clear sky, 

 its slope is oval (depressed above and below), and its 

 upper and lower edges all jagged. As it rises this con- 

 dition gradually changes, till you have a circular moon 

 with clear-cut rim. Seen through my little telescope it 

 really seems that you could just step down into its valleys 

 — they are so sharp. Behind our tent the gully's sides 

 are covered with snow, much of which is pink with 

 protococcus nivalis. 



' A merlin flew close by the tent this evening, turning 

 its head, and looking in at the door as it passed. 



' They trimmed some calves' ears to-day (i.e. cut off 

 the tips for marking purposes), and the women forth- 

 with skinned and ate the bits. 



4 A yellow-ringed humble-bee stunned itself by flying 

 against the tent rope.' 



Ustynia, I should explain, did not drive her own 

 sleigh to-day, but sat behind her father on his because 

 she went to her betrothal. Young On Tipa, whom 

 she was to marry, was not a bad young fellow, but 

 consumedly conceited because, as his father was the 

 richest man in Kolguev, he had been the catch of the 

 island. 



The curious part of this Samoyed courtship was that 

 we never saw the man and his girl together. I never 

 saw On Tipa the younger inside Uano's choom, and I 

 cannot remember that I ever knew him and Ustynia 

 to exchange three words with one another. 



