CHAPTER III 



THE MAINLAND 



September igth. — When I came on deck this morning 

 I found the wind high and a driving snowstorm raging. 

 We were just opposite to Timanskii Schar. We were 

 far in advance of the Michael, but, dropping sail, we 

 waited for her. When within hailing distance they 

 wisely determined not to attempt the Schar, but ran on 

 some forty versts to the Kolokolkova (bell-shaped) gulf. 

 We ran in here with fourteen feet of water over the bar, 

 and after q-oino- aground and oettino- off ao-ain with the 

 help of long poles, we dropped anchor. Nineteen hours 

 and half since leaving Kolguev. 



These long poles, divided into quarter 'arsheen' (seven- 

 inch) measurements, are called 'pomorrna.' Many of 

 them were on board. They are used for punting, and 

 have at the top a button which is pressed against the 

 chest. 



A fine white whale rose rio-ht under the gunwale. 



We celebrated our arrival by drinking vodki to the 

 toast called 'Sprebuteum,' which always celebrates a 

 voyage accomplished. Then they said I had great 

 wisdom. I understood all weather, and but for me thev 



3P6 



