chap. xiv. OUR BOAT. J55 



clothed in about half its summer costume. We had also a 

 nest given to us of the wheatear, with one egg in it, and the 

 female bird caught upon it. 



We had for some time been on the look-out for a boat 

 in which to make the journey down the river, and by the 

 exertion of Piottuch and the kind help of M. Znaminski, 

 who was much interested in our expedition, we succeeded in 

 obtaining one which suited us very w r ell. A wooden cabin, 

 not unlike a large dog-kennel, occupied the centre, and 

 was just large enough for us to recline in at full length ; 

 and at the back of it was a covered space, where our baggage 

 could be packed secure from the heavy rains which occasion- 

 ally occur in summer. It had one mast, on which we could 

 hoist a square sail whenever the wind was favourable. The 

 current would of course usually be in our favour, but we 

 were also provided with four oars, which though incapable of 

 propelling her at much speed, would be useful in crossing 

 the stream, and in giving her way enough to make the 

 rudder of some use in a calm. We engaged four boatmen, 

 two Kussians, a Samoyede, and a half breed, all of whom 

 possessed some knowledge of the river; and the latter 

 having the additional advantage of being what passed in this 

 district as an enthusiastic sportsman. We left Ust-Zylma on 

 Thursday, the 10th of June, and sailed down to Habariki 

 with a fair wind and a strong current. The banks of the 

 river were covered with birch and spruce woods, alternating 

 with willow swamps. On our way, we landed at several 

 places, but met with nothing of special interest. Every- 

 where we found the blue-throat, the redwing, the brambling, 



