232 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



Ust Zylma is flooded. There is only small brushwood at 

 Kuja, and rather larger at Pustozersk. 



With regard to the islands up the river, he says they 

 are always flooded, thus differing from Katzoff, who states 

 they are never flooded. 



Speaking of the return journey, it appears that the 

 only way to get back from Kuja is by boat at the end of 

 summer, and that from Ust Zylrna to Archangel is a three 

 weeks' journey, of which fourteen days are taken up by 

 the route between Ust Zylma and Mezen. 



We may not reach Kuja until the 20th of June (New 

 Style) if we wait at Ust Zylma during May. For it is 

 quite impossible to go by any route from Ust Zylma to 

 Kuja during the month of May, that is, after the 

 break-up of the ice and snow begins, until the river is 

 open. The end of April (10th of May, New Style) is the 

 latest time we can go by the winter route from Ust 

 Zylma to Kuja. 



The Hooded Crows first appear at Pustozersk at the 

 end of March (10th April). Magpies are the only birds 

 that winter there. 



Speaking of the Tundras, Father Inokentia says that 

 the Upper Tundras those nearest the sea are more 

 difficult to work, but he thinks it is possible. The 

 Tundras are cut through with many small rivers and 

 lakes, with rocky, marshy, and also dry ground. The 

 Northern Tundras are good for birds. 



The water on the Tundras is ' beautiful/ and the 

 Petchora water very good.* 



Kafiin, Tiruan, and the Great Tundra towards Novaya 

 Zemlya are the three places resorted to by the Samoyedes 

 in summer. The Timanski Tundra is also thinly populated 

 by Russians. 



Many geese 2,000 ? are caught alive on the lakes of 

 * This we found to be true, 



