PETCHORA 233 



the Tundra, about the 10th of July, for the sake of the 

 feathers, down, etc. 



The island of Kolguev is inhabited by Samoyedes, who 

 are employed by the Kussians at Pustozersk as shepherds 

 for their Reindeer. There they live a nomad life in tents 

 all the year round. 



There are many idols ' Kaye ' on Waigatz, but also 

 some at different places on the other Tundras. 



The word Samoyede means ' eat alone,' not ' self-eating' 

 (vide Richardson's 'Polar Regions'). 



Petchorit is a hard stone. 



To-night the temperature was 26 Reaum. 



March 21. 



On Sunday, the 21st of March, we saw a young fellow 

 by name Urpin who has been several times to the 

 Petchora, and has been as high up as Ust Zylina. He told 

 us that in the delta the hay is cut about the 15th of 

 August, or earlier; that the vegetation there springs 

 up very rapidly if the ice goes quickly, but is often 

 delayed by north-east winds in spring and June ; that 

 there is usually fine weather in June and July, rain in 

 August; and that we shall be able to sleep in the tem- 

 porary houses on the delta. 



Speaking as to the river, he said that in July the winds 

 are variable; that Sidoroff's steamer cannot always go up 

 to Ust Zylina, by reason of the shallowness of the water ; 

 and that he himself took a week from Kuja to Ust 

 Zylma, with tacking and two days' favourable wind. 



As to the North-East Tundra, he mentioned that he 

 had been wrecked on the coast between Varandai and 

 Kuja, 15th-27th August, and travelled a short distance 

 over the Tundra. It takes a couple of days' boat 

 voyage on the average from Kuja to Varandai. In 

 August he saw few, but some very small, ' Kuleeki,' 



