394 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



Banks, which form the continuation of the Timanski 

 Peninsula or Russki Zavarot. But the steamer does not 

 go there for a month yet. 



July 1. 



On Thursday, the 1st of July, the steamer arrived, and 

 right welcome was our large packet of letters from home, 

 the first we have received since the last winter post 

 came in to Ust Zylma. The first summer post only came 

 in to Ust Zylma last Sunday. 



All new r s to both of us is good, and things are going on 

 much as usual warlike rumours at Berlin, Arctic Expedi- 

 tion ; and Captain Boy ton's feat of swimming the 

 Channel ! 



Feilden writes, and by this time has (or now very 

 shortly will sail) sailed in the Alert, the advance ship of 

 the Arctic Expedition. 



The first letter of my batch is dated from home 7th of 

 April, and the last 13th of May. I have one also dated 

 3rd of April from Newton, one from Feilden, and others 

 from Alston, from Bob Patterson at Manila, etc. 



But not so good news was Arendt's account of the 

 probabilities of our returning by sea, nor that contained 

 in printed directions to ships entering and leaving the 

 Petchora, written by the former manager, Mr. Mathiesen. 

 The Company do not guarantee a sufficient supply of 

 timber to load ships with if they arrive prior to the 27th 

 of July, so if they come, they come at their own risk. 



There is also great uncertainty as to the time of arrival 

 owing to the winds. If the present north-easterly wind 

 continues, it will drive the ice down to the bar of the 

 Petchora from the Arctic Ocean, and prevent the ingress 

 of vessels ; and as the voyage from here to Copenhagen 

 averages a month and a few days in duration, it is quite 

 possible we might not get home until the beginning of 

 October. 



