6 EARLY EXPLORERS 



these naturalists had spent a year or more on the Petchora, 

 had there collected birds and eggs, and had been very 

 successful. 



Our outfit was simple. We determined to be tram- 

 melled with as little luggage as possible. Besides the 

 necessary changes of clothing we took each a pair of 

 Cording's india-rubber boots, which we found invaluable. 

 To protect our faces from the mosquitoes, we provided 

 ourselves with silk gauze veils, with a couple of wire 

 hoops inserted opposite the bridge of the nose and the 

 chin, like little crinolines. These simple komarniks proved 

 a complete success. On a hot summer's day life without 

 them would have been simply unendurable. Of course 

 the heat and sense of being somewhat stifled had to be 

 borne, as by far the lesser of two evils. Our hands we 

 protected by the regulation cavalry gauntlet. We took 

 two tents with us, but had no occasion to use them. Our 

 net hammocks served as beds by night and sofas by day, 

 and very luxurious we found them. We each took a 

 double-barrelled breechloader and a walking-stick gun. 

 Five hundred cartridges for each weapon, with the neces- 

 sary appliances for reloading, we found amply sufficient. 

 The only mistake we made was in not taking baking 

 powder, nor sufficient dried vegetables and Liebig's 

 extract of meat. 



In travelling in Russia, it is of the utmost importance 

 to be on good terms with the officials, and we were 

 most fortunate in obtaining the best introductions. Our 

 warmest thanks are due to Count Schouvaloff for his 

 kindness in giving us letters that ensured us a welcome 

 such as we could not have expected. They added greatly 

 to the safety and success of our trip. 



