114 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XIX, 



settlement was situated and then followed the general direc- 

 tion of the coast-line, cutting off the headlands and approach- 

 ing the sea in the lower places. Mountains visible in all 

 directions. Crossed long stretches of barren tundra, followed 

 three small rivers for short distances, and finally reached 

 Mickina, where we remained in a Koryak yomt a for the night. 



February 27. Reached Shestacova at noon and decided 

 to lie over here until next day, as the next settlement is two 

 to three days' journey. Occupied the day in repairing our 

 freight sledge, buying fish for our dogs, and repacking our 

 sledges. This was formerly a large settlement, but various 

 diseases and epidemics have reduced it to two yomt as. It is 

 situated on a little bay at the mouth of a small river. This 

 and the last place are on the direct line of flight of ducks and 

 geese on their migrations, and they are known as the best 

 places along the head of Okhotsk Sea for shooting them. 



February 28. Turned out at 4.30 and were off at 5 A.M. 

 Our way led up the Shestacova River. Five miles above 

 its mouth its shallow valley suddenly narrows where it cuts 

 through a ledge of basalt, and from that point up it is shut in 

 by mountains on either side. Three miles further we struck 

 into a canon on the right and began to climb the mountains. 

 Reached the summit, 380 meters elevation, at noon, and after 

 a short stop for tea began the descent. Far below us lay the 

 broad valley of the Ocklan River, whose winding course was 

 marked by the thick growth of trees along its bottom which 

 showed black against the snow. Reached the river late in 

 the afternoon and made camp. Snow so soft we had to break 

 track with snow-shoes. 



March i. Reached Ooskou Pass, out of the valley (eleva- 

 tion 360 meters), at 3 P.M. The descent was so steep that my 

 sledge capsized and the dogs threatened to run off with us 

 until the driver stopped them and quickly slipped one hind 

 leg of each dog through the harness, this making them three- 

 legged, when we made the rest of the descent in safety. 

 Reached Ooskou at night and camped. Next day, the 2d, 

 reached Pengina, a Russian settlement of fifty-seven people, on 

 the Pengina River. Remained here next day to repair sledges 



