12 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



consisted of nearly 225 tons. At the lowest reckon- 

 ing, with deduction of fuel for galley and stoves, it 

 was estimated that the Vega could, solely with the 

 assistance of her engine, make more than 4000 miles, 

 which nearly corresponded to the distance between 

 Tromsoe and Behring Strait. 



From private sources the crew had been provided 

 with under-vests, drawers, stockings (long and short), 

 and mitts of wool, sailcloth boots, fur mitts, fur caps, 

 hoods, and snow-spectacles, &c. 



On the 21st of July we steamed out of Tromsoe 

 harbour, accompanied by the steamer Lena, which 

 was to go with us to the mouth of the river Lena, 

 proceed up that river to Yakutsk, and thereafter 

 be employed in the conveyance of passengers and 

 goods. 



The Lena was quite new, built to the order of 

 Herr Sibirikoff, formerly mentioned, at the Motala 

 Engineering "Works, of Swedish Bessemer steel, pro- 

 vided with a high-pressure engine of 15 horse-poAver, 

 which consumed 2 cwt. of coal per hour. She was 

 90 feet long, 17 feet broad, and 7 feet draught, with 

 a cargo of 65 tons dead weight, including coals. She 

 cost 2500, and, like the Vega, carried the Royal 

 Swedish Yacht Club's flag. She was commanded 

 by an experienced Norwegian whaler, and had a 

 crew of nine men. She was supplied with pro- 

 visions for sixteen months, and with 40 tons of 

 coal. 



