THE NORTH-EAST PASSAGE. 21 



map demonstrates how incorrectly the coast here has 

 been delineated, and shows that we stood four and a 

 half degrees inside the supposed coast-line. In con- 

 trast with the other parts of the north coast of Siberia, 

 which almost everywhere is low, with a gradual 

 elevation landwards, there is here a high mountain- 

 chain with remarkably beautiful snow-clad peaks, the 

 height of which we estimated at 2000 feet. 



On the same afternoon we anchored at Khatanga 

 Island, at the mouth of the bay of the same name. 

 How incorrectly this bay has been described may 

 again be learned from the map. Khatanga Island 

 had a very singular appearance. The northern side 

 was about 250 feet high, and descended perpen- 

 dicularly into the sea. From the northern summit 

 the island sloped gradiially away to the south, where 

 its shores were finally lost in a sandbank, which 

 stretched far out into Khatanga Bay. The island 

 was about one mile from east to west, and one and a 

 half mile from north to south. On its western side 

 there is a very good anchorage, only protected, how- 

 ever, from the winds between KE. and S.E. Its 

 northern shore was quite covered with puffins and 

 other species of birds, among which our guns made 

 great destruction. Two polar bears were also shot 

 here. At 9 P.M. we raised our anchor, and steered 

 under alternate fog and clear weather for the north- 

 east of the bay. The light nights were at an end, 

 and it was now extremely dark about 10 P.M. 



