90 VITUS BERING. 



^^ Prior to our arrival at Yakutsk not a pood* of pro- 

 visions had been brought to Okhotsk for us, nor had 

 a single boat been built for the transportation. Nor 

 did we find workmen or magazines at the landing 

 places on the Maya and Yudoma rivers. The Siberian 

 authorities have not taken a single step toward com- 

 plying with the ukases issued by Her Royal Highness." 

 And with justifiable self-esteem he adds: '^'We did 

 all this. We built transports, we obtained workmen 

 in Yakutsk, we conveyed our provisions to Yudoms- 

 kaya Krest, and with superhuman efforts thence to 

 the sea. At the mouths of the Maya and Yudoma, 

 at the Cross, and at the Urak we erected storehouses 

 and dwellings, in the Stanovoi Mountains several win- 

 ter-huts, and on the Urak no less than seventy river 

 boats, which have, in part, started for Okhotsk with 

 provisions. Not until after the lapse of two years 

 have I been able to induce the authorities in Yakutsk 

 to appoint superintendents of transportation, and for 

 this reason it was entirely impossible for me to depart 

 for Okhotsk, unless I wanted to see the work of the 

 whole expedition come to a complete standstill, bring 

 upon my men the direst need, and force the whole 

 enterprise into most ignominious ruin." 



* A pood is tliirty-six pounds. 



