136 National Geographic Magazine. 
Solwichergodsk, Kaigorodok, Solkamsk, Verkhoturia, Turinsk, 
Epanchin and Tiumen. 
On the 16th day of March we arrived at Tobolsk and were 
there until the 15th day of May because of the lateness of the 
season interfering with travel. During the delay at Tobolsk 
requisitions were made for the necessary outfit for the expedition. 
May 15th we left Tobolsk by water down the Irtish to Sama- 
rovska Yama, on four boats of the kind called by the Siberians 
‘“‘ dostcheniki,” on which were loaded all the outfit brought from 
St. Petersburg or obtained at Tobolsk ; together with a chaplain, 
commissary, sub-officers and thirty-four soldiers. 
I had previously sent a garde-marine officer, on a small boat 
furnished by the Tobolsk authorities in obedience to the orders of 
the Naval College, to the proper settlements where the prepara- 
tion of freight-boats had been ordered on the Yenise1 and Uskut 
rivers, and I ordered him to sail to Yakutsk. 
From Samarovska Yama the Obi river was ascended to Surgut 
and to Narim, and thence the Ket river to Makovska post. From 
Tobolsk to Makovska as we traveled live Ostiaks who were 
formerly idolaters, but, since the year 1715, through the labors, of 
the Metropolitan of Tobolsk they have been converted to the 
true faith. From Makovska post to Yeniseisk the route lay over- 
land. From Yeniseisk to the [ima-mouth we proceeded also in 
four boats by way of the Yenisei and Tunguska rivers. On the 
Tunguska there are three rapids and several shoals ; rapids be it 
understood where across the whole width of the river large rocks 
stand high in the water, with a passage only in one or two places; 
and shoals, similarly under water and above water but composed 
of small stones, alternate with rapids and with places where the 
water in the river is shallow for the distance of one or two versts, 
and which are not surmounted without a great deal of labor. 
From Yeniseisk in pursuance of orders from Tobolsk we took 
thirty men, carpenters and smiths. 
On the Ilima river, on account of rapids, bars and shoal water, 
the barges could not be taken to Ilimsk. For a certain distance 
only small canoes were available, for which reason the heaviest 
part of the outfit was reserved to be sent by sledges in winter. 
Lieut. Spanberg, with a party of thirty-nine carpenters and 
laborers, went by land from Ilimsk by the Uskut to the river 
Lena, to prepare during the winter fifteen barges on which the 
command and its equipment should be floated down to Yakutsk. 
