288 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 
the thermometer in the tent registered 68°, and it felt 
oppressively hot. 
Hyland went down to Scharok with Mekolka, and 
brought up the news that the ice was gone, and even 
the gulf looked clear. But that there was no sign of 
the Saxon. 
I picked the first flower of Veronica alpina. 
August 9th.—We had such heavy rain last night that 
most of my time to-day was taken up with drying our 
things. 
But one most important event must be put on record, 
because it was the occasion of at least as much interest 
as a christening in England. I refer to the piercing of 
the baby’s right ear. Katrina did it with a needle, and 
then put in a metal ring. There was quite a gathering 
in the choom. The child which was held by Ustynia in 
the centre of a ring of observers protested very little. 
I remarked, when speaking of the admirable way in 
which Samoyed children are brought up, that they are 
controlled by kindness. It so happened that on this day 
we saw for the first and only time a child punished. 
Little Wanka’s father, Verrmyah, .wanted the boy, for 
some reason; but when called he was playing with an 
old pet reindeer and would not come. His father called 
in vain three times, and then, without a sign of loss of 
temper, went up and ‘spanked’ the boy for disobedience. 
Hyland and I were both much struck with this solitary 
instance of punishment given or needed. 
