TO THE HOLY HILLS 347 
‘To-day we cleared out of Alexis’ isba (dwelling- 
hut) into a little ombara (storage-hut). A certain 
amount of wet is kept out by a polar bear-skin stretched 
over the top, but still the wet comes in so that the 
planks or beds are all wet. However, we did our best 
by packing the cracks to keep it out. There is no 
window, but a hole over the door, and the approach is 
filthy ; guts, blood, etc., lying all round the door, so 
that Yakoff and I slipped and fell as we entered. 
But I have brought a lot of moss, and have paved 
the front with this, so that it is better. Yet the 
smell is most unpleasant, and I am thankful the 
weather is not hot. Supporting the planks of our beds 
are barrels filled with I don’t know what, but it smells 
horribly. The tent is still standing all wet. I spenta 
good deal of time down there to-day, trying to get things 
straight and emptying water out, but it rained hard all 
the time. Alexis Samarokoff was towed in to-day. He 
is a fine-looking Russian. He tells me the Governor 
of Archangel, travelling to the Petchora in June, was 
stopped by ice at Mezen and compelled to abandon his 
ship and travel overland to Pustosersk, and that Sibiria- 
koff brought him thence in his steamer.’ 
‘Gave Alexis the last drop of whisky, which has 
remained all this time in my flask. He said it was 
wonderful, and rubbed his stomach long after it had 
gone down.’ 
1 Which I found afterwards was a fact. 
