14 CONTENTS 



PAGE 



exhausted — ^A Kalmuck humorist— We sleep in the open— 

 An ibex hunt — An ibex dinner— Kalmuck appetite — The 

 horns of the ibex. 



CHAPTER VII 



Climbing Belukha 196 



I decide to climb Belukha — Difficulties with the hunters, 

 who turn back — I pitch my tent in a snowstorm — ^An un- 

 pleasant shock — Making soup in a portable tent — Sleep and 

 dreams — Morning — No sign of the hunters — I decide to con- 

 tinue alone — Among the boulders— Hardness of the ice — 

 Apparition of one of the hunters four miles away — The 

 ascent — A snow-ship — I narrowly escape— The descent — 

 Difficult progress — I make up to the hunter — Taken 

 ill — I reach the camp with difficulty — Inflammation of 

 the eyes — Compelled to abandon attempt — Striking our 

 tents — We miss our track, but arrive at Kalmuck hut — 

 Shelter and warmth — On the way again to Katunda — 

 Crossing the Katun — Advice to future explorers — Climbing 

 — Akkem Valley — Climate — Mountain formation— Fauna 

 and flora. 



CHAPTER VIII 



Katunda — Spring Thaw Difficulties — Bysk . 217 



Katunda church and priest — We visit a hunter's establish- 

 ment — Beneficent efforts on the part of the Government — 

 Steam-boats required to relieve the traffic — An inspector of 

 forests — Extent of Altai forests — We leave Katunda — The 

 coming of the great thaw — Ouempn — A good night's rest — 

 Thriftlessness of the peasantrjp^Compelled to continue 

 our journey on horseback — Triumphant "tarakans" — A 

 sledge drive — Abbi cemetery — An obstinate driver— Kal- 

 mucks — Horsemanship — We break down — Are rescued — 

 Kirlick — Shooting wild fowl — Ouskam — On the way to 

 Chorni-Anni — Returning to civilisation — The Easter fair 

 at Chorni-Anni — A drive in the dark — Solonishini — A letter 

 from Prince Khilkoff — An Easter service — Chiranchanka 

 creamery— Lejanovo — Solonofka — An Easter cavalcade — 



