ARCTIC IXTERGLACIAL PERIODS. 181 



The wood found in Northern Siberia consists of two 

 classes — the one is the result of drift, the other grew 

 on the spot. The natives call the former " Noashina," 

 and the latter " Adamshina ; " and the division is 

 supported by Goppert, who separates the trunks of 

 timber found in Northern Siberia into a northern 

 series, with narrow rings of annual growth, and a 

 southern, with wider ones. The latter doubtless 

 floated down the rivers, as great quantities do still ; 

 while the former probably grew there with the 

 mammoth. 



In the middle of October, 1810, Hedenstrom went 

 across the Tundra direct to Ustiansk. " On this 

 occasion," he says, "I observed a remarkable natural 

 phenomenon on the Chastach Lake. This lake is 14 

 versts long and 6 broad, and every autumn throws up 

 a quantity of bituminous fragments of wood, with 

 which its shores in many places are covered to the 

 depth of more than 2 feet. Among these are pieces 

 of a hard transparent resinous substance, burning like 

 amber, though without its agreeable perfume. It is 

 probably the hardened resin of the larch tree. The 

 Chastach Lake is situated 115 versts from the sea and 

 80 versts from the nearest forest." * 



On the same journey, Hedenstrom noticed " on the 

 Tundra, equally remote from the present line of forest, 

 among the steep sandy banks of the lakes and rivers, 

 large birch trees, complete, with bark, branches, and 

 root. At the first glance, they appeared to have been 

 well preserved by the earth, but on digging them up, 

 they are found to be in a thorough state of decay. 

 On being lighted they glow, but never emit a flame ; 

 nevertheless the inhabitants of the neighbourhood use 

 them as fuel, and designate these subterranean trees 



* Wrangell, "Polar Sea Expedition," p. 491. 



