56 



KAMTSCHATKA. 



and flexible stems, whilst its flowers are of a fine bright orange colour, and its bulbs 

 consist of oblong pointed scales, the apices of which are turned upwards. These 

 bulbs are, when boiled, a tender dish, of rather agreeable flavour, but not quite so 

 nutritious and esteemed as the so-called Black, or Eound Sarannah (Fritillaria 

 Savannah), already alluded to at Plate II. This Fritillaria, with dark purple 

 flowers, generally grows in Kamtschatka everywhere amongst low grass ; the bulbs 

 are roundish, about the size and shape of the grains of Indian corn, surrounding 

 the root like a wreath, below which several rows of smaller bulbs of gradually de- 

 creasing dimensions are observed ; the whole thus obtains a spherical shape. The 

 taste of this Sarannah somewhat resembles that of potatoes and chestnuts ; it is more 

 mealy than the latter and of greater consistency than the former, a good article 

 of diet which in Kamtschatka replaces bread and other preparations in which flour 

 is the chief part; but it is a pity that it cannot be gathered without great 

 trouble ; every bulb has to be dug out separately. There is besides another species 

 of Sarannah, bearing the Eussian name of " Wostronoschka," the flowers of which 

 are said to be small and green, and appearing in the spring. I did not see them, 

 but I did see the bulbs that had been collected ; they had nearly the shape of the 

 above-mentioned " Ofsjanka," but were smaller. Under the name of " Gussinaja 

 Sarannah " (Greeze Sarannah) is comprised, it would seem, a plant with edible roots 

 growing in swamps : but I have not been able to find out which species. The best 

 and most esteemed Sarannah is termed " Kamtschiga ;" but this grows in the 

 northern districts only, which I did not visit. On the right-hand side of our 

 illustration the grass is confined by brushwood, principally consisting of two species 



of roses (l3 ! 14 0, the flowers of which, now in full bloom, ornament the 



country, whilst their fruit in the autumn supplies food less to man than to most 

 of the larger animals of the peninsula, especially bears, rabbits, and foxes. Of 

 the various shrubby Sjpirceas, so common in the country, there is a slight indication 

 amongst the rose bushes. 



