3^ VOYAGE FROM OKHOTZK 



the 1 8th of November, in a fledge drawn by dogs, and 

 came on the 27th of January 1787 to Okhotzk, a great 

 while later than my galleot. In the fame kind of con- 

 veyance I left Okhotzk on the 8th of February, in 

 company with my wife, purfued my way, fometimes 

 with rein deer, fometimes with horfes, fometimes with 

 oxen, encountering the moft tremendous dangers, and 

 fuffering inexprefiible hardfhips. However, I came on 

 the nth of March to Efakutfk, profecuted my journey 

 on the following day, met with a renewal of all my dif- 

 ficulties and perils ; which, efpecially the whole" way 

 from Kamtfliatka, are not to be conceived from any 

 written account, and were fometimes to be encountered 

 under the moft tormenting impreffions of well-ground- 

 ed fear, and with the utmoft hazard of life. The fi- 

 delity of the Koragik hordes between Tigilfk and In- 

 fhiga was at that time extremely dubious ; the winter, 

 by continued and very violent north winds, was ex- 

 traordinarily fevere ; and, at the fame time, in thefe 

 wild and dreary regions, we were frequently attacked 

 by fuch impetuous ftorms of driven fnow, that we 

 could not by any means ftir from the fpot, and were 

 often obliged to lie two, three, and even five days in 

 the fnow, without being able once to change our po- 

 fition ; without water, and as we could make no fire, 

 even without any thing warm to eat or drink. To melt 

 the fnow in our mouths, and to gnaw a fort of hard bif- 

 cuit, were our only means of nourimment. On the 

 laft part of our journey, from Aldana to Irkutzk, from 

 the road being unbeaten, our horfes were fo wearied as 

 to link under the fatigue ; we therefore proceeded on 

 foot, in order to get fafter onwards, and thus, after 



all 



