NOVA ZEMBLA. 



149 



resolved to return at once to Archangel. But contrary winds drove him to 

 the island of Kolgujew, and thence to the mouth of the Petschora, where, on 

 September 3, a dreadful storm at length shattered his crazy vessel. The crew 

 found refuge in a hut^ but this also was filled by the water ; so that they had 

 to wade several versts before they could reach the dry land. 



Pachtussow now travelled by way of Archangel and Onega to St. Peters- 

 burg, where he communicated the results of his journey to the Minister of 

 Marine, who gave him a most flattering reception, well merited by his ability 

 and courage. The success he had already obtained encouraged the hope that 

 a second expedition would be able to complete the undertaking, and consequent- 

 ly, by an imperial order, the schooner Krotow and a transport were fitted out, 

 with which Pachtussow once more sailed from the port of Archangel on 

 August 5. His instructions were to winter in Mathew's Straits, and thence to 

 attempt in the following summer the exploration of the eastern coast of the 

 northern island. The winter hut he built at the western entrance of the straits 

 was ready for his reception by October 20. It was of stately dimensions, for a 

 Nova Zembla residence — 25 feet long^ 21 broad, 8 feet high in the centre, 5 at 

 the sides, and consisted of two compartments, one for the officers and the other 

 for the crew. They found the cold very endurable, but were rather incom- 

 moded by the smoke, which did not always find a ready passage through the 

 opening in the roof. Sometimes the snow accumulated in such masses, or the 

 storm raged so furiously round the hut, that they could not leave it for eight 

 days running, and frequently the hole in the roof had to serve them for a door. 



Eleven white bears were killed about the hut during the winter ; one on the 

 roof, another in the passage. Pachtussow, well aware that occupation is the 

 best remedy against melancholy, kept his crew in constant activity. They 

 were obliged to fetch wood from distances of ten or eleven versts, not seldom 

 during a cold of —36°, which, thanks to their thick fur dresses, they bore re- 

 markably well, particularly as a temperature lower than —25° never occurred, 

 unless during perfectly calm weather. He also made them lay fox-traps at 

 considerable distances from the hut, and amused them with shooting at a mark 

 and gymnastic exercises. By this means he succeeded in preserving their 

 health, and warding off the attacks of the scurvy. 



As early as April the indefatigable Pachtussow fitted out two sledge-parties, 

 for the exploration of the eastern coast. The one, consisting of seven men, he 

 commanded in person ; the other was led by the steersman Ziwolka. Both 

 parties travelled in company as far as the eastern entrance of the straits, where 

 one of the huts in which Rosmysslow had wintered seventy years before was 

 still found in a good condition. 



Pachtussow now returned for the purpose of accurately surveying the straits, 

 while Ziwolka proceeded along the east coast, with a small tent and provisions 

 for a month. All his men had Samojede dresses, but they were already so 

 hardened that they did not wear the upper coat with the hood even during the 

 night, although snow-storms not seldom occurred. Once their boots were 

 frozen so hard that they could not pull them off before they had been previous- 

 ly thawed, and as drift-wood was nowhere to be found, they were obliged ta 



