WRANGELL. 



239 



From this short account of Kolymsk life it may well be imagined what a 

 sensation it must have made in so secluded a place when Wrangell arrived 

 there in November, and informed the people that he was come to spend the 

 better part of the next three years among them. 



The winter was passed in preparation for the next spring expeditions, for 

 during the long Arctic night the darkness prevents travelling, and the snow 

 acquires a peculiar hardness or sharpness from the extreme cold, so that then 

 four times the number of dogs would be needed. But as in summer the thaw- 

 ing is likewise a hindrance, Wrangell had in reality only about ten weeks every 

 year, from March till the end of May, for the accomplishment of his task. 



As may easily be supposed, it was no easy matter to make the necessary 

 arrangements for an expedition requiring some hundreds of dogs, and provis- 

 ions for several weeks ; but such was the energy displayed by Wrangell and 

 his colleagues, that on February 19, 1821, they were able to start on their first 

 journey over the ice of the Polar Sea, which they reached on the 25th. Nine 

 sledges, with the usual team of twelve dogs to each, were provided for the 

 present excursion, six of which were to carry provisions and stores, to be dis- 

 tributed in different depots, and then to return. The provisions for the dogs 

 consisted of 2400 fresh herrings, and as much " jukola" as was equivalent to 

 8150 dried herrings. The increasing cold and the violence of the wind made 

 travelling ^ery difficult. To guard the dogs from being frozen, the drivers 

 were obliged to put clothing on their bodies, and a kind of boots on their 

 feet, which greatly impeded their running. At times the frost was so intense 

 that the mercury congealed while Wrangell was making his observations. He 

 thus describes the manner in which he passed the nights on the Polar Sea in 

 his tent : — 



" Between tea and supper the sledge-drivers went out to attend and feed 

 their dogs, which were always tied up for the night, lest they should be tempt- 

 ed away by the scent of some wild animal. Meanwhile, we were engaged in 

 comparing our observations, and in laying down on the map the ground which 

 we had gone over in the course of the day ; the severe cold, and the smoke 

 which usually filled the tent, sometimes made this no easy task. Supper always 

 consisted of a single dish of fish or meat soup, w^hich was boiled for us all in 

 the same kettle, out of which it was eaten. Soon after we had finished our 

 meal, the whole party lay down to sleep. On account of the cold we could 

 not lay aside any part of our travelling-dress, but we regularly changed our 

 boots and stockings every evening, and hung those we had taken off, with our 

 fur caps and gloves, on the tent-poles to dry. This is an essential precaution, 

 particularly in respect to stockings, for with damp clothing there is the great- 

 est risk of the part being frozen. We always spread the bear-skins between 

 the frozen ground and ourselves, and the fur coverings over us, and, being well 

 tired, we usually slept very soundly. As long as all the sledge-drivers contin- 

 ued with us, we were so crowded that we had to place ourselves like the spokes 

 of a w^heel, with our feet towards the fire and our heads against the tent wall. 

 In the morning we generally rose at six, lit the fire, and washed ourselves be- 

 fore it with fresh snow; we then took tea, and immediately afterwards dinner 



