Journey to the Frozen Sea , and 
convenient for want of stirrups, which are never used 
among the Toungouses. 
On our route we traversed high and rugged mountains, 
valleys which followed the course of small rivulets, and 
parched and savage plains, where not a shrub was to be 
seen. After two days travelling, we at last approached 
the shores of the Frozen Sea. This place is called by 
the Toungouses Angardam, or terra firma. In order to 
attain the mammoth, it was necessary to traverse another 
isthmus, called Bykotfskoy-Mys or Tumut. This isth- 
mus, which projects into a spacious gulf, is to the right 
of the mouth of the Lena, and extends, as I was informed, 
from South-east to North-east for about thirty or thirty- 
five wersts.* Its name is probably derived from two 
points in the form of horns, which are at the north extre- 
mity of this promontory. The point upon the left hand, 
which the Russians call by way of eminence Bykoffskoy- 
Mys, on account of its greater extent, forms three vast 
gulfs, where we find some settlements of Jakouts : the op- 
posite point, called Manstach on account of the great 
quantity of floating wood found upon its shores, is one 
half smaller; its shore is lower, and this district is com- 
pletely inhabited. The distance from the one point to 
the other is estimated at four leagues and a half, or forty- 
five wersts. Small hills form the higher part of the 
peninsula of Tumut ; the remainder is occupied by lakes, 
and all the low grounds are marshy. 
The principle lakes are: 1st, Chastirkool, which 
means the lake of geese; 3d, Kourilakool; 3d, Beuh 
geuniachtachkool, the lake of hillocks ; 1th, Omoulach- 
kool ; 5th, Mougourdachkool, where a particular kind of 
salmon is found called tchir; and 6th, Bachofkool. The 
lake No. 4 is the largest, and No. 5 is the deepest of 
Ten wersts are equal to six English geographical miles. 
