CHAPTER IX. 
The New Siberian Islands—The Mammoth—Discovery of Mammoth and 
Rhinoceros mummies—Fossil Rhinoceros horns—Stolbovoj Island— 
Liachoif’s Island—First discovery of this island—Passage through the 
sound between this island and the mainland—Animal life there — 
Formation of ice in water above the freezing point—The Bear Islands— 
The quantity and dimensions of the ice begin to increase—Different 
kinds of sea-ice—Renewed attempt to leave the open channel along the 
coast—Lighthouse Island—Voyage along the coast to Cape Schelagskoj 
—Advance delayed by ice, shoals, and fog—First meeting with the 
Chukches—Landing and visits to Chukch villages—Discovery of 
abandoned encampments — Trade with the natives rendered difficult 
by the want of means of exchange—Stay at Irkaipi—Onkilon graves— 
Information regarding the Onkilon race—Renewed contact with the 
Chukches—Kolyutschin Bay—American statements regarding the state 
of the ice north of Behring’s Straits— The Vega beset. 
After tlie parting the Lena shaped her course towards the land ; 
the Vega continued her voyage in a north-easterly direction 
towards the new Siberian Islands. 
These have, from the time of their discovery, been renowned 
among the Russian ivory collectors for their extraordinary rich¬ 
ness in tusks and portions of skeletons of the extinct northern 
species of elephant known by the name of mammoth. 
We know by the careful researches of the academicians Pallas, 
YON Baer, Brandt, von Middendorff, Fr. Schmidt, &c., that 
the mammoth was a peculiar northern species of elephant with 
a covering of hair, which, at least during certain seasons of the 
year, lived under natural conditions closely resembling those 
w'hich now prevail in middle and even in northern Siberia. 
The widely extended grassy plains and forests of North Asia 
