274 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
to the resolution which led him to spend on this self-imposed 
task two winters and three summers. It was proved by this 
journey that Novaya Zemlya is actually an island, a fact which 
in the middle of last century was still doubted by many 
geographers.^ 
Even after the failure of Juschkov’s expedition the report 
of the richness of Novaya Zemlya in metals still maintained 
itself, and accordingly Lieutenant^ 'Kossmuislov was sent out 
with second mate Gubin, the Polar Sea pilot Tschirakin, and 
eleven men, to search for the supposed treasures, and at the 
same time to survey the unknown portions of the island. The 
vessel that was used in this Polar Sea voyage must have been 
a very remarkable one. For shortly before the start, leaks, which 
had to be stopped, were discovered at many different places 
in it, and of its power of sailing Kossmuislov himself says: 
“ So long as the wind came from the stern the large sail helped 
us exceedingly well, but, as soon as it turned and became a head 
wind, we were compelled to hoist another smaller sail, in con¬ 
sequence of which we were driven back to the point from which 
we came.” Kossmuislov appears to have been a very skilful man 
in his profession. Without meeting with any obstacle from ice, 
but at all events with difficulty enough in consequence of the 
unsuitableness of the vessel, he arrived at Matotschkin Sound, 
which he carefully surveyed and took soundings in. From a 
high mountain at its eastern mouth he saw on the the 
Kara Sea completely free of ice—and the way to the Yenisej 
thus open ; but his vessel was useless for further sailing. He 
therefore determined to winter at a bay named Tjulanaja Guba, 
near the eastern entrance to Matotschkin Sound. To this place 
1 Thus on the first map in an atlas published in 1737 by the St. Peters¬ 
burg Academy, Novaya Zemlya is delineated as a peninsula projecting from 
Taimur Land north of the Pjasina. 
^ Properly “ Mate, with the rank of Lieutenant/’ from which we may 
conclude that Rossmuislov wanted the usual education of an officer. 
