283 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
Yenisej, and Gwosdarev to carry on hunting in order to cover 
part of the costs of the expedition. 
Pachtussov could not penetrate into the Kara Sea, hut wintered 
the first time on South Novaya Zemlya in 70° 86' N.L. and 59" 
32' E.L. (Greenwich), in an old house which he found there, and 
which according to an inscription on a cross in its neighbourhood 
had been built in 1759. This ruinous house was repaired with 
driftwood, which was found in great abundance in that region. 
A separate bath-house was built, and was connected with the 
dwelling-house by a passage formed of empty barrels and 
covered with canvas. Eleven days were spent in putting the 
old house into such repair that it could be occupied. It was 
afterwards kept so warm that the' inmates could stay there in 
their shirt-sleeves without freezing. The Commander, clear¬ 
headed and specially fit for his post as he was, did not permit 
his crew to fall into habits of idleness, dirt, and laziness, but 
kept them to regular work, bathing and change of linen twice 
a week. Every second hour meteorological observations were 
taken. During the whole winter the crew remained in good 
health, but in spring (March) scurvy broke out, notwithstanding 
the precautions that were taken, and two men died of it in May. 
Many times during winter the ice broke up, and at a short 
distance from the land the Kara Sea was open as far as the eye 
could reach. A herd of reindeer numbering about 500 head 
were seen in the end of September; a number of foxes were 
taken in traps, and two Polar bears were killed. Geese were 
seen for the first time in spring on the of May. 
Next summer Pachtussov rowed up along the east coast to 
71° 38' N.L. On the west bank of a river, called Savina, he 
found a very good harbour. He found there the remains of a 
hut, with a cross erected beside it, on which was the inscription 
“ Savva Th-anov 9th June 1742,” which he considered to 
belong to the time of Savva Loschkin’s voyage. After his 
return from this boat journey Pachtussov went on board his 
