361 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
shall winter with the expedition until the river becomes open 
in 1879. And in this case we, I and my interpreter, shall 
live at our own expense, and serve the expedition as belonging 
to its crew. After the commencement of navigation in 1879 
1 shall conduct the vessel from the wintering station to the town 
of Yakutsk. On this account I have to receive, besides the 900 
roubles coming to me, 800 roubles more. If during this voyage 
too it should be necessary to accompany the vessels from 
Yakutsk back to the mouth of the Lena, I shall do that, and 
receive on that account 300 roubles. But if the vessels 
winter at Yakutsk, I shall be free during winter, and only 
during next year’s voyage, if so required, accompany them 
to the mouth of the Lena. In that case I have to receive 390 
roubles. 
12. Of this sum agreed upon Herr Kolesolf shall pay me in 
advance on the conclusion of this contract 300 roubles, in the 
month of May at my departure 150 roubles, and at the village 
Bulun 250 roubles, for my payment to my companions and pilot 
and other expenses. The balance shall be paid to me after 
my return to Yakutsk. 
13. In the month of May, at the time for starting, if I be pre¬ 
vented by illness from betaking myself to Tumat Island, I shall 
repay to Herr Kolesoff the sum paid to me at the conclusion of 
this contract, with the exception of the money I have paid to 
the interpreter as pocket-money and for the boats. Should I 
not be able to repay the sum, I, Winokuroff, shall work out the 
amount not repaid at Herr Sibiriakoff’s gold mines. 
14. All this are we, the two contracting parties, bound to 
observe in full and without infringement. 
A note to the copy further informs us that to this contract 
the Yakut Afonasii Feodoroff Winokuroff had, in place of his 
signature, attached his own seal, which the Yakut Alexii 
Zassimoff Mironoff had engraved, and that the conditions had 
been approved by the merchant Ivan Kolesoff, and the whole 
registered at the police-office of the Yakutsk circle. 
The contract had been entered into with the friendly co-ope¬ 
ration of the Governor and Bishop of Yakutsk, who were much 
interested in the proposed voyage. The latter knew the coast 
of the Polar Sea from his own experience. But notwithstanding 
all this, the affair was attended with no better success than that 
