CHAPTER XI. 
Hope of release at the new year—Bove’s excursion to the open water— 
Mild weather and renewed severe cold—Mercury frozen—Popular 
lectures—Brusewitz’s excursion to Najtskaj—Another despatch of letters 
home—The natives’ accounts of the state of the ice on the coast of 
Chukch Land—The Chukches carry on traffic between Arctic America 
and Siberia—Excursions in the neighbourhood of winter quarters—The 
weather during spring—The melting of the snow—The aurora—The 
arrival of the migratory birds—The animal world of Chukch Land 
—Noah Elisej’s relief expedition—A remarkable fish—The country 
clear of snow—Release—The North-East Passage achieved. 
The new year came in with a faint hope of release. For since 
the north and north-west winds that had prevailed almost con¬ 
stantly towards the close of December had given place to winds 
from the east and south, considerable “ clearings ” were again 
formed out at sea, and the Chukches again began to say that 
VOL. II. 
B 
