50 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
former opening. Even the strongest vessel would have been 
crushed in such a channel by the forcing together of the ice. 
Of a different sort from both these occasional leads was an 
extensive opening, which showed itself a kilometre or two north 
of the vessel. It is probable that with few interruptions, which, 
however, might have been difficult to pass, it extended as far as 
Behring’s Straits, where, according to the statements of the 
Chukches, several whalers had already made their appearance. 
Bound the vessel itself, however, the ice still lay fast and 
unbroken. Nor did the Chukches appear to expect that it 
would break up very soon, to judge by the number of vehicles 
drawn by dogs or reindeer which still passed us, both to the 
east and west. One of these travellers must here be specially 
mentioned, as his journey has been talked about as an expedition 
sent to our relief. 
It was the 19th June. A large number of Chukches 
travelling past us as usual came on board, partly to receive 
the tribute of hospitality to which they considered themselves 
entitled, partly to satisfy an easily understood curiosity and 
gossip a little about the most important occurrences of the 
preceding day. One of them, a middle-aged man, whom we had 
not seen before, with a friendly and self-satisfied bearing, whose 
face was a mere collection of wrinkles, and over whose pesk was 
drawn an old velvet shirt, presented himself with a certain 
pretentiousness as the chief Noah Elisej. Since the mistake 
with the stately Chepurin, and since even Menka’s supposed 
slave declared himself to be at least as good as Menka, we had 
begun to be rather indifferent to the rank of chief among the 
Chukches. Noah Elisej however, notwithstanding he thus 
brought forward his pretensions, was received like a common 
man, at which he appeared to be a little offended. But our 
behaviour soon changed, when Notti, or some other of our daily 
guests, who had become quite familiar with our fancies, tastes 
and weaknesses, informed us that Noah Elisej had with him a 
