EASTWARD ALONG THE TUNDRA 223 
not exactly new to me but for some reason or other 
I felt the cold along the Siberian coast more acutely 
than anywhere else in all my Arctic work. There 
were stretches of shore line, when the wind swept 
unobstructed across the ice fields from the north, 
where I was particularly sensitive; I had no ther¬ 
mometer, but judging from the condition of the 
coal oil and comparing the general effect of the air 
upon my skin and its particular tendency to freeze 
my face and hands, I should say that the tempera¬ 
ture was at least sixty below zero. 
When we were crossing the smooth ice at the 
entrance to the small harbor at Cape North our 
guide pointed to one of the arangas on the opposite 
shore and made signs that we were to go there. 
It was nearly dark but we could see that there were 
eleven arangas altogether and we made our way 
towards the one which he pointed out. Presently 
we met some natives. Without hesitation they 
seized my arm and conducted me over to the aranga 
towards which we had been heading. Outside of 
the aranga awaiting my coming, was a very tall 
man, muffled up in furs. I had an idea that he was 
a white man so I asked, “Do you speak English?” 
“Some little,” he replied, and unwrapped the 
furs somewhat from around his face; I saw that 
he was a Russian. 
“One man he speak more English,” he added. 
