£4 
S A R Y T S CIIE W ’ S TRAVELS. 
state of transformation, having scarcely a single mark of simi¬ 
larity with its kind remaining. Deep red and dark blue spots 
supplied the place of scales ; its gills were quite bent; its teeth 
grown out long ; its body become pulpy snd spungy, and on its 
back it had an excrescence. It had probably strayed into this 
lake through a brook communicating with the Ochota, notwith¬ 
standing the velocity with which it rushed down the mountain. 
In fact, the keta and narka appear to be impelled by a parties 
lar instinct towards the rivers ; for they continually force them¬ 
selves up in spite of every obstacle, and when disabled, from 
loss of strength, to proceed any farther, they generally perish 
and moulder away on the shore : few, therefore, ever return 
to the sea. We should naturally suppose, from the prodigious 
number of narka and keta continually passing every year from 
the sea into the rivers, that these species of fish would soon be¬ 
come extinct; but the contrary being the case, we are led to the 
conclusion, that the spawn of the dead fish is carried back into 
the sea, and there brought to perfection. 
On the 15th, our commander went forward, taking with him the 
doctor, two chasseurs, and some Tunguses as guides. The second 
day after the doctor’s departure, his assistant, Mr. Main, an 
Englishman, staying behind to collect stones, missed his way : 
we did not perceive his absence until the time of our encamp¬ 
ment for the night; and were, therefore, obliged the next day 
to retrace our steps in search of him, when we found him in the 
afternoon in a wood. His horse having run away, he had missed 
his road in pursuing him, and not knowing what step to take, 
resolved on returning to the first Tungusish dwelling: which 
would, however, have been scarcely practicable, there being 
no such dwelling within the distance of 100 versts. 
After following the course of the Ochota for the distance of 
400 versts, we at length turned off to the right, and reached 
the source of the river Kuidussun ; the shallow parts of which 
are occupied with masses of ice four feet in height, that appear 
never to be dissolved*. Here we had the misfortune to lose our 
Tungusish guide, who absconded with several of the reindeer, 
and brought us into the most unpleasant dilemma. We w'ere to¬ 
tally unacquainted with the way forward, and had no other alter¬ 
native than to follow the steps of Captain Billing, whenever 
we could trace them, which was, unfortunately, but seldom 
the case, the road generally leading over moss-grown places, 
and every Tunguse taking the direction which struck him to be 
the best. By the exercise of our judgment and patience, we, 
* This ice is probably accumulated by the water spouting forth from the 
springs of the river. 
