34 
SARYTSCHEW’S TRAVELS. 
but one sheet of ice, which extended as far as his eye could reach 
to the east. We were satisfied, by this information, of the im¬ 
possibility of taking an easterly direction, but desirous ot ob¬ 
taining ocular demonstration, the commander, doctor, and my¬ 
self, set off for the same route. On our passage over the smaller 
mountains we met with several reindeer, which differ from the 
rest of their species by never leaving the sea-side winter or sum¬ 
mer. They never associate with the others, whose tracks were 
likewise every where discernible. The lakes of these parts 
abound with wild geese of a large species, and a grey colour, 
called gumciniken: it being their season for moulting, they 
could not easily escape our pursuit. The Kosaks here catch 
them with great facility, by driving them in vast docks to the 
most distant shallow spots they can find, where they knock them 
down with clubs, and throw them into pits dug for the purpose. 
Here they lie for years without suffering the slightest change: 
for the earth with which the geese are covered, does not thaw 
even in summer to the depth of above half a yard. By this 
means, human bodies are kept in a higher state of preservation 
than by the method of embalming; for not only the component 
parts of the frame, but the very clothing will thus remain un¬ 
impaired. 
From the summit of the rock we also beheld the whole 
sea to the east covered with nothing but ice. The shore which 
bounds this glassy surface is not much elevated, but its ex¬ 
tremity appeared to be a mountainous head of land, about 50 
versts distance, which I take to be what is designated on Scha- 
laurow’s map by the appellation of Keschtschennoi (sandy), that 
terminates at the bay, where he looked for the river Tschaun. 
It is possible for this to be the dwelling-place of the well-known 
Tschukotian, prince Kopai, from whom the Kosak Wiligin re¬ 
ceived the first jassak in the year 1723 # . 
On my return from the rock, I found an old wooden cross 
lying on the ground, with its underside perfectly decayed. The 
inscription, if there ever had been one, was now entirely effaced. 
From its apparent age, I should date the erection of it as far 
back as the year l640, when this place was visited in cotschen 
(barges). I saw another old cross by the summer encampment oil 
the Omelon, on which the date of the year 17 18 was still visible. 
The inhabitants of that part directed my attention to some holes 
supposed to have been pierced by the arrows of the r I schuk- 
schens, who sometimes used to attack the Russian establish¬ 
ments. 
On the 17th we made another effort to put to sea, but had 
* This jassak, is an impost in kind, consisting mostly of furs, which, is 
every year demanded of the tributary nations in Siberia. 
