11 
e but becoming convalescent, bis first idea was the profit which he might obtain by 
*• selling the tusks of the animal, which were of extraordinary size and beauty. 
* He ordered that the place where the Mammoth was found should be carefully 
* concealed, and that strangers should, under different pretexts, be diverted from 
f it, at the same time charging trust-worthy people to watch that the treasure was 
s not carried off. 
' But the summer of 1802 , which was less warm and more windy than 
f common, caused the Mammoth to remain buried in the ice, which had scarcely 
r melted at all. At length, towards the end of the fifth year, (1803), the ardent* 
*■ wishes of Schumachoff were happily accomplished ; for the part of the ice be- 
* tween the earth and the Mammoth having melted more rapidly than the rest, 
* the plane of its support became inclined, and this enormous mass fell by its own 
f weight on a bank of sand. Of this, two Tungusians, who accompanied me, 
c were witnesses. 
‘ In the month of March, 1804, Schumachof came to his Mammoth, 
f and having cut off his horns (the tusks) he exchanged them with the merchant 
f Bultunof for goods of the value of 50 rubles. At this time a drawing was made 
c of the animal, but very incorrect,* for it gave him pointed ears, very small 
' eyes, horses hoofs, and bristles all along the back, so that it represented some- 
' thing between a pig and an elephant. 
5 Two years afterwards, or the seventh after the discovery of the Mam- 
' moth, I fortunately traversed these distant and desert regions, and I congra- 
' tulate myself in being able to prove a fact which appears so improbable. 
' I found the Mammoth still in the same place, but altogether mutilated. The 
f prejudices being dissipated because the Tungusian chief had recovered his 
f health, there was no obstacle to prevent approach to the carcase of the Mam- 
f moth ; the proprietor was content with his profit from the tusks, and the Jakutski 
f of the neighbourhood had cut off the flesh with which they fed their dogs during 
f the scarcity. Wild beasts, such as white bears, wolves, wolverenes, and foxes 
* also fed upon it, and the traces of their footsteps were seen around. The 
' skeleton, almost entirely cleared of its flesh, remained whole, with the ex- 
* This is the drawing before raentioned ? page S ; note r 
