FR. Oxyria
digyna (L.) HILL. Polygonum viviparum L. Salix arctica PALL. Salix
reticulata L. Salix polaris WG. Poa arctica R. BR. Poa pratensis L.
Glyceria angustata R. BR. Glyceria vilfoidea (ANDS.) TH. FR.
Arctophila pendulina (LAEST.) AND. Catabrosa algida (SOL.) FR.
Colpodium latifolium R. BR. Dupontia Fisheri R. BR. Aira caespitosa
L. Hierochloa pauciflora R. BR. Alopecurus alpinus SM. Eriophorum
angustifolium ROTH. Eriophorum russeolum FR. Eriophorum Scheuchzeri
HOPPE. Carex ursina DESV. Carex aquatilis WG. Juncus biglumis L.
Luzula hyperborea R. BR. Luzula arctica BL. Lloydia serotina (L.)
REICHENB. ]

[Footnote 199: Before our departure, I had through the Swedish
Foreign Office obtained from the Russian Government letters patent
in which the Russian authorities with whom we might come in contact
were instructed to give us all the assistance that circumstances
might call for. ]

CHAPTER VIII.

The voyage of the _Fraser_ and the _Express_ up the Yenisej
and their return to Norway--Contract for the piloting of
the _Lena_ up the Lena river--The voyage of the _Lena_
through the delta and up the river to Yakutsk--The natural
state of Siberia in general--The river territories--The
fitness of the land for cultivation and the necessity for
improved communications--The great rivers, the future
commercial highways of Siberia--Voyage up the Yenisej in
1875--Sibiriakoff's Island--The _tundra_--The primeval
Siberian forest--The inhabitants of Western Siberia:
the Russians, the Exiles, the "Asiatics"--Ways of travelling
on the Yenisej: dog-boats, floating trading stores propelled
by steam--New prospects for Siberia.

I have mentioned in the Introduction that the _Vega_ during the
first part of the voyage was accompanied by three other vessels,
which together with the principal vessel of the Expedition stood at
my disposal and under my orders, and I have stated in passing that
their voyages too deserve a place in the history of navigation. Now,
when we were parted from the vessel which had accompanied the _Vega_
farthest in her route eastwards, it may be the proper place to give
a brief account of the close of the voyages of the _Fraser_, the
_Express_, and the _Lena_ and give reasons for what I have said of
the importance of these voyages.

[Illustration: THE STEAMER "FRASER." ]

On the 9th August at 10 a.m., after Mr. Serebrenikoff had gone on
board the _E