ches, who had lived and wandered
about there for centuries, and besides with portions of the skeleton
of the seal and walrus, with the excreta of men, dogs, birds, &c.
The region was among the most disagreeable I have seen in any of the
parts inhabited by fishing Lapps, Samoyeds, Chukches, or Eskimo.
When the _Vega_ was beset there were two Chukch villages on the
neighbouring beach, of which the one that lay nearest our winter
haven was called Pitlekaj. It consisted at first of seven tents,
which in consequence of want of food their inhabitants removed
gradually in the course of the winter to a region near Behring's
Straits, where fish were more abundant. At the removal only the most
indispensable articles were taken along, because there was an
intention of returning at that season of the year when the chase
again became more productive. The other encampment, Yinretlen, lay
nearer the cape towards Kolyutschin Bay, and reckoned at the
beginning of our wintering likewise seven tents, whose inhabitants
appeared to be in better circumstances than those of Pitlekaj. They
had during the autumn made a better catch and collected a greater
stock. Only some of them accordingly removed during winter.

The following encampments lay at a somewhat greater distance from
our winter quarters, but so near, however, that we were often
visited by their inhabitants:

Pidlin, on the eastern shore of Kolyutschin Bay, four tents.

Kolyutschin, on the island of the same name, twenty-five tents. This
village was not visited by any of the members of the _Vega_
Expedition.

Rirajtinop, situated six kilometres east of Pitlekaj, three tents.

Irgunnuk, seven kilometres east of Pitlekaj, ten tents, of which,
however, in February only four remained. The inhabitants of the
others had for the winter sought a better fishing place farther
eastward.

The number of the persons who belonged to each tent was difficult to
make out, because the Chukches were constantly visiting each other
for the purpose of gossip and talk. On an average it may perhaps be
put at five or six persons. Including the inhabitants of Kolyutschin
Island, there thus lived about 300 natives in the neighbourhood of
our winter quarters.

When we were beset, the ice next the shore, as has been already
stated, was too weak to carry a foot passenger, and the difficulty
of reaching the vessel from the land with the means which the
Chukches had at their disposal was thus very great.