he inmates appeared to be fish. Of this, besides the fish
we obtained here, the nets hanging in front of the tent
afforded evidence. Some clothes, an iron pot, two wooden
vessels, and a Shaman drum were the only things I could
discover in the tent.

"Next morning we continued our journey. On the other side
of Lake Utschunutsch we saw two dwellings, which only
consisted of boats turned upside down with some hides
drawn over them. The rest of the way we came past Najtskaj
and through Irgunnuk, where we were received in an
exceedingly friendly fashion. By 7 o'clock in the evening
of the 11th October we were again on board the _Vega_."

From Lieutenant Hovgaard's report, which principally relates to the
topography of the region passed through, we make the following
extract relating to the endurance which the Chukches and their dogs
showed:--

"During our outward journey, which lasted twenty-one and a
half hours, Menka's attendant, the before-mentioned
reindeer owner, whom we at first took to be Menka's slave
or servant, ran without interruption before the sledges,
and even when we rested he was actively searching for the
track, looking after the dogs, &c. When we came to the
camp he did not sleep, and, notwithstanding, was as fresh
during the following day's journey. During the time he got
no spirituous liquor, by express order of Menka, who said
that if he did he would not be able to continue to run.
Instead he chewed a surprising quantity of tobacco. The
dogs, during the whole time, were not an instant unyoked;
in the mornings they lay half snowed up, and slept in
front of the sledges. We never saw the Chukches give them
any food: the only food they got was the frozen excrements
of the fox and other animals, which they themselves
snapped up in passing. Yet even on the last day no
diminution in their power of draught was observable."

Nordquist brought with him, among other things, two reindeer, bought
for a rouble and a half each. They were still very serviceable,
though badly slaughtered. But the reindeer we purchased farther on
in the winter were so poor that no one on board could persuade
himself to eat them.

On the 18th October, by which time we believed that Menka would be
already at Markova, we were again visited by him and his son-in-law.
He said he had no _akmimil_ (fire-water) to keep holi