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have been made on teams of dogs, the beasts were very tired after a travel over more than thousand versts and we were so short of provisions and dog food that I had to back to Okhotsk to prevent us from starvation.

Few hours after my return to this place arrived the Governors courier from Takoutsk. I expect Mahood and party every moment, it is highly time for them to be here, and I intent to close my report after their arrival.

February 24, 1866.

February 22d. Capt. Mahood arrived at Okhotsk followed by Lieut. Bush and Mr Swartz, the interpreter, whom they were directed to engage in Mikolacosk.

Capt. Mahood reports the country they have traversed to be suitable for the construction of a telegraph line.

From Mikolacosk, or rather from Orel Lakes, they have travelled in almost direct line to the mouth of Ouda River, skirting the heads of different bays. From Oudskay to Ajan they have selected a route east of the great Stanodoi range and west of the coast range, travelling on a line parallel to the coast and distant from the sea 15 to 30 versts.

From Ajan they tried the coast line, but finding it intercepted by mountains and rocks, they succeeded in discovering an easy