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not send narts, without some one, that knew the country, satisfied me, that such was not the case.

I have since learned, they ascended this river only a short distance and then crossed the "tundera" to Abasa River to avoid "platoko" and timber.

Finally I concluded, that you had come this way on your return to Ghijigha, expecting to meet us, and had the wrong branch of the stream.

I would have turned back to overtake you, but knew that it would be impossible with our worn out dogs, and besides, there was no time to be lost, as our dog food would barely carry us through to Markova, unless it grew cold again, and the snow became hard.

We followed the trail North on the river, about 5 versts, when we passed the mouth of Abasa river.

We camped at 9.30 P.M, having made only 30 vests during the day, as the snow was soft and saturated with water. The river had already commenced opening, and bears had left their winter quarters, the tracks of which, we saw on all sides. Larch grew