Viewing page 34 of 95

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

in rafting, we had great difficulty avoiding being swept ashore, as there was a strong north wind blowing against us. Between Markova and Crepast we were told we would have the greatest difficulty, as there are many, very short bends, and the whole river is full of islands, which it would be difficult to [[left margin]](20)[[/left margin]] avoid with a large raft and rapid current.
After going about 3 versts, though we had four men at the sweeps, in spite of all we could do, the raft was thrown with such force against one of these islands, as to damage it considerably.
Fortunately there was a large pile of loose drift wood upon the point, which some what checked our speed. We were immediately swept into a narrow platok, out of which it was impossible to get the raft, against the current.

We put lines ashore to keep from drifting farther, and I sent one of the men back to Markova for help. In about three hours the wind died out, and 15 men came to assist us. We had not drifted 100 feet into the platok, but the current was so strong that, with two lines ashore, and by poling, it took us two hours to extricate ourselves.

As there was another very bad place 3 or 4 versts lower down, I carried several of the men to assist us past it, but, as the wind had subsided, by hard pulling we manage to escape it.

At 3.30 AM. the next morning, we passed Crepast, when I sent one of the men ashore for