Viewing page 18 of 48

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[?Skathluik]] river, which flows into the sound.  At this point commences our travelling through the interior.  We found the road extremely bad, the snow being deep and soft;  nevertheless we toiled on;  and by travelling twelve hours a day, made the trip without accident in seven days from the date of leaving Sound Golovine.

Mr. O de Bendelben, although suffering severely from snow blindness, insisted on accompanying me;  and his knowledge of Russian, in speaking to Hanson the Indian Interpreter, facilitated matters greatly.

The guide whom I employed proved to be an excellent man, feeding our dogs on the road, as we relied on the country to afford them subsistence;  and in fact, will prove an excellent man for Company's service in the ensuing year.  He is a Chief of Village and a man of much influence among the Indians in that quarter.  I remained over one day at Behrings Straits, after which commenced the return, and arrived at Kvik-mute, Norton Bay, after an absence of twenty eight days.
[[marginalia]] (30) [[/marginalia]]

From the time of leaving Norton Bay, till our return, we had scarcely three days good weather;  snowing, snow drifts, accompanied by gale every day.  I knew the necessity for pushing on, as I was fearful that the rivers would