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when the Gilzak guides declared that they could be of no more service, as it was too thick to see.  The Lake is of considerable size, but generally shallow except in the channel, which we could not find, and although the steamer drew but one foot of water, we were constantly getting aground.

To my regret we were obliged to turn back and wait for the weather to clear up, with the prospect that the ice would increase and prevent going at all with the steamer, in which case I intended to stop at Marfah or Palyal, and after the ice was sufficiently firm to go up with dogs.

Halfway back to Margeh, we heard from some Russians who were fishing that there was a family of Turguse living in the neighborhood, and we could probably get better guides from.  We hunted them up, but the men were gone.  Fortunatley just then a couple Tekato came along in a canoe, who knew the way well.  I engaged them for the next morning, set the Russians on shore to work cutting wood, filled the steamer up, and at daylight the next morning made another attempt.  The weather being then milder, a soft rain falling, we succeeding in reaching the head of the Lake at the point where we expected to meet the deer, and sent the steamer back to Nicolaevsk, which they would reach in a few hours with the current, and many thanks to Capt. Beltsoff for his gentlemanlike courtesy.  The deer were not on the ground, but going up the Lake farther with one of the Zekats we had obtained,