The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-11-01

| Cnannel ana worked up INTO the TlNeT.
The question now arose in my mind
whether to obey the orders | had re-
ceived and go to Cape Barkin or go on
up the river. Peterman's chart, the
only one | had, was dotted all over
with marks indicating huts, and other
information led is to suppose that the
Delta was swarming with native life.
Some urged that | should 60 to Bar
kin, and | finally said that if | did not
effect landing by noon | would turn
back and 80 to Barkin, though loath,
after the experiences of the last few
days, to put to sea again. At noon we
were about to 90 about, but some one
said the river was as large as the Mis-
sissippi and must be a main branch of
the Lena. | only wanted some good
reason not to 60 to sea, and we went
on up the river and effected lar ding
at an abandoned hut at evening. We
were so cramped as to be barely able
to walk, being frozen from the knees
down. Two or three of the party who
had been exempted from duty had
rubbed their limbs with towels, but |
and the majority of the working force
had our feet and legs frozen SO badly
as to be unable to walk, and we had to
creep ashore. Mooring the boat, we
waded around in the icy water to in
crease the circulation and to withdraw
the frost from our limbs. A fire was
built in the hut, and after we had re-
moved our foot gear and went near the
fire the pain was eXcruciating and we
| had to withdraw. Water blisters ap-
peared from my knees to my toes until
my limbs were in 4 condition as if they
| had been sCalded, and the feet were
swollen SO that it was impossible to get
my mOCCasins on without cutting them.
''MUD CAMP" AND "DRY- OUT CAMP"
The next day, from the trend of
the river, and from my study of our
only chart, | believed it to be the main
east branch Of the Lena, many land
marks, such as islands in the mid
channel, adding to the evidence.
There was but one river on the chart
that trenchcd to the north and west on
entering, and this particular branch
trendtd from north by west to west
northwest, and never at any time to the
south and west. We continued on I'M
til we came to a bold headland, where
there was a short bend and a long
stretch of river due south, confirming
us in the belief that we were in the
main branch, and that we had turned
the point which would leadu to where
we could find natives within ten or
twelve miles. | was entirely mistaken,
| however, | had entered an east branch
and the branch did trend to the north
and west, but when | turned to go
south | found | was still in the Delta
We camped at this headland, some of
the party going up to the highlands.
This we called "Mud Camp" because
of the oozy bed of the river, in which
the majority of us slept. The next
morning 1t was with difficulty that we
got away, on account of the crippled
condition in which we were We stood
to the south with a fresh breeze, the
boat taking in water. Coming in sight
of two or three well-built huts on the
west bank, | concluded to haul out and
rest and dry our clothes, and for this
reason called 1t the DRY out Camp"
| From the evidence of the fish ends and
| trails it was clear that the natives had
left but few days. The next morn
ing we stood to the south, intending
to keep along the west bank of the
river, but when the narrow branch ex-
banded into great bay | then made
up my mind that l was still in the
Delta. Proceeding to the south, on
the distant hills | raised several huts,
which we eargerly watched for signs of
life. | told the crew to work with a
will and we would stop there for our
dinner, but we found ourselves in a
labyrinth Of quicksands, sandspits and
shoals. There was plenty of water
thinly laid appearing in spots. 1t was
impossible to 60 hundred yards with
out bringing up, but we at last effected
a landing to the south and east of the
village, watching for a sign Of life
smoke, for instance-but we were too
far away to so to it on foot or get the
boat around. We ate our modicum OF
pemmican and prepared our tea, which
we had carried in a bag, and which
| had been washed about in the salt
water in the bottom of the boat. Up
to the time of the separation of the
boats the rations had been pound Of
pemmican and a half pound of bread
but when the latter gave out the penn
miCan WAS increased to one and a-hal
pounds per man per day. AS soon as
we parted from the others l put the
men on half the former rations or about
three-quarters Of pound, which was
equal to three cubic inches.
THE FIRST SIGHT OF THE NATIVES.
''Haying had our dinner we got
ready to keep on by the west bank
against the current, and were about tc
, shove off when we saw three canoe:
} and three men padding towards us
| We Du1Ied towards then, when they