The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-10-12

by COngenerS OF Sllgnter DullQp more Slenuer kGz
horns and pure white color. Their bands
spend most of the time above timber, re-
naming even during the severe Kamchatka win
ter amongst the heights whose irregularities OF
cliffs and gorges afford opportunity for shelter
and exposed food supply. Sometimes when we
had nearly staked them the warning whistle OF
the watchful marmot would drive them to head
long fight Their flesh is very palatable; when
cold weather set in we killed and froze enough to
last all winter.
The brown bears are of immense size, greatly
exceeding the grizzlies of the western hemis-
phere. Their front claws are shorter thicker and
more abruptly curved than in grizzlies. AS a rule
they give us wide berth; in close quarters,
however, or when wounded, they are veritable
fends from hell. But Pete attacks them, boldly
and unhesitatingIy, with his formidable spear.
Tradition and training make all natives marks
men of the first order with firearms, boos and
arrows Even small ermines and arctic squirrels
stand no chance of escape at seventy-fve yards;
and the Koryaks have to shoot them in the head.
at that, or their skins would be worthless
The ground was frostbound nearly to the sur
face and bedrock reached by thawing through
the icy gravels, was ten to fifteen feet deep.
Keeping three fires agoing, for which Pete rustled
the wood, we made good headway Lack OF
leverage however, makes the Russian shovel,
which has no bend at its neck. most unwieldly
and exasperating utensil. At the beginning We
struck encouraging colors in addition to quartz,
iron pyrites often in the form of mispckel and
all the products of its decomposition such as
magnetic oxide and hematite. Despite these fair
prospects We had worked our way up to the veri-
est headwaters without tangible results early in
November. Near the source the soil was not
frozen, due to warm volcanic springs, and sinking
to bedrock became impossible. Therefore we
crossed the divide leading southwark to the Rus
sakoff river to examine its course down to the
sea and finally to sled to headquarters along the
shore On the Russakoff we found the same con-
ditions; tepid springs above. few colors below,
paydrt nowhere
Winter is now upon us in good earnest; in De-
cember our thermometer sinks TO 81 below. The
sheep are safe beyond the snowdI1ftr; bear, mar
mot and porcupine have retired Sor their long
sleep; only willow grouse and rock psarmigan
main with us.
Glorious winter stars, clear, large unapproach-
able glitter on the armament. 1T Tcidnight the
Peiades of Job and Homer flame from the zenith,
and then the Northern Lights, violet slvery and
rose come down and dance with the houseless
snow.
Christmas eve finds us near the Russakons
mouth and on New Years day drag cur sled
into Ola. Just in time; already midwinter sun
dogs loom ghost-like through the frost-mist in
the south; for far to the northward the weather
witch of the Yaga-Baba Pass has been brewing
her dread purga, the Siberian snow storm.
The blizzard's fury ragged forty-eght hours bury
ing the roofs of the lowly cabins under mountain
ous drifts.
Quickly the late orthodox Christmas.tide ap-
proaches. In the morning the entire population
and with them we-attended church, Father Ju-
venal ofhciating in full canonicals of black and
gold. Before the Russian New Year we were up
and away once more