June-October 1881, Cruise of the Corwin, Part II Image 5

question all the Indians they met, and explore cairns, etc. for tidings of the Jeanette and crew. Then to return to the village where we procured our second driver, a few miles (12) W. of Cape Serdze, where the Vega, wintered, where we would pick them up in 6 weeks, or thereabouts, while we would cruise in Behring Strait, Kotzebue Sound, etc in the meantime. If not at the appointed meeting place we would go to seek them farther W. Besides abundance of provisions, well secured, guns, ammunition, etc. they had a light skin boat and 4 sleds with 26 dogs. They formed a striking party as to appearance on leaving the ship. When about a mile from the edge of the ice pack they were taken ashore in two boats besides their own, the tree roped together at intervals of 25 or 30 feet. The large boat contained the party with provisions, clothing, etc. All were dressed in reindeer parkas, sealskin pants and shoes. Lieut. and several sailors with them to bring back the boats. Next came the dinky, loaded nearly to the water’s edge with the 26 dogs and one man to steer and thrash them while they worried each other and made an outrageous bedlum noise in their uncomfortable, tumbled together condition. And last the skin boat, flying light with only the four sleds,https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/3006/thumbnail.jp