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526 A NEW ACCOUNT OF SAMOIEDIA, AND THE SAMOIEDES,.
As well, there is great probability that thofe who have been taken for natural inhabi-
tants of the country, were the crews of fome Ruffian veffels; the more fo, from its
being cultomary for the fifhermen on thefe voyages, to drefs themfelves in the manner
of the Samoiedes. Neverthelefs, the cold here is not fo intenfe as might be imagined.
Navigators who have wintered feveral times in Nova Zemla, and in Spitabergen, have
aflured me that the cold of Nova Zemla is very tolerable in comparifon to that of Spitz-
bergen ; which as well is nearer to the pole by feveral degrees.
In this laft ifland during the winter their is no twilight. It is only by the pofition of
the ftars which are continually vifible that the day is diftinguifhable from the night;
whereas in Nova Zemla the day is always marked by a feeble light which appears about
noon; even when the fun is not vifible.
The perfon who related to me thefe particulars eight or nine years ago, loft twenty-
four men, of the crews of fome veflels which he had fent to Nova Zemla to pafs the
winter; they were all found dead on the {pot where they had eftablifhed themfelves.
This misfortune frequently befalls thofe who remain there too late in the feafon ; but
we muft not be too hazardous in afcribing it to the cold. Their death is to be attri-
buted to the thick and noxious fogs, occafioned generally by the putrefaction of the
weeds and mofs on the fea fhore. When the froft is late in making its appearance,
thefe peftilential vapours poifon and fuffocate thofe who breathe them. What con-
firms this fact is the circumftance of a colony from Mifine, being there at the fame
time compofed of twenty men, who had conftruéted their huts a hundred werlfts from
that of the others; none of which died. They all returned the fucceeding years in
perfect health, but declared that they had fuffered gteatly from the fogs, and had all of
them been ill. a
The foul fmell of thefe fogs, according to the report of thofe who have frequented
Nova Zemla is fo difgufting, fo infupportable, as cannot be defcribed. ‘Their effect is
the more dangerous when they happen at the time of a thaw, with the fea wind blow-
ing towards the dwellings where the fifhermen winter.
From ancient tradition it is known, that under the reign of the Czar Jwan
Wafilowitz at the time of the deftru€tion of Nowogerod; fome Ruffian families took
refuge and eftablifhed themfelves in Nova Zemla. A countryman who had withdrawn
himfelf from the domination of Strogaroff, as well retired there with his wife and
children. Many Roflians knowas yet the places inhabited by thefe fugitives, and de-
fignate them by their names; but the defcendants of thefe unfortunate men perifhed
altogether, in all, probability from thefe putiferous effluvia. i
A mine of filver, {tated to have been found in Nova Zemla, and the fpot on that
account was called Serebronka, a name bears to this day. ‘The perfon who related to
me the circumftance relative to the mine, and feveral others, informed me, at the fame
time, that he had not been able to afcertain if thefe traditions were to be relied on;
although careful of feeking the truth in all his refearches of this nature.
The exiftence of this mine of filver, fuppofing it to be true, would have nothing ex«
traordinary in it; fince it is confidered a fact in Rufha, that under the reign of the
Emprefs Ann, ina little defert ifland of the White Sea, fome rocks were found en-
crufted almoft entirely with filver ore, of the richeft quality that ever was feen, as was
acknowledged at Peterfburg ; to which place large bars of it were fent. Confiderable
riches were expected from this fortunate difcovery; but on piercing the rock, they
perceived that the interior did not contain the leaft trace of the ore; and that it was
fimply an incrultation, poffibly as ancient as the globe ; or which may be refered the
deluge, that refolves fo many problems.
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