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LE ROY’S NARRATIVE OF FOUR RUSSIAN SAILORS. 611
tended to winter in Nova Zemla, by its prineipal ; however, fortunately for our failors,
M. Vernizobre propofed to this merchant, to change that deftination for Spitzbergen 5
which propofal, after many excufes, and much demurring, was complied with.
The wind being contrary on the voyage, the fhip was not able to reach the intended
ftation; they therefore direéted her courfe towards Eaft Spitzbergen, directly oppofite
to the {pot inhabited by our adventurers. They perceived the veflel, and made hafte
to kindle different fires upon the hills in the neighbourhood of their dwelling ; they
hoifted as well a flag ftaff upon the fhore; a rein-deer’s fkin, which they faltened to it
ferving them for a fignal in lieu of colours. Thofe on board the fhip obferved thefe
fignals, and concluding that they were made by people who intreated their afliftance,
they came to anchor.
It would be ufelefs for me to attempt to defcribe the joy with which thefe unfortunate
men were filled at feeing fo nigh the inftant of their unexpected deliverance. They
treated with the commander of the veflel, entered his fervice, and agreed with him for
the tranfport of themfelves, and all their effects to their native land, for which they
were to pay him eighty rubles. They put on board the veffel fifty pood, or two thou-
fand pounds of rein-deer’s fat, and a number of hides of thefe animals, as well as blue
and white fox fkins, and thofe of the ten bears which they had killed : they did not
forget their bow, their arrows, their fpears, or lances, their axe, almoft worn to the
handle, and nearly ufed up knife ; their awl, their needle, which were inclofed ina
bone box very ingenioufly worked with their knife, the nerves or fibres of the white
bears, and reinedeer, in fhort whatever they poffeft. —
Thefe different articles which I have defcribed, were fent by M. Vernizobre to
Count Von Schuwaloff, and by him were confided to my care: I had full leifure to ex-
amine them, and to lay them before the unfated curiofity of feveral perfons; among
others different profeflors of the Imperial Academy, Der Wiflenfchaften, in whom they
excited aftonifhment. In company of thefe latter gentlemen, I converfed with the pilot
Alexis Himkoff, and his godfon the failor, Jwan Himkoff, and queftioned them at
different times on their adventures.
I mutt be allowed in proceeding to mention a trifling circumftance, relative to the
little box, which thefe men had made for holding their needle.
_I fhewed this box to certain virtuofi and informed them that the failors had made it
with a knife, and folemnly affured me of it; thefe gentlemen did not believe that they
told the truth; they would have that it was turned; and that thefe men had deceived
me, in giving out that it was their workmanfhip; whence they concluded, that, as they
had told a falfity on this occafion, there was left room for doubting of what they had
related refpecting the events on the ifland which they had inhabited.
By chance it happened that while we were in converfation on the fubjec&t, M. Homann,
a very ingenious turner, came into my apartment. As foon as I faw him, I obferved to
the company, you fee that man, he is certainly the fitteft perfon that can be to decide
this matter. I {tept towards him, and gave the queftion a different turn, in order that it
might not be fufpeéted that M. Homann fhould an{wer me with more courtefy than truth.
You muft decide, Sir, faid I, on the point I have to queftion you between this gentle-
man and me: I maintain that this box is turned ; this gentleman the contrary. After
Homann had taken and examined it, he anf{wered me, this gentleman is in the right :
this never was made with a turning lathe: it is a bone which has been rounded by fhav-
ing it. This anfwer filenced the company. It was now my turn to {peak : I obferved
that fince on this occafion thefe failors had told truth, in what we had heard decided,
there is no room left for doubting the remainder of what was related by them.
: 412 I come
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