mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i3-037

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but we were unable to see inside because the chief blocked such
an attempt by putting himself, with a long unsheathed knife
that he pulled out from under the back of his parka and over
his head, between us and the yurts. Seeing that, we did not
insist further, and stepping away to the edge of the beach, we
continued our trip, which pleased him very much. Having come
to within about 20 sazhens of the moumtains, the chief, with
an apprehensive look, wanted to detain us from further walking,
but seeing our determination, he remained on the spot and let
us continue by ourselves.

These mountains begin where the sandspit ends. They stand
back from the shore about three or more sazhens. This expanse
consists of sandy oozy ground, which results from the melting
ice forming constant small streams. The exterior side of the
ice cliffs rises vertically 20 or more feet, and when the sun's
rays reflect from this wall as from a polished surface, one
must avert one's eyes, so blinding is the glare. The flat
top of this ice mass slopes gradually toward the interior of
the land and is covered with a layer of earth about two feet
thick as tested with the bore. This layer is overgrown with
moss and other northern bog plants. The continual rotting
of these grasses creates a pungent swampy odor. Having satis-
fied our curiosity, we hurried back to the tents, again ac-
companied by the chief, and by women who joined us at this
time, and whom we had not seen at first.

This tribe calls itself Tatui, and to the question,