Identifier: iceboundonkolgue00trevuoft (find matches)
Title: Ice-bound on Kolguev : a chapter in the exploration of Arctic Europe to which is added a record of the natural history of the island
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Trevor-Battye, Aubyn Bernard Rochfort
Subjects: Natural history -- Arctic regions Kolgujef (Russia) Polar regions
Publisher: Westminster : A. Constable
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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d old, and ruffs inwinter dress. And away on the other side I could justmake out a pair of old swans, and four grey cygnets. All round the lake it was very marshy, with deepslews, filled with mares tail (Hippuris). But the actualbank of the lake was firm for the space of a sleigh anda team of five ; so that we could comfortably stand oruncomfortably lie there, as I did. Here I found a new and very conspicuous plant—agigantic fleabane (Cineraria palustris) growing in densebold clumps. Out across the koski was a little ice,looking very loose. The lake lies north and south. As we drove thesleighs round to the farther bank the swans moved awayand swam northwards. We halted and laid our plans. Onaska was to stay with the deer, I was to hide up inthe grasses with my gun, while Mekolka with his bowand arrows was to take the boat which we had brought,and scull after the birds. So, after much difficulty in wading through a deep andmuddy creek, I found a place well screened, and squatteddown.
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BACKTOSCHAROK 291 I watched Mekolka with much interest. A strong-wind was blowing against him, yet he held on his course,sitting with his face to the bows. Turning a corner he was out of sight, but presently Iheard a honking, and peeping out, there was Mekolka,who had turned the swans, and was pulling after themdown the lake and gaining every moment. Now he stopped, and picking up his bow he slippedan arrow at one of the cygnets (they were quite bigbirds) at about twenty yards, as near as I could guess,and with such effect that the bird beat the water wildlyfor a moment, and then lay still. Now he was opposite to me, and the way he had lostin shooting and picking up his bird he was rapidly makingup. He loosed another arrow, and I saw one of the young-swans flap along for some ten yards, drop its head, andlie still, while Mekolka rowing up pulled it into the boat.I was astonished that so large and strong a bird shouldsuccumb so quickly from an arrow wound. Then followed an in-and-out c

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