252 VOYAGE TO THE 



Near the spot where we landed were several yourts, and 

 a number of posts driven into the ground, and in the 

 lake we found several artificial ducks, which had been 

 left as decoys : but we saw no natives. About two 

 miles from the coast the country becomes moun- 

 tainous, and far inland rises to peaked hills of great 

 height, covered with perennial snow. 



It was calm throughout the greater part of the day, 

 with very fine weather. The temperature, which in- 

 creased gradually as we left the snowy coast of Asia, 

 at noon reached to 55°, which was twenty-one degrees 

 higher than it had been on the opposite shore ; and 

 the mean for the last twenty-four hours was seven de- 

 grees higher than that of the preceding day. Part of 

 this difference was evidently owing to the cessation 

 of the northerly wind and our proximity to the land ; 

 but part must also have been occasioned by one coast 

 being naturally colder than the other. 



During the time we were at anchor there was a 

 regular ebb and flow of the tide ; and there appeared 

 by the shore to be about three or four feet rise of the 

 water. The flood came from the S.E., and ran with 

 greater strength than the ebb, which showed there was 

 a current setting towards Beering's Strait. Captain 

 Cook noticed the same circumstance off this part of 



the coast. 



The equipment of our little tender was always a 

 subject of interest, and preparations for hoisting her 

 out seemed to give the greatest pleasure to all on 

 board. She was again placed under the command of 

 Mr. Elson, who received orders to examine the coast 

 narrowly between our station and Kotzebue Sound, 

 and to search for an opening to the eastward of Cape 

 Prince of Wales, of which the Esquimaux had ap- 



