PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 277 



consequence of the severity of the weather, which chap. 



cased his sails, and the clothes of the seamen exposed v 



to the spray, with ice. Sept. 



Three of his crew at this time became invalids with 

 chilblains and ulcers occasioned by the cold : and the 

 necessity of carrying a press of sail strained the boat to 

 such a degree that she again leaked so fast as to require 

 the pumps to be kept constantly at work. It became 

 necessary, therefore, to seek shelter, and he bore up 

 for Point Hope ; but before he reached that place the 

 sea broke twice over the stern of the boat, and nearly 

 swamped her. Upon landing at the point he was met 

 by the natives, who were beginning to prepare their 

 yourts for the winter. His crew here dried their 

 clothes for the first time for several days, and Lieu- 

 tenant Belcher having obtained the latitude, again put 

 to sea ; but finding the weather still so bad that he 

 could not keep the coast with safety, and the period of 

 his rendezvous at Chamisso Island having arrived, 

 he pursued his course for that place, where he found 

 the instructions I had left for him before I proceeded 

 to examine Port Clarence. 



Among other things he was desired to collect a 

 quantity of drift-timber, and to erect an observatory 

 upon Choris Peninsula ; in which he was engaged, 

 when the wind coming suddenly in upon the shore 

 where the barge was anchored, the crew were imme- 

 diately ordered on board. It unfortunately happened 

 that the weather was so fine in the morning that only 

 two persons were left in the vessel, and the boat be- 

 longing to the barge being small could take only four 

 at a time. One boat-load had joined the vessel, but 

 the surf rose so suddenly, that in the attempt to reach 

 her a second time, the oars were broken, and the boat 



