PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 243 



riodical vessels from St. Petersburgb. As tbesc vessels 

 bring out every kind of supply for tlic inbabitauts, 

 they are most anxiously looked for ; and if tbey are 

 detained they occasion great inconvenience. 



We endeavoured to supply some of the deficiencies 

 of the place by ])resents of flour, rice, tea, and bottled 

 porter, and three large turtle, with some water-melons. 

 Both the last-mentioned were great curiosities, as they 

 had never been brought to the place before, or indeed 

 seen by any of the inhabitants, except those in the 

 government service. Much curiosity was conse- 

 quently excited when the turtle were landed ; and 

 very few would at first believe such forbidding animals 

 were intended to be eaten. As no person knew how 

 to dress them, I sent my cook on shore, and they 

 w^ere soon converted into an excellent soup, some of 

 w^hich was sent round to each of the respectable inha- 

 bitants of the place ; but, as may be imagined, after 

 having brought the animals so far, we were mortified 

 at hearing several persons declare their preference for 

 their own dishes made of seals' flesh. These turtle 

 were the last of the supply we had taken on board at 

 Port Lloyd, three having died upon the passage, and 

 the ship's company having continued to consume two 

 every day, which on an average was about five pounds 

 a man. This lasted for about three weeks, during 

 which time we saved half the usual allowance of pro- 

 visions. 



The season at Petropaulski was more backward 

 than the preceding year ; and though it was the be- 

 ginning of July, the snow lay deep upon some parts 

 of the shore, and the inhabitants were glad to keep 

 on their fur dresses. 



The little town, which has been repeatedly de- 



R 2 



