PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 249 



upon the coast. As Awatska is nearly surrounded by 

 high land, gusts of wind are of frequent occurrence, 

 particularly opposite Rakovya harbour : on this ac- 

 count it is advisable to moor or ride with a long scope 

 of cable. The entrance to the port is narrow and 

 about four miles in length, and as the wind almost 

 always blows up or down the channel, ships frequently 

 have to beat in and out, and experience great difficulty 

 in so doing, from the confined space to which they 

 are limited, and the eddy currents, which in the spring- 

 time in particular must be carefully guarded against. 

 There are but two shoals in the harbour which it is 

 necessary to notice ; one off Rakovya, upon which 

 there is a buoy ; and the other off the signal station 

 on the west side of the entrance of Awatska Bay. 



Much has been said of the neglected condition of 

 the settlement, and volumes have been written on the 

 government, inhabitants, productions, and on the actual 

 and prospective state of the country;* still there have 

 been no exertions on the part of the government ma- 

 terially to improve or provide for either one or the 

 other. Its neglected state is probably of very little 

 consequence at present ; but should the North Pacific 

 ever be the scene of active naval operations, Petro- 

 paulski must doubtless become of immense import- 

 ance. At present it may be said to be unfortified, but 

 a very few guns judiciously placed would effectually 

 protect the entrance. 



On the 18th of July, having completed the survey 

 of the bay of Awatska and its harbours, we took our 

 leave of the hospitable inhabitants, and weighed an- 

 chor ; but, as on the former occasion, we were obliged 



* Cook's Third Voyage, vol. iii. ; Perouse's Voyage ; Krusen- 

 stern's Embassy to Japan ; LangsdorfF's Travels ; Coclirane's 

 Journey ; Dobell's Travels, &c. 



