388 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, and water. We had completed only one turn, and 



XI 



buried a bottle for Captain Franklin, when the wind 

 A \E6.' freshened from the S. W. and prevented a second 

 landing. During the afternoon we turned to 

 windward, with the wind blowing fresh from the 

 westward. 



From the time of our passing Beering's Strait up 

 to the 23d instant, we enjoyed an almost uninter- 

 rupted series of fine weather ; during which we had 

 fortunately surveyed the whole of the coast from 

 Cape Prince of Wales as far to the northward as I 

 deemed it proper to go, consistent with the necessity 

 of keeping the ship, at all times, in open water and 

 in safety. Now, however, there appeared to be a 

 break up, and a commencement of westerly winds, 

 which made the whole of this coast a lee shore, and 

 together with several hours of darkness rendered it 

 necessary to keep the ship at a distance from the 

 land. In doing this the chances were equal that the 

 land expedition, in the event of its success, would 

 pass her. I therefore determined to repair to the 

 rendezvous in Kotzebue Sound, and, as nothing 

 further was to be done at sea, to await there the 

 arrival of our boat and of Captain Franklin's expe- 

 dition. Accordingly on the 27th we made Cape 

 Krusenstern, and on the following evening anchored 

 at Chamisso Island nearly in our former situation. 



Directly the ship was secured, two boats were 

 despatched to the islands to examine the state of the 

 rivulets, and ascertain whether the cask of flour, that 

 had been buried for Captain Franklin's use, had been 

 molested ; our suspicion of its safety having been 

 excited by observing six baidars upon the beach op- 

 posite the anchorage, none of which ventured off to 



