R-USSIANDISCOVERIES. 3 



According to the account of Tome of the crew, and ^^^^';:^^;g';f 

 jiarticularly of the commander, after fix days faiUng they 

 came in fight of the firft ifland on the 24th of Septem- 

 ber, at mid-day. They failed by, and towards evening 

 they difcovered the fecond ifland ; where they lay at an- 

 chor until the next morning. 



The 25th feveral inhabitants appeared on the coaft, 

 and the pilot was making towards fliore in the fmall 

 boat, with an intention of landing ; but obferving their 

 numbers increafe to about an hundred, he was afraid of 

 venturing among them, although they beckoned to him. 

 He contented himfelf therefore with flinging fome 

 needles amoagft them: the iflanders in return threw 

 into the boat fome fea-fowl of the cormorant kind. He 

 endeavoured to hold a converfation with them by means 

 of the interpreters, but no one could undcrftand their 

 language. And now the crew endeavoured to row the 

 veflel out to fea ; but the wind being contrary, they 

 were driven to the other fide of the fame ifland, wheie 

 they caft anchor. 



The 26th, Tfiuproff having landed with fome of the 

 crew in order to look for water, met feveral inhabitants : 

 he gave them fome tobacco and fmall Chinefe pipes ; and 

 received in return a prefent of a flick, upon which the 

 head of a feal was carved. They endeavoured to wrefl his. 

 4 hunting 



