212 cook's VOYAGE TO JUNE, 



modesty and discretion, that as soon as his master 

 was gone he was no longer Jean Port, but Monsieur 

 Port, the interpreter, and partook, as well as the 

 serjeant (in his capacity of commander of the place), 

 of the entertainment of the day. Our worthy friend 

 the priest of Paratounca having got intelligence of 

 its being our king's birth-day, gave also a sumptuous 

 feast, at which some of our gentlemen were present, 

 who seemed highly delighted with their entertain- 

 ment, which consisted of abundance of good eating 

 and drinking, together with dancing. 



On the 6th, twenty head of cattle were sent us by 

 the commander's orders from the Verchnei ostrog, 

 which is situated on the river Kamtschatka, at the 

 distance of near a hundred miles from this place, in 

 a direct line. They were of a moderate size ; and, 

 notwithstanding the Kamtschadales had been seven- 

 teen days in driving them down to the harbour, arrived 

 in good condition. The four following days were 

 employed in making ready for sea, and on the 11th, 

 at two in the morning, we began to unmoor; but before 

 we had got one anchor up, it blew so strong a gale 

 from the north-east, that we kept fast, and moored 

 again, conjecturing, from the position of the entrance 

 of the bay, that the current of wind would set up 

 the channel. Accordingly, the pinnace being sent 

 out to examine the passage, returned with an account 

 that the wind blew strong from the south-east, with 

 a great swell, setting into the bay, which would have 

 made any attempt to get to sea very hazardous. 



Our friend Port now took his leave of us, and car- 

 ried with him the box with our journals, which was to 

 go by the major, and the packet that was to be sent 

 express. On the 12th, the weather being moderate, 

 we began to unmoor again ; but, after breaking the 

 messenger, and reeving a running purchase with a 

 six-inch hawser, which also broke three times, we 

 were obliged at last, to heave a strain at low water, 

 and wait for the flowing of the tide to raise the anchor. 



