C'liS cook's voyage to skpt. 



down in the company of his own officers. It was in 

 vain to think of making any attempt to obtain an 

 indulgence, which, though it would have been highly 

 agreeable to us, was doubtless incompatible with 

 their discipline. 



On Wednesday we had finished the stowage of the 

 holds; got on board all our wood and water; and 

 were ready to put to sea at a day's notice. It is 

 however necessary to observe, that though every 

 thing was in this degree of readiness "on board, the 

 cattle were not yet arrived from Verchnei; and as 

 fresh provisions were the most important article of 

 our wants, and in a great measure necessary for the 

 health of the men, we could not think of taking our 

 departure without them. We, therefore, thought this 

 a favourable opportunity (especially as there was an 

 appearance of fine weather) of taking some amuse- 

 ment on shore, and acquiring a little knowledge of 

 the country. Accordingly, Captain Gore proposed 

 a party of bear-hunting, which we all very readily 

 came into. 



We did not set out on this expedition till Friday 

 the 17th, in order to give a day's rest to the Hospo- 

 din Ivaskin, a new acquaintance, that was to be of 

 our party, and who came down here on Wednesday. 

 This gentleman, who, we understood, usually resides 

 at Verchnei, had been desired by Major Behm to 

 attend us on our return to the harbour, in order to 

 be our interpreter ; and the accounts we had heard 

 of him, before his arrival, had excited in us a great 

 curiosity to see him, 



He is of a considerable family in Russia. His 

 father was a general in the empress's service ; and 

 he himself, after having received his education partly 

 in France, and partly in Germany, had been page to 

 the Empress Elizabeth, and an ensign in her guards. 

 At the age of sixteen he was knowted, had his nose 

 slit, and was banished first to Siberia and afterward 

 to Kamtschatka, where he had now lived thirty-one 



