1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. %J3 



way, the night would probably overtake us before we 

 reached the end of our journey. At length, how- 

 ever, he yielded to Ivaskin's entreaties, and conducted 

 us along the side of a number of small lakes, with 

 which the flat part of this country seems much to 

 abound. These lakes are from half a mile to two 

 miles in length, and about half a mile broad ; the 

 water is fresh and clear, and they are full of a red- 

 coloured fish, resembling, both in shape and size, a 

 small salmon ; of which a more particular description 

 will be given hereafter. The banks of these lakes 

 were covered with the fragments of fish that the 

 bears had half eaten, and which caused an intolerable 

 stench. We often came upon the spots which the 

 bears had just left, but were never able even to 

 come within sight of them. 



It was night before we reached the ships, and we 

 had then been twelve hours upon our legs. Poor 

 Ivaskin found himself exceedingly tired, and over- 

 come with fatigue; probably he was more sensible of 

 it, for want of a supply of snuff; for every step he 

 took, his hand dived mechanically into his pocket, 

 and drew out his huge empty box. We had scarcely 

 got into the tent, when the weather set in exceed- 

 ingly rough and wet. We congratulated ourselves 

 that we had not stayed out another day, the Hospo- 

 din's box was replenished, and we forgot the fatigues 

 and ill success of our expedition over a good supper. 



I was exceedingly sorry, on being told the next 

 day, that our friend the serjeant had undergone cor- 

 poral punishment, during our absence, by command 

 of the old Put-paroitchick. None of our people had 

 been able to learn what was the cause of his dis- 

 pleasure ; but it was imagined to have arisen from 

 some little jealousy subsisting between them on ac- 

 count of the civility which we had shown to the 

 former. However, having every reason to believe 

 that the offence, whatever it might be, did not call 

 for so disgraceful a chastisement, we could not help 



VOL. VII. T 



