1779. THE PACltTC OCEAN. 399 



ciently known, he will steer to the southward, probably 

 in the beginning of June, and endeavour to fall in 

 with the southernmost of the Kurile Islands. Ouroop 

 or Nadeschda, according to the accounts of the 

 Russians, will furnish the ships with a good harbour, 

 where they may wood and water, and take in such 

 other refreshments as the place may afford. Toward 

 the end of June, they will shape their course for the 

 Shummagins, and from thence to Cook's River, 

 purchasing, as they proceed, as many skins as they 

 are able, without losing too much time, since they 

 ought to steer again to the southward, and trace the 

 coast with great accuracy from the latitude of 56° to 

 50°, the space from which we were driven out of 

 sight of land by contrary winds. It should here be 

 remarked, that I consider the purchase of skins, in 

 this expedition, merely as a secondary object, for 

 defraying the expence ; and it cannot be doubted, 

 from our experience in the present voyage, that two 

 hundred and fifty skins, worth one hundred dollars 

 each, may be procured without any loss of time ; 

 especially as it is probable they will be met with 

 along the coast to the southward of Cook's River. 



Having spent three months on the coast of Ame- 

 rica, they will set out on their return to China early 

 in the month of October, avoiding in their route, as 

 much as possible, the tracks of former navigators. 

 I have now only to add, that if the fur trade should 

 become a fixed object of Indian commerce, frequent 

 opportunities will occur of completing whatever may 

 be left unfinished, in the voyage of which I have here 

 ventured to delineate the outlines. 



The barter which had been carrying on with the 

 Chinese for our sea-otter skins, had produced a very 

 whimsical change in the dress of all our crew. On 

 our arrival in the Typa, nothing could exceed the 

 ragged appearance both of the younger officers and 

 seamen ; for, as our voyage had already exceeded, 



