THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 1S5 



we were under the neceflity of concluding; to be Petro- '779- 



April. 



paulowfka. However, in juftice to the generous and ho- ' — * ' 



ipitable treatment we found here, I fhall beg leave to an- 

 ticipate the reader's curiofity, by alluring him, that our dis- 

 appointment proved to be more of a laughable than a feri- 

 ous nature. For, in this wretched extremity of the earth, 

 iituated beyond every tiling that we conceived to be mod 

 barbarous and inhofpitablc, and, as it were, out of the very 

 reach of civilization, barricaded with ice, and covered With 

 fummer fnow, in a poor miferablc port, far inferior to the 

 meaneft of our iifhing towns, we met with feelings of hu- 

 manity, joined to a greatnefs of mind, and elevation of Sen- 

 timent, which would have done honour to any nation or 

 climate. 



During the night, much ice drifted by us with the tide, 

 and at (Jay-light I was fent with the boats to examine the Thurfdaysj. 

 bay, and deliver the letters we had brought from Oona- 

 laflika to the Rufriah Commander. \Yc directed our courfe 

 toward the village 1 have jufl mentioned, and having pro- 

 ceeded as far as we were able with the boats, we got upon 

 the ice, which extended near half a mile from the more. 

 Mr. Webber, and two of the Seamen, accompanied me, 

 whilft the Matter took the pinnace and cutter to finffh the 

 Survey, leaving the jolly-boat behind to carry us back. 



I believe the inhabitants had not yet Seen either the Ship 

 or the boats ; for even after we had got on the ice, we could 

 not perceive any Signs of a living creature in the town. By 

 the time we had advanced a little way on the ice, we ob- 

 served a few men hurrying backward and forward, and 

 prcSently after, a fledge, drawn by dogs with one of the 

 inhabitants in it, came down to the Sea-Side, oppoSite to us. 



Vol. III. B b Whilft 



