PENINSULA OF KAMTSCHATKA. 5 



few fathoms. In a short time, the temperature 

 of the air had fallen from 24*^ to 3". So sud- 

 den a change is always disagreeable, and often 

 dangerous. We had to thank the skill and 

 attention of our physician. Dr. Siegwald, that 

 it did not prove so to us. Such rough w^eather 

 is not common to the latitude w^e were in at 

 that season ; but it is peculiar to the Japanese 

 coast even in summer. Whales and storm- 

 birds showed themselves in great numbers, re- 

 mindinoj us that we were hastenino; to the 

 North, and were already far from the luxuriant 

 groves of the South-Sea islands. 



The wind continued so favourable, that on 

 the Tth of June we could already see the high 

 mountains of Kamtschatka in their winter 

 clothing. Their jagged summits reaching to 

 the heavens, crested with everlasting snow, which 

 glitters in the sunbeams, while their declivities 

 are begirt with clouds, give a magnificent aspect 

 to this coast. On the following day, we reached 

 Awatscha Bay, and in the evening anchored in 

 the harbour of St. Peter and St. Paul. 



The great peninsula of Kamtschatka, stretch- 

 incr to the river Anadir on the North, and South 



