128 UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL 



secute some botanical researches, intending to 

 rejoin us by means of an Aleutian baidar, se- 

 veral of which were shortly to proceed to St. 

 Francisco in search of otters. This promised 

 chase was a gratifying circumstance to me, as I 

 had it in contemplation to examine several of 

 the rivers that fall into the Bay of St. Francisco, 

 for which purpose the small Aleutian vessels 

 would probably prove extremely serviceable. 

 The north-west wind is prevalent here during 

 summer, and rain is unknown in that season : it 

 was now, however, the latter end of October, 

 and southerly gales began to blow, accom- 

 panied by frequent showers ; we had therefore 

 to wait some time for the baidars and Professor 

 Eschscholtz. Meanwhile, to our great surprise, 

 a boat with six oars, one day, entered the bay 

 from the open sea, and lay to beside our ship. It 

 belonged to an English whaler, which had been 

 tacking about for some days, and was prevented 

 by the contrary wind from getting into the bay. 

 The greater part of his crew being sick of the 

 scurvy, the captain at length resolved on send- 

 ing his boat ashore, in hopes of being able to 



