148 PREPARATIONS FOR SAILING. 



fifteen to seventeen and twenty fathoms ; but at 

 its mouth not more than four or five fathoms 

 deep. 



On the 23rd of November we again reached 

 our vessel, laden with venison for the whole 

 crew. Captain Lasaref had arrived during our 

 absence with his frigate; having struggled 

 with storms almost the whole way from New 

 Archangel to St. Francisco. With the in- 

 tention of sending letters home by him, I 

 had waited for his arrival to leave California. 

 Our vessel was therefore now immediately pre- 

 pared for sailing, our camp on shore broken 

 up, and all the instruments brought on board. 

 During the last night our people passed on land, 

 they killed a polecat which had slunk into 

 the tent. This animal, of the size and form 

 of an ordinary cat, has so abominable a smell, 

 that its vicinity is insupportable. Dogs, when 

 they sometimes attack and bite these creatures, 

 cannot relieve themselves from the stench, but 

 continue to rub their noses so violently against 

 the ground as they run, that they leave a stream 

 of blood on their track. Polecats may be con- 



