DESCRIPTION OF EACH ISLAND AND TEE STRAITS. 69 



velocity, giving rise to tremendous rips. At times a strong breeze 

 is necessary to enable a vessel to stem the current. 



Rashau, the next island to the north-eastward, is somewhat 

 oval-shaped, about 9 miles long north and south, and 5 broad 

 east and west at its widest part. It has an area of 25 square 

 miles. 



The mountains of this island form an irregular mass, with 

 several peaks, the highest of which reaches an elevation of 3300 

 feet. On the eastern side there is a crater giving off steam, around 

 which there appears to be a deposit of sulphur. About 2 miles from 

 the south point, on the western side of the island, is an old deserted 

 Ainu settlement. 



There are no good anchorages. The coast is everywhere steep, 

 and there are many rocks around it, particularly off the north and 

 south ends ; but the water is, as a rule, deep close in to them. 



Water is not readily procurable here, the accessible streams, 

 which are but small driblets running down over the cliffs, not being 

 near a possible anchorage. The lower parts of the island are moss 

 and grass grown, and near the bottom of the slopes of the cliffs 

 fuhi and other coarse vegetation grow in great profusion. 



There are no land-animals but foxes, which are very numerous. 

 Eavens, falcons, wagtails, and wrens are the only land-birds I 

 have noticed. A few shore-birds, sandpipers and dotterels, are also 

 to be seen. The various sea-fowl frequenting the Kurils are plentiful. 



There are no fish to be caught here. Sea-otters, leopard seals, 

 and sea-lions are to be met with around the coast, but there are no 

 sea-lion rookeries on this island. 



Nadejda Strait, the channel between Rashau and Matau, is 14 

 miles wide. It is free from dangers, except that oflf the south end 

 of Matau a long reef extends in a southerly direction for nearly 2 

 miles. This reef is awash in places, and is covered with kelp. 



Matau is about 6^ miles long, and rather more than 4 wide. 

 Its area is 20 square miles. 



The grand volcanic cone forming this island is 5120 feet high. 

 Steam issues from this mountain, and occasionally small streams of 

 lava flow from the crater down the north-eastern slope. On the 

 south-east slope, towards the top, a small shoulder projects. 



The western, northern, and north-eastern coasts are rock-bound, 

 and end in high steep cliffs with deep water close in to the shore 



