LANDING IN LISIANSKI STRAIT 315 



agreeing, the acting fleet master Avraam Dementiev with ten armed men 

 to take the yawl and examine the bay. It was then in the fourth hour. I 

 followed them with the ship, with the purpose of anchoring when I was 

 near the bay into which they entered. Much to our disappointment we 

 found no place to anchor; everywhere the shore is broken up, and the 

 mountains come right down to the water's edge; and, as is usual in such 

 cases, the water is deep, which on sounding we found to be true, as may 

 be seen in the officers' journals. 



We approached within two versts of the bay, sounding as we went 

 along, but got nowhere less than 65 fathoms. Almost everywhere the 

 bottom was gravelly, and in many places rocks were seen above and 

 below water. For these reasons we did not anchor but hove to and 

 tacked in front of the bay, the bearings of which we took. Before he set 

 out I handed Dementiev a copy of the instructions which had been 

 given to us to display in public. He read it over several times. I gave 

 him also the following order which was signed by me: 



You are put in command of the longboat and ten armed men, one copper cannon 

 and two rockets; and you are to go ashore and do the following things. 



(1) When you come near enough to the shore, make a landing it possible; 

 if not, come back to the ship and for our information fire two guns. (2) If with 

 God's help you get ashore, look about for human beings; if you find them, be 

 gentle with them and present them with a few small presents with which the ensign 

 Choglokov will provide you, namely a copper and an iron kettle, two hundred 

 beads, three packages of Chinese tobacco, one piece of nankeen, one piece of damask, 

 five rattles [?], and a paper of needles. From me you will receive ten-ruble pieces 

 which you may distribute among the inhabitants as you think best. Among other 

 questions ask them, in case the Koriak interpreter who goes with you can enter 

 into conversation with them (for it is not likely that any other language but his 

 will be of any help), what kind of land this is and under what government they 

 are; and ask some of them to come aboard our ship. (3) See whether there is 

 a safe place for a ship to come in and anchor for a time, take soundings, and make 

 a sketch map of the harbor, even if it is only rough. (4) Note the kind of trees 

 and grasses on shore. (5) Examine the rocks and the soil to see whether they 

 contain precious minerals; in order to help you a piece of silver ore is given you to 

 take along and if you find something like it bring it aboard. (6) Ask the natives 

 in what direction the land extends, whether it has any rivers that flow into the 

 sea, and where they are; and obtain such other information asyou can. (7) If the 

 inhabitants should act in an unfriendly manner and make it unsafe to remain, 

 return to the ship as quickly as you can; but do them no harm nor allow your men 

 to do so. (8) Make every effort to carry out quickly the above instructions so 

 that you may return to the ship the same day or at least not later than the next 

 day. If thick weather should set in, making it impossible to see the ship, you had 

 better not come out. If stormy weather should come on, delay your departure 

 and, with that in view, take with you provisions enough to last your company a 

 week. (9) As soon as you land signal to us with a rocket and when you embark 

 let off another one. While ashore keep up a big fire, especially at night, if you think 



