320 REPORT ON VOYAGE OF THE "ST. PAUL" 



paid out a half cable. At the bow there was 28 fathoms and at the stern 

 24. We heard the breaking of the surf on the rocks, but the heavy 

 fog hid everything from sight. Towards nine in the morning, when it 

 cleared a bit, we saw land to the west [Adak Island], about 200 fathoms 

 away. The high mountains on it were bare of trees but covered with grass. 

 The beach was irregular, the eastern part seemed lower and about 300 

 fathoms away. Near the shore, on both sides, there were many rocks 

 above and below the water, and we could see the surf breaking over them. 

 To the north no land was seen. 



As we examined the shore we caught sight of two men walking along 

 the beach. We shouted to them in Russian and in the Kamchadal 

 language to come aboard; a little later we heard human voices calling 

 to us, but the breaking of the surf made so much noise that we could not 

 make out what was said. Through the speaking trumpet and without 

 it we again invited them to come.' At ten o'clock seven men in seven 

 small skin boats came near us and, after looking on for some time, went 

 back to shore. In the afternoon (September 9) fourteen of these skin 

 boats, one man in each, paddled up to our ship, and from them we secured 

 one of the hats they wore (which was made of birch wood) and four 

 arrows. They also gave us, wrapped up in seaweeds, some kind of mineral 

 which I think is antimony (or stibnite) , which I have sent to Bolsheretsk 

 Post to be assayed by the assayer Gardebol; but up to this time I have 

 not heard from him. They also gave us the roots of a grass with which 

 they stuff their noses, and a few of these roots we brought with us for 

 exhibition. As to how they came, their kind of boats, their dealings with 

 us, and other such matters are written up in the journal. 



At the eighth hour in the evening of September 10, the wind began to 

 blow from the west, and, trusting to God's help, we attempted to get 

 away from where we stood before it was too late. We started to heave 

 in but while doing this drifted easterly to within 300 fathoms of the shore 

 and weie in danger of being blown on it. I feared also that there might 

 be submerged rocks on the west. I, therefore, ordered to cut the cable 

 (34 fathoms of which was still out) at the hawse hole, to put on all sail, 

 and to go SE. This was done with God's help, but it was a narrow escape, 

 for a strong wind blew off the mountains and from all directions. 



The place where we were at anchor is in latitude 5i°4o'N, distant from 

 Vaua, reckoning from our returning point on the rhumb E by S 6°2o'E, 

 852 knots, 10 or 1,484 Russian versts. After we cleared the land we 

 proceeded to sail a little more westerly than our laid-out course, but the 

 head winds greatly hindered us. 



On September 21 , at eight in the evening, we noticed a small fish close 

 to the ship. We took soundings and got 60 fathoms. We let the ship drift 



10 This is the corrected distance. The journal for September 9 (p. 302) gives 

 429 knots. 



