VOYAGE OF THE "ST. PETER" 337 



ated somewhat, and the longboat was sent ashore for Khitrov 

 and his party, but, owing to the fog and squally weather, the 

 party did not return until the forenoon of the 3rd. Khitrov 

 reported finding the place where the fire had been and many 

 signs of human beings but had seen no people. 



Just before noon of the 3rd the St. Peter got under way, but 

 the wind fell to light airs from the SW, and, being unable to work 

 out to sea, Bering anchored off the north end of Bird Island on 

 the evening of the 4th. The following morning they again 

 attempted to get to sea; but the wind was baffling and the cur- 

 rent against them, and in the afternoon of the 5th Bering again 

 anchored close to Bird Island. Scarcely had the anchor been 

 dropped when human voices were heard from the shore; soon 

 two baidarkas, or skin boats, with one man in each, approached 

 the St. Peter, and Bering and his ship's company had their first 

 glimpse of the people who inhabited the land they had dis- 

 covered. The longboat was lowered, and a party went ashore to 

 distribute presents and interview the natives. The account of 

 this incident, as given in the log and in Steller's diary, will be 

 found very interesting. 



On the afternoon of the 6th another attempt was made to get 

 to sea; but it was unsuccessful, and the St. Peter was obliged 

 to return to the anchorage off Bird Island. The following morn- 

 ing the St. Peter sailed around the northern end of the island, 

 passed out to sea through Otter Strait between Bird and Cherna- 

 bura Islands, and by noon was clear of the land, standing to 

 the southward. This course was held until the 8th, when Bering 

 again turned to the westward along the 53rd parallel. The wind 

 still held from the westward and the progress towards Avacha 

 was necessarily slow. 



LANDFALL OF ADAK AND ATKA ISLANDS 



On September 22 an observation of the sun gave their latitude 

 as 50 27', and the vessel was headed more to the northward 

 to work towards the 53rd parallel. On the 24th they got another 

 sight of the sun at noon and found themselves in latitude 51 



