CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



15 



the northward. On the following morning, the ice setting off shore from East Cape, we steamed 

 out past and shaped a course for Plover Bay. A number of natives coining on board off East Cape, 

 urged us to come in and anchor and trade with them. We bought a few pair of skin boots, paying 

 for them in tobacco. These natives confirmed the previous report of an unusually mild winter. 



DIOMEDE ISLANDS, SOUTH BY EAST (MAGNETIC). 



They told us the story of the wrecks, with the usual variations, although the main points remained 

 the same. A* many of the old maps, and even some of the more modern ones, are so erroneous as 

 to give but an imperfect knowledge of Bering Strait audHhe adjacent coasts and islands, a brief 

 description may not be out of place. 



The strait, which is about 45 miles wide, has an average depth of 2G fathoms, and hard, regular 

 bottom. Nearly midway of the straits are two islands, generally called the Diomedes. The larger 

 and most western is about 3 miles long by 1 wide, is probably 800 feet high, with nearly perpen- 

 dicular cliffs. It was named by Captain Beechey, R. N., "Ratmanoff." The native name is "Noo- 

 nor-book." On its southwest side is a large settlement. The natives are Innuits, but are so 

 situated that they are thrown in contact with the Tchuktchis, aud consequently possess many of 

 their characteristics in habit and language ; but the Innuit is without doubt their native tongue. 

 The eastern island is nearly the same height, but less than one-third the area of the western. It 

 was named by Beechey after Admiral Kruseristern, and is called by the natives Ignalook. This 

 island has also a settlement on its southwest side. Like those on the larger island, the natives are 

 Innuits, but possess many of the characteristics of the Tchuktchis. The natives of both settlements 

 are great traders, and each summer cross over to the American side and meet the natives that 

 assemble in numbers at Hotham Inlet, for the purpose of trading. They are very skillful at killing 

 whales, walrus, aud seals. The boundary line between Asia and America passes between the 

 Diomedes. The reference to the boundary in the treaty is iu the following language : 



The western limit, within which the territories aud dominion conveyed are contained, passes through a point in 

 Bering Straits on the parallel of sixty-five degrees aud thirty minutes north latitude at its intersection by the 

 meridian which passes midway between the island of Krusenstern or Ignalook and the island of Katmauoft' or Noo- 

 nor-book, and proceeds due north without limitation into the same frozen ocean. 



The longitude being dependent on that of both Diomedes, was omitted from the treaty on 

 account of its uncertainty. It has since been determined by Acting Assistant W. H. Dall, 

 Uuited States Coast and Geodetic Survey, to be 1G8° 58' 05".38. Between the Diomedes is a good 

 clear channel of 2 miles in width, and having 20 fathoms of water. The bottom is very hard aud 

 regular. Good anchorage may be had off ike settlement on the west Diomede in 15 fathoms of 

 water close in shore. About 10 miles south of Krusenstern is a high sheer-looking rock, to which 

 Beechey gave the name of Fairway Rock. Its native name is Ooghuak. Although the passage 

 from Siberia to America and back is made many times each year by the natives in their skin 

 boats, and is not considered by them to be attended with any unusual amount of danger, I could 

 not learn that it is ever made over the ice during the winter. The natives say the ice is always 

 broken and subjected to great aud sudden changes, rendering any attempts to cross it extremely 

 hazardous. It is said that open spaces occur from time to time throughout the winter, which 



