6 DEPARTURE FROM SANDWICH ISLANDS. 



Having now quitted our last touching point, all our 

 attention was directed to preparing for our winter 

 sojourn. Warm clothing w^as distributed ; cloaks 

 and socks of the fur-seal skin made up, and ice gear 

 fitted and inspected. In anticipation of boat expe- 

 ditions crews were appointed, and their several 

 supplies apportioned, strong hopes being entertained 

 of doing something before being frozen in. 



Some fine meteors were seen early in September, 

 and black gull and whale birds observed in considerable 

 numbers : a plover flew on board, a goodly omen, and 

 dolphins gathered round the vessel. On the 9th we 

 saw stormy petrels and sea swallows ; and the former, 

 true to their popular reputation, proved harbingers 

 of a heavy gale. The weather moderating, the 

 nautilus was seen outspreading his tiny sail. 



Towards the end of the month the presence of 

 numerous birds, as well as quantities of sea weed, 

 indicated the proximity of land ; on the 2 7th, at no 

 great distance from Madenoi or CojDper Island, — with 

 the exception of Behring's Island, the westernmost of 

 the group, — we passed between the Aleutian or Fox 

 Islands, and the main-land of Kamtchatka. 



As these islands w^re among the first-fruits of the 

 discovery from the west of the western coast of the 

 North American continent, it may not be inappropriate 



