CHAPTER II. 



Notices of Visits to Tchutski. — Cook and Billings, &c. — Wrangell's 

 Laments. — Paucity of iufoi'mation. — First commnuication • with 

 Tcliutski. — Ludicrous Mistake respecting Sex. — Attempts at Conversa- 

 tion. — Visit the Shore. — See real Women. — Delectable Repast. — First 

 Theft. — Council of Officers. — Curious Hut. — Thermometer Jack. — 

 Gale. — Detention of Natives. — Their Feast. — Tchutski Honour. — Move 

 into Winter Quarters. — First Visit to Natives. — An interesting Infant. 

 — Funny Fiddler. — The Sheep. — The House. — First Impi-essions. — 

 The Masquerade. — The Missionary. — The Drama. 



A COMBINATION of uiitoward circumstances had 

 driven us on a coast and among a people rarely 

 visited. Cook, ranking only second to Columbus 

 among navigators, was the first who touched upon 

 this shore, in 1778 : his was bnt a flying visit, as he 

 merely landed for about a couple of hours near the 

 Tchutskoi Noss, and then re-embarked never to 

 return, although doubtless his intention was to have 

 made further acquaintance with so interesting a country. 

 Behring, in 1728, communicated with the people of 

 this coast, in latitude 64° 30' north, near the 

 Tchutskoi Noss. The eight natives who visited him 

 in a baidar, stated that the coast trended to the 



