IS CONSULTATION THE THIEF. 



board, one of the many thermometers was missed, and 

 had evidently been pnrloined by one of our visitors. 



The strong adverse vdnds liaving continued 

 hitherto, on the 20th the Captain called a council of 

 officers, who, after much deliberation, recommended 

 that, unless a favourable change of circumstances should 

 occur sufficient to warrant the expectation of reaching 

 Kotzebue Sound by the 26th, the " Plover" should 

 Avinter in the commodious harbour where she then was. 



The natives were informed of the loss of the thermo- 

 meter, and on whom our suspicions rested. Parties 

 were sent on shore at the spit to take observations, 

 and to cut turf wherewith to eke out the winter's 

 fuel. Here, besides fragments of bones of whales, we 

 discovered a winter hut or yourt, much dilapidated, 

 and apparently long abandoned ; it was constructed 

 partly by excavation ; the upper part appeared to be of 

 mud and shingle ; around the interior, which formed 

 an irregular ellipse, seats had been cut in the soil. 



On the 22nd (Sunday) Divine Service was per- 

 formed. The natives were allowed to come on 

 board, but bartering was prohibited, and they were 

 made to understand, as well as might be, that one 

 day in seven was set aside for rest and relaxation. 

 This they seemed to comprehend, but were, neverthe- 

 less, greatly astonished. The thermometer was 



