FAREWELL TO THE TUSKI. 207 



times near the Asiatic shore, on which occasions 

 parties of our friends visited the ship. The last point 

 of contact was the Bay of St. Laurence, on whose 

 shore stands Noonahmone, and near which Ahmoleen, 

 of Yandangah, resided ; he soon came on board, and 

 kindly supplied us with several reindeer for fresh 

 provision. Preparations were made at this time to 

 despatch boats to the coast of America, to proceed 

 along it to the eastward, as hght winds created fears 

 of the delay of the ship, but a fair breeze springing 

 up, the order for their departure was countermanded, 

 and bidding farewell to Asia, and the people among 

 whom we had so long tarried, we steered for Kotzebue 

 Sound, on the American coast, and anchored near 

 Chamisso Island on the 14th of July ; much ice, 

 several American whalers, and multitudes of whales, 

 seals, walrus, and wild-fowl, having been seen on the 

 passage from om* wintering-place. 



We had now taken leave of a race whose 

 character and attributes, as they were presented to 

 our view, I cannot on the whole regard in other than a 

 favourable light. Previous slight acquaintance has 

 represented them as fierce, warlike, and intractable ; 

 there is undoubtedly a spirit of independence, united 

 with indomitable courage, which would lead them, 

 as reported of their conduct when invaded, to resist 



