160 FROM CONCEPTION BAY 



which have cost many a navigator his life. If the 

 weather had not favoured us in every respect, 

 during our stay among them, the Rurick would 

 undoubtedly have been exposed to many dan- 

 gers ; and, besides, our astronomical observations 

 would have deserved little credit, had not the sun 

 always favoured them. A storm in gloomy weather 

 in these parts would be the inevitable destruction 

 of the ship ; and even the possession of an accu- 

 rate chart of all these groups of islands could not 

 insure its safety, because the current is strong, 

 the land low, and the wind too violent to ply back, 

 if you are so unfortunate as to come too close to a 

 reef. At the distance of a couple of hundred fa- 

 thoms, the sea has no bottom, consequently the 

 lead cannot give timely notice of the danger. 

 After such a description, every one may conceive 

 our joy, when we again beheld the open sea before 

 us. Notwithstanding all this, and in spite of all 

 these dangers, J. w^ould willingly have staid here 

 some days longer, to finish the survey of the several 

 islands, had not the necessity of being at Beering's 

 Straits, at a certain time, made every moment 

 valuable to me ; and I therefore, according to my 

 instructions, steered my course to the N. W., where 

 Baumann's islands were supposed to lie. 

 Latitude of the middle of Krusen- 



stern's islands - . - - 15° 00' 00'' S. 

 Longitude -. - - - 148 41 00 W. 



