TO kotzebue's sound. 189 



showing ten fathoms' water, soon announced that 

 it was near at hand: the thick fog dispersed, the 

 sun shone, the weather was serene, and a ridge of 

 high mountains, covered with snow, appeared be- 

 fore us. The nearest distance from sliore was two 

 miles ; the direction of the country, E. and W., 

 was hid by the fog ; and the Rurick lay secure in 

 a small open bay. We observed people and tents 

 on the shore ; and the wish of becoming acquainted 

 with the inhabitants of this island, who had never 

 been visited by any navigator, and also to give our 

 naturalists an opportunity of examining this un- 

 known country, induced me to pay it a visit. 

 Two of our four-oared boats were directly put into 

 the water, and we set out, well armed with pistols, 

 sabres, and guns. As the consequences might 

 have proved dangerous, if we had cast anchor in 

 this open bay, the Rurick remained under sail, and 

 Lieutenant Schischmareff took the command. The 

 wind blew faintly from the S. W. ; the Rurick was 

 obliged to stand off a little from the shore, and 

 was soon enveloped in fog. At a small distance 

 from the shore, we were met by a baydare, (boat,) 

 with ten islanders, w^ho approached us without fear, 

 calling aloud to us, and making the most singular 

 motions, holding fox-skins in the air, with which 

 they eagerly beckoned us. We easily perceived 

 their arms hidden in tlieir baydare, and therefore 

 observed the greatest caution. After some salu- 

 tations, according to their custom, which consisted 



