198 FROM KAMTSCHATKA 



meters, whose going I found, on close examination, 

 to be unaltered. They gave the longitude of 

 King's Island, only a few minutes different from 

 Cook's determination j we found its height to be 

 586 feet. 



With the assistance of a fresh south wind, we 

 were already, at two o'clock in the afternoon, be- 

 tween Cape Prince of Wales, and Gwozdeff's 

 islands, of which there are, according to Cook's 

 chart, as well as others, only three. The fine 

 weather gave me the pleasure of discovering a 

 fourth, which is considerably larger than the others ; 

 and, as I took it for a new discovery, I called it 

 Ratmanof}'. This gentleman, who is now a cap- 

 tain of the first rank, was lieutenant in our voyage 

 with Krusenstern, and I was under his command. 

 It is very surprising, that neither Cook nor Clerke 

 should have seen this island, as both their courses 

 led them close by it ; and it has occurred to me, 

 that it may have since risen from the sea. From 

 Cape Prince of Wales extends a low land to the 

 west, on which we observed many jurtes and frames 

 built with whalebones, to dry fish on. As we were 

 only three miles from the shore, we could plainly dis- 

 cern a number of people standing together in groups, 

 to admire the wonderful large ship, but without 

 making the least preparation for coming on board. 

 I therefore took advantage of the wind, and fair 

 weather, and sailed along the coast, vvliich takes an 

 E. N. E. direction- from Cape Prince of Wales, 



IS 



