202 FROM KAMTSCHATKA 



is not to be seen. We were all rejoiced at this dis- 

 covery, for though we could not expect an imme- 

 diate passage into the Icy Sea, we had the liope of 

 penetrating far into the country, and there to 

 make important remarks. This island, which lies 

 directly before the bay, forms with the continent 

 in the N.E. and S.W. a narrow passage, and we 

 observed, at this moment, a large and, probably, a 

 leathern boat, with black sails, run into tlie S.W. 

 entrance of the bay, and then vanish in the east, 

 under the horizon. This event, which greatly in- 

 creased my pleasure, determined me immediately 

 to sail into the bay, through tlie N.E. passage, 

 which appeared to me to be broader than the S.W. 

 We hastened to our boats, and took the way to the 

 N.E., along the island. I shall not give a descrip- 

 tion of the coasts, islands, and bays, discovered by 

 us, as a single glimpse on the very accurate charts 

 belonging to this work, gives a very clear idea of 

 them. After a tour of an hour and a half, we 

 reached the N.E. passage, which we found to be a 

 mile and a half in breadth j the depth in the 

 middle of the channel was eight fathoms; the tide 

 was rising, and the current set into the bay, at the 

 rate of three miles an hour. It was already past 

 noon, and the sailors, who had been incessantly 

 employed ever since four o'clock in the morning, 

 were in want of refreshment ; we therefore landed 

 at the N.E. point, where a fire was lighted, and in 

 half an hour an excellentsoup was made of English 



