230 FROM KAMTSCHATKA 



this extraordinary circumstance. We had iiear/y 

 reached our quarters when we met M. Choris with 

 his book, in which he liad drawn several of the 

 Americans of this part. Our friends were very 

 much pleased at it, and were quite beside them- 

 selves, when Mo Choris, in walking, sketched the 

 features of the old man hastily on paper, and the 

 son held his sides with laughter when he saw his 

 father's face drawn in the book. We arrived at 

 our quarters, found the soup ready, and cheer- 

 fully took our meal without loss of time, while our 

 friends admired the many strange things which 

 met their eyes : they were particularly struck with 

 the use of knives, forks, and plates. They did not 

 eat the meat and biscuit which we gave them, but 

 saved it. As soon as we had finished our meal, 

 every thing was packed up, and we sailed to the 

 opening with a favourable wind. The Americans, 

 who remained on shore, staid a long time in the 

 place where we had dined, and we saw them busily 

 looking about, in the hope of finding something 

 that we might have left that could be of any value 

 to them. 



We doubled the promontory, which forms the 

 entrance of the arm, and where the land suddenly 

 takes its direction to the west. But all our en- 

 deavours to penetrate far into it were in vain, as 

 we every moment ran upon shoals. Yet I am con- 

 vinced that there must be a channel, as the depth 

 in many places was from two to tliree fathoms. 



