TO KOTZEBUE*S SOUND. 231 



close to a shoal, and the current running two 

 knots. Even the many shoals have been formed 

 by the violence of the current, and this could not 

 possibly exist, if the arm closed soon. The ac 

 count given by the American may, therefore, be 

 correct ; and this branch either extends to Norton 

 Sound, or joins Schischmareflf's Bay. After we 

 had wearied ourselves in vain, for several hours, in 

 looking for a passage, we landed near tlie hut of 

 our friend. I resolved to stop, that my people, 

 who w^ere extremely fatigued, might have some 

 rest : the baydare, which was dragged on shore, 

 was turned upside down, and served us for shelter, 

 and a cup of tea was a real refreshment to us all. 

 Our American seemed rather terrified at his neigh- 

 bours ; he immediately packed up his house and 

 household in the large boat, and, with his family, 

 silently left our side of the shore. I observed how 

 he sometimes rowed with the left, and sometimes 

 with the right arm, probably to avoid the shoals 

 known to him, and how he at last, after many turn- 

 ings, reached the opposite shore, where our fugi- 

 tive friend put up his tent. 



The water in the arm, which we frequently ex- 

 amined, was saltish. It is impossible to imagine 

 finer weather than we enjoyed to-day j not a cloud 

 obscured the sky, which was of a most beautiful 

 blue, such as is only seen in high latitudes, and the 

 inhabitant of Beering's Straits may also say, nature 

 is beautiful ! Towards evening our agreeable re- 



Q 4 



