248 FROINJ KOTZEBUE S SOUND 



fisher would have had time enough to have thrown 

 twenty harpoons into his body. 



August 20th. We had a faint wind during the 

 night, which became brisk at day-break, and steady 

 in the N.E. We ran, by the log, seven knots ; 

 but, according to the compass, advanced very 

 slowly J so that, even with a fresh north wind, the 

 current runs equally strong from the south. We 

 had heavy rain and fog till noon, but sailed directly 

 towards St. Lawrence Bay, and, just when clear 

 weather was absolutely necessary, the rain and fog 

 vanished, and the bay lay before us. 



At three o'clock in the afternoon, we turned 

 round the small sandy island, which forms what is 

 properly the. harbour, and cast anchor in ten 

 fathoms' water, on a clayey bottom. We observed 

 in the N.E., on an elevation, several tents of the 

 Tschukutskoi ; the western point of the low island 

 lay to the S.W. 30°. Two baydares, with twenty 

 men, soon approached us, wlio were singing very 

 loud, but cautiously kept at a distance, till I 

 beckoned to them in a friendly manner, when they 

 came on board witliout any fear. I had two boats 

 equipped, to visit them in their habitations, and 

 likewise to Ull some of our water-butts ; our 

 Tschukutskoi followed us, having received liberal 

 presents, and were highly satisfied. Before we 

 arrived at their habitations, we were obhged to 

 ascend an eminence, where tlie .very fatiguing way 

 througli this summer landscape led us over ice 



