3i^8 FROxM CALIFOUNIA TO 



of Marini, (who has been many years on the island, 

 and was formerly a favourite with tlie king,) that 

 I brought some of it to St. Petersburg in the best 

 condition. In the Spanish colonies, in America, 

 they do not &alt meat, imagining that it begins to 

 corrupt even while salting. In Chili they take for 

 ship-provisions flesh dried in the sun, which is hard 

 and insipid. Particular care must be taken in salt- 

 ing meat in hot climates, to take out the bones, 

 and press out the blood by means of heavy weights. 

 A misunderstanding enraged the people against 

 us to-day ; they were already taking up their arms, 

 and the affair might have proved serious, if Young 

 had not interfered in time. The following was the 

 cause : as the harbour of Hana-rura had never 

 been surveyed by any body, as far as I know, and 

 was certainly known but to very few navigators, 

 I determined to make a plan of it ; and therefore 

 sent my first mate, Chremtschenko, who fixed up at 

 certain points long poles, with flags fastened to 

 them. The appearance of these flags incensed the 

 islanders, because Schefter had once put up the 

 Russian flag, with these words : *' I take possession 

 of the island 1" and they did not doubt that I also 

 had taken the first step towards the conquest. 

 Young came to me, and earnestly entreated me to 

 remove the flags. I explained my innocent mo- 

 tives, exchanged the ominous flags for brooms, and 

 thus tranquillity was restored. The more to con- 

 ciliate the confidence of the people, 1 invited Ka- 



