THE ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS. 119 



The 23d of February we left the island of Olot, 

 in fine weather and a high wind from E.N.E., and 

 directed our course to the passage through which 

 we had penetrated the group. According to the 

 assertion of the islanders, there is a broad passage 

 between the reefs west of Airick, which I have laid 

 down on the chart as it was pointed out to me 

 from the ship. At nine o'clock we had penetrated 

 through the passage by Kawen, and took a S.E. 

 course, at a small distance from the island chain, 

 which forms the lee-side of the group. I called 

 the group of Kawen after our meritorious general, 

 Araktschejef. On account of tlie high wind we 

 were obliged to carry the top-sails with one reef. 

 At noon, according to observation, we were in 

 latitude 8° 35" 40" ; longitude, according to the 

 chronometers, 189° 3' 40''. At the same time the 

 sailor on the mast-head discovered in the S.E. an 

 island belonging to the group of Aur, which forms 

 its N.W. point j it is very large, and is called by 

 the savages Pigen. At two o'clock, we already had 

 it to the east, were under the lee in calm water, 

 and proceeded at a small distance along the reef 

 to discover a passage. We had scarcely sailed a 

 mile when we found one about fifty fathoms broad, 

 but so inconvenient, that it could not be passed 

 without danger; notwithstanding this, our desire to 

 examine it prevailed over every fear ; the wind 

 had abated a little, the weather was favourable, we 

 spread all our sails, and glided through it. We 



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