146 FROM RADACK TO 



they had procured iron; and that, on the north- 

 ern group of Bigini, which Hkewise belongs to this 

 chain, a large ship had been seen sailing by. From 

 this it appears that the Radack chain is quite un- 

 known, except a few groups ; and that Ralick may 

 be considered as the chain of the Mulgrave islands, 

 with which we are likewise unacquainted. The 

 chart of the Ralick chain, which, I hope, will be 

 pretty correct, I drew according to Langemui's 

 information ; and have added it to my atlas. Of 

 the island of Capeniur, which is only a quarter 

 of a mile * in circumference, nothing more can 

 be said than of Ailu. It is likewise very far 

 back in vegetation, and the population appeared 

 to me very scanty j but perhaps the most had gone 

 with Lamary to Udirick. I discovered several 

 water-pits ; and, having fixed upon one for washing 

 our linen, because we could expect no other op- 

 portunity before we reached Oonalashka, I daily 

 sent some sailors on shore for this purpose. The 

 islanders were so obliging as to assist my people, 

 and Kadu, who had his linen under his own charge, 

 would not suffer any body to wash it but himself. 



At Capeniur, I visited a chief, who, according 

 to his appearance, must have been far above a 

 hundred years old ; snow-white woolly hair covered 

 his head and chin : his lean and shrivelled body 

 scarcely resembled that of a human being, and yet 

 he enjoyed the privilege of these happy islanders ; 

 his spirits were cheerful, and his mental faculties 



* Probably a German mile (4^ English) is meant. — Trans. 



