ASKOLD ISLAND 69 



time of year, and to steer for the Straits of Tsugar, 

 between the islands of Yesso and Nipon ; thence 

 to proceed some hundred miles east of the Kuriles, 

 takinor advantao-e of the " Kurosivo," a warm current 

 runninof northwards as far as Kamchatka. This 

 course, he said, was somewhat longer than the one 

 through La Perouse Straits, but infinitely prefer- 

 able in ev-ery way. According to his reckoning, w^e 

 were due at Avatcha Bay on the 22nd of June, the 

 distance being 1,500 miles over the route he had 

 chosen. The view of Vladivostok town and harbour 

 was of unsurpassed magnificence as we steamed out 

 among the islands at its entrance. The rays of the 

 setting sun outlined the hills which shelter the town, 

 lying in a semicircle at their foot, and the picture 

 gradually faded away in a dark blue haze. The sea 

 was perfectly smooth till we passed, at ten p.m., off 

 the island of Askold. I learnt that this island 

 swarmed with " izubra " stags, and a species of Sika 

 {CervHS sika nianchuricus), and that Vladivostok sports- 

 men, who had formed a shooting club, drive parts of 

 the woods, killing a great number of animals every 

 year. During the night the breeze gradually fresh- 

 ened, and in the morning our ship was rolling heavily 

 over high seas. A strong north-westerly wind blew 

 the whole day, gradually increasing to a regular gale. 



