218 KAMSCHATKA [chap. 



denseness of the scriil), to escape. We found the bighorn meat 

 delicious ; it was declared on all hands that no such mutton had 

 ever been tasted before. Our men were in their element salting 

 down and preserving, and were unanimously of opinion that there 

 was no country like Kamschatka, where salmon, gTOuse, and mutton 

 were to be had for the killing. The ship was hung with carcases, 

 which some facetious individual had labelled with placards " First 

 Prise, Petrepaulski Cattle Show"; "Prime, ll|d. per pound"; 

 " Cuttings, 6|d." and so on, and steaming joints of mutton graced 

 the board at every meal in the forecastle mess. 



It was on the evening of our second day's stay that one of our 

 party came in for an adventure that was near ha\dng a very 

 unpleasant ending. After brmging home the bighorn, he had 

 started late in the afternoon for the sea-cliffs on the other side of 

 the bay, with the intention of inspecting the ground for those 

 animals and walrus rather than with any definite idea of shooting. 

 The sea being quite calm, he had taken the skiff" with only one 

 hand, intending to return shortly after sunset. At nightfall they 

 had not arrived, and after waiting a little while longer the lifeboat 

 was manned and sent across the bay in search. An hour or so 

 later, having heard nothing further, we proceeded in the cutter in 

 the same direction, with extra hands in case of need. On our way 

 we met the skiff returning, and learnt that, as we feared, our 

 companion had no doubt lost his way in the bush. He had climbed 

 a difficult cliff" just after landing, and not liking to risk the descent, 

 had told the coxswain of the skiff" to row along the shore until he 

 came to an easier part, and to wait for him there. It was then 

 growing dusk, and although he had waited several hours and rowed 

 up and down the coast firing signals — for the rifle had been left in 

 the boat — nothing had since been seen of him. In any ordinary 

 country we should have felt but little anxiety, as, with the sea to 

 the S.W. and the inlet to the S.E., it woidd have been difficult to 

 take a wrong course. But knowing the almost impenetrable nature 

 of the bush upon the other side of the bay, we feared lest he should 



