XL] DISCOVERY OF BERING'S STRAITS. 241 



1727, that the whole of the ^personnel and baggage of the expedition 

 were once more together in Okhotsk. 



Meanwhile Bering, who had arrived in the pre\dous summer, 

 had not been idle. The route by sea across the Gulf of Okhotsk to 

 Bolcheresk had been decided on, but there was no vessel in which 

 to make the passage. Undaunted by the difficulties which en- 

 countered him, Bering set to work to build a craft with the aid of 

 the carpenters he had brought with him from Eussia. It was 

 christened the Fortune, and at the end of June was ready to convey 

 the first detachment of the expedition to Kamschatka. This con- 

 sisted of the shipbuilders and others needed for the construction of 

 the vessel intended for liis great voyage, and on their arrival at 

 Bolcheresk they at once proceeded to the mouth of the Kamschatka 

 Eiver, where she was to be built. Bering Inmself followed later, and 

 travelling by dog-sledge, ultimately reached Nischni Kamschatka 

 at the close of the year. The winter was employed in the prepara- 

 tion of timbers for the vessel ; her construction proceeded rapidly 

 during the spring, and on the 20th of July, 1728 — three years and 

 a half after the expedition had left St. Petersburg — Bering's first 

 voyage of discovery commenced. 



The results of that voyage are too well known to need a lengthy 

 repetition. Clearing the mouth of the Kamschatka Eiver, the 

 course of the Gabriel was set to the north-east alonaj the Asiatic 

 coast, which was roughly charted. On the 10th of August the 

 island of St. Lawrence was discovered, and five days later they 

 rounded a cape in Lat. 67° 18' N., — now Cape Serdze Kamen. 

 Here the coast trended suddenly to the west, and concluding from 

 this, and from the fact that no land was to be seen to the north, 

 that he had proved the existence of a strait between the two great 

 continents, Bering ordered the return. On the 20th of September 

 the Gabriel once more entered the mouth of the Kamschatka 

 Eiver, 



For the second time the members of the expedition went into 

 winter-quarters at Nischni Kamschatka, resolving, if possible, again 



VOL. I. R 



