244 HISTORY OF KAMSCHATKA. [chap. 



built at the same place. Meanwhile Central Siberia was to be 

 explored as much as possible until all w^as ready for the final 

 departure of the ships from Okhotsk, and a strong staff' of scientific 

 men were appointed by the Imperial Academy of Sciences, together 

 with six students to assist them. Few expeditions have been so 

 favoured in this respect. Gmelin, the celebrated naturalist, then 

 Professor of Chemistry, undertook the various branches of natural 

 history; Louis Delisle de la Croyere, Professor of Astronomy, 

 offered himself in the interests of that science ; and MuUer, to 

 whom we owe the narrative of the expedition, charged himself 

 with the ethnology and history of the several countries it was 

 intended to explore. 



The various individuals engaged in this extensive, and, as it 

 seemed, almost hopeless task, left St. Petersburg early in 1733. 

 To the work of those detailed for the investigation of the north- 

 east passage I need not here allude. It is sufficient to say that 

 it was for the most part unsuccessful, and that the attempt to 

 reach Kamschatka from the mouth of the Lena, by way of Bering's 

 Straits, also resulted in failure. Spangberg proceeded without delay 

 to Okhotsk, and commenced building the vessels. Bering remained 

 in Yakutsk to hasten the progress of the stores, and during the long- 

 period that was necessary for the completion of the preparations 

 for the two voyages, the scientific staff" occupied themselves in the 

 investigation of the lesser known parts of Central Siberia. De la 

 Croyere remained for some time in the region to the south of Lake 

 Baikal, wdiile ]\Iiiller and Gmelin worked in the Upper Lena district. 

 Neither of the latter, however, was destined to accompany Bering 

 in his final voyage. The years crept slowly on, and seven had 

 passed away since the departure from St. Petersburg before the 

 vessels were finished, and ready to put to sea. Meanwhile Gmelin, 

 wearied of the delay, had demanded his recall. He was replaced in 

 1738 by Steller,^ and as JMliller's impaired health early forbade 



1 Steller, who was born in 1709 at Winsheim in Franconia, early showed an 

 inclination in the direction of natural science. He studied at Leipzic, Jena and 



