294 MERRIAM 



after, the fog suddenly clearing away, the Aleutians, in- 

 stead of their rock saw an island, from which rose a high 



' O 



peak, in form resembling a chimney, with fire and smoke 

 issuing from it as if it had really been one." 



Continuing, Langsdorf states : " Some inhabitants of 

 Oonalashka, in the month of April, this year [1806], con- 

 sequently not a very long time before my arrival, had 

 visited this island, going in three baidarkas, and gave me 

 the following account: They were about six hours row- 

 ing round it, which supposes a circumference of about 

 thirty versts [20 miles]. They could not ascertain the 

 height of the peak with any precision, but were of opinion 

 that if it had been possible to climb directly up to the 

 highest point, they could not have done it in less than be- 

 tween five and six hours. The volcano was burning on 

 the north side, and the lava, which they represented as a 

 soft matter, ran down the side into the sea. It was im- 

 possible to land on account of the heat: on the south side 

 of the island alone, where the shore was not so steep, and 

 where the great heat of the volcano was not so much felt, 

 could they effect a landing. They endeavored to ascend 

 the peak, but found the ascent extremely difficult on ac- 

 count of the steepness and the number of clefts, and the 

 sharpness of the stones. When they arrived somewhat 

 less than half-way up, they judged it more prudent to re- 

 linquish the undertaking, as the remainder of the way was 

 much more rugged, and the ground began to grow very 

 hot; as they descended, they observed a great deal of 

 smoke and vapor rising from the holes and clefts they had 

 left behind them. They stopped at a hole, whence issued 

 a great deal of steam, and suspended in it a piece of the 

 flesh of a sea-lion; after leaving it there a short time they 

 drew it out, and found it cooked as if it had been set over 

 a fire. 



" Becoming extremely thirsty, and not finding any water 



