THIRD VOYAGE 357 



Ismyloff seemed to have abilities that might entitle him 

 to a higher station in life than that in which we found 

 him. 



" In the morning of the 22nd we made an attempt to get 

 to sea, with the wind at south-east, which miscarried. The 

 following afternoon we were visited by one Jacob Ivano- 

 vitch Soposnicoff, a Russian, who commanded a small 

 vessel at Oomanak. This man had a great share of modesty 

 and intelligence. 



" After we became acquainted with these Russians, some 

 of our gentlemen, at different times, visited their settlement 

 on the island, where they always met with a hearty welcome. 

 This settlement consisted of a dwelling-house and two 

 storehouses. And, besides the Russians, there was a 



" I put to sea again the 26th of April, and was no sooner out of 

 port than we were attacked by a violent storm, which was the occa- 

 sion of so much of the coast being passed unseen. In this gale the 

 Resolution sprung a leak, which obliged me to put into a port in the 

 latitude of 61, long. 213 E. In a few days I was again at sea, 

 and soon found we were on a coast where every step was to be 

 considered, where no information could be had from maps, either 

 modern or ancient ; confiding too much in the former, we were 

 frequently misled, to our no small hindrance. On an extensive 

 coast, altogether unknown, it may be thought needless to say 

 that we met with many obstacles before we got through the 

 narrow strait that divides Asia from America, where the coast 

 of the latter takes a N.E. direction. I followed it, flattered 

 with the hopes of having at last overcome all difficulties, when, 

 on the 17th of August, in lat. 70 45', long. 198 E., we were 

 stopped by an impenetrable body of ice, and had so far advanced 

 between it and the land before we discovered it, that little was 

 wanting to force us on shore. 



" Finding I could no longer proceed along the coast, I tried what 

 could be done farther out ; but the same obstacles everywhere 

 presented themselves, quite over to the coast of Asia, which we 

 made on the 29th of the same month (August), in the lat. of 68 55', 

 long. 180$ E. As frost and snow, the forerunners of winter, began 

 to set in, it was thought too late in the season to make a farther 

 attempt for a passage this year in any direction, I therefore steered 

 to the S.E., along the coast of Asia; passed a strait above mentioned, 

 the naiTOw strait divides Asia from America, and then stood 

 over for the American coast, to clear up some doubts, and to search 

 but in vain, for a harbour to complete our wood and water. Wood 

 is a very scarce article in all these northern parts ; except in one 

 place, there is none upon the sea-coast but what is thrown ashore by 

 the sea, some of which we got on board, and then proceeded to this 

 5, where we had been before, to take in water. From hence I 

 itend to proceed to Sandwich Islands ; that is, those discovered in 

 22 N. lat. After refreshing there, return to the norih by the way 

 of Kamtschatka ; and the ensuing summer, make another and final 

 attempt to find a northern passage ; but, I must confess, I have 



