414 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



where the Russian commander of this province usually 

 resides. 



The officer in whose house we were at present entertained, 

 was a sergeant, and the commander of the ostrog. Nothing 

 could exceed the kindness and hospitality of his behaviour, 

 after he had recovered from the alarm occasioned by our 

 arrival. We found the house insufferably hot, but exceed- 

 ingly neat and clean. After I had changed my wet clothes, 

 which the sergeant's civility enabled me to do, by furnishing 

 me with a complete suit of his own, we were invited to sit 

 down to dinner, which I have no doubt was the best he 

 could procure ; and, considering the shortness of time he 

 had to provide it, was managed with some ingenuity. The 

 sergeant's wife brought in several dishes herself, and was not 

 permitted to sit down at table. Having finished our repast, 

 during which it is hardly necessary to remark that our con- 

 versation was confined to a few bows, and other signs of 

 mutual respect, we endeavoured to open to our host the 

 cause and objects of our visit to this port. As Ismyloff had 

 probably written to them on the same subject in the letters 

 we had before delivered, he appeared very readily to con- 

 ceive our meaning ; but as there was unfortunately no one 

 in the place that could talk any other language except 

 Russian or Kamtschadale, we found the utmost difficulty in 

 comprehending the information he meant to convey to us. 

 After some time spent in these endeavours to understand 

 one another, we conceived the sum of the intelligence we 

 had procured, to be, that though no supply either of pro- 

 visions or naval stores were to be had at this place, yet 

 that these articles were in great plenty at Bolcheretsk. 

 That the commander would most probably be very willing 

 to give us what we wanted, but that till the sergeant had 

 received orders from him, neither he nor his people, nor 

 the natives, could even venture to go on board the 

 ship. 



" It was now time for us to take our leave ; and a sledge, 

 drawn by five dogs, with a driver, was immediately provided 

 for each of our party. The sailors were highly delighted 

 with this mode of conveyance ; and what diverted them still 

 more was, that the two boat-hooks had also a sledge appro- 

 priated to themselves. These sledges are so light, and their 

 construction so well adapted to the purposes for which they 

 are intended, that they went with great expedition and 

 perfect safety over the ice, which it would have been 

 impossible for us, with all our caution, to have passed on 

 foot. 



" On our return, we found the boats towing the ship 

 toward the village ; and at seven we got close to the ice and 



