THIRD VOYAGE 431 



" On the 15th we had finished the repairs, got on board all 

 our wood and water, and were ready to put to sea at a day's 

 notice ; but the cattle were not yet arrived, and as fresh 

 provisions were the most important article of our wants, 

 we could not think of taking our departure without them. 

 We therefore thought this a favourable opportunity of 

 taking some amusement on shore. Accordingly Captain 

 Gore proposed a party of bear-hunting, which we all very 

 readily came into ; but we had but indifferent sport. 



" The 22nd being the anniversary of his Majesty's corona- 

 tion, twenty-one guns were fired, and the handsomest feast 

 our situation would allow of was prepared in honour of the 

 day. As we were sitting down to dinner, the arrival of 

 Captain Shmaleff was announced. He acquainted us, that 

 our not having received the sixteen head of black cattle we 

 had desired might be sent down, was owing to the very 

 heavy rains at Verchnei, which had prevented their setting 

 out. Specimens of all our curiosities were presented to him, 

 and Captain Gore added to them a gold watch and a 

 fowling-piece. Next morning he took his leave. 



" The next day I set on foot another hunting party, and 

 put myself under the direction of the clerk of the parish, 

 who was a celebrated bear-hunter. We arrived by sun-set 

 at the side of one of the larger lakes. The next step was to 

 conceal ourselves as much as possible, and this we were able 

 to do very effectually among some long grass and brush- 

 wood that grew close to the water's edge. We had not lain 

 long in ambush before we had the pleasure to hear the 

 growling of bears in different parts round about us, and our 

 expectations were soon gratified by the sight of one of them 

 in the water, which seemed to be swimming directly to the 

 place where we lay hid. The moon at this time gave a 

 considerable light ; and when the animal had advanced 

 about fifteen yards, three of us fired at it pretty nearly at 

 the same time. The beast immediately turned short on one 

 side, and made a noise which could not properly be called 

 roaring, nor growling, nor yelling, but was a mixture of all 

 three, and horrible beyond description. It retreated to 

 some thick bushes at a little distance, and continued to 

 make the same terrible noise ; and though the Kamtscha- 

 dales were persuaded it was mortally wounded,they thought 

 it most advisable not to rouse it again for the present. It 

 was at this time past nine o'clock, and the night threatening 

 a change of weather, we returned home, and deferred the 

 gratification of our curiosity till morning, when we found the 

 bear dead in the place to which it had been watched. It 

 proved to be a female, and beyond the common size. 



" The Kamtschadales very thankfully acknowledged their 



