BERING^S FIRST EXPEDITION. 31 



ing along the northern horizon, and soon afterwards 

 sailed into the Bay of the Holy Cross (St. Kresta Bay) 

 where the Gabriel spent two days under sail in search 

 of fresh water and a place to anchor. On the 2d of 

 August the latitude was determined as 60° 50' N., 

 whereupon the voyage was continued to the southeast 

 along the high and rocky coast, where every indentation 

 was very carefully explored. August 6, the Gabriel lay 

 in the Bay of Preobrashensky, and on the 7th, Chaplin 

 was sent ashore to obtain water from a mountain stream. 

 On his way he found huts, where there had quite recently 

 been Chukchees, and in various places he found foot- 

 paths, but met no human beings. On the 8th, Bering sailed 

 along the coast in a south southeasterly direction, At 7 

 o'clock, a boat containing eight men was seen rowing 

 toward the vessel. They did not, however, dare to 

 approach the Gabriel, but at last one of the number 

 jumped into the water, and on two inflated seal bladders 

 swam out to the ship, and announced, by the aid of the 

 two Koriak interpreters, that they were Chukchees, and 

 that their people lived along the coast, that they knew 

 the Russians well, that the Anadyr Eiver lay far to the 

 west, that the continent extended in the same direction, 

 and that they would soon get sight of an island. The 

 Koriaks, however, understood his language only imper- 

 fectly, and the journal regrets that they were on this 

 account prevented from obtaining further important 

 information. Bering gave him some small presents and 

 sent him back to try to persuade his companions to come 

 on board. They approached the vessel, but suddenly 

 turned and disappeared. The longitude was 64° 41'. 



