CHAPTER XV. 



THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA FROM THE EAST. — STELLER 

 INDUCED TO JOIN THE EXPEDITION. — THE SEPARATION 

 OF THE ST. PETER AND THE ST. PAUL. 



IN the course of the month of May the vessels were 

 equipped and supplied with provisions for five and 

 a half months, several cords of wood, 100 casks of water, 

 and two rowboats each. The St. Peter, commanded by 

 Bering, had a crew of 77, among whom were Lieutenant 

 Waxel, shipmaster Khitroff, the mates Hesselberg and 

 Jushin, the surgeon Betge, the conductor Plenisner, 

 Ofzyn (whom we remember as the officer who had been 

 reduced in rank), and Steller. On board the St. Paul, 

 commanded by Lieut. Alexei Chirikoff, were found the 

 marine officers Chegatchoff and Plautin, La Croyere, and 

 the assistant surgeon Lau, — in all about 76 men. Before 

 his departure, Bering had a very difficult matter to 

 arrange. His instructions directed him to take with him 

 to America a mineralogist ; but when Spangberg had 

 started out on his unexpected expedition to Japan, Bering 

 had sent with him the mineralogist Hartelpol, and now 

 he found it impossible in East Siberia to get a man to fill 

 his place. Hence, as early as February, Bering applied to 

 Steller and tried to induce him to take upon himself the 

 duties of naturalist and mineralogist on this expedition. 



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