138 VITUS BERIN'G. 



some island or other in the ocean. Steller accuses Bering 

 of having too much regard for his subordinate officers, 

 but in all likelihood these had made the countercharge 

 that he gave too much heed to the scientists. At any 

 rate, Bering has often been blamed for — in accordance 

 with his instructions — letting La Croyere take part in the 

 councils at Avacha. But we must not forget that Steller 

 was a hot-headed and passionate fellow who persistently 

 maintained his own opinions. From many points in his 

 accounts, it appears that during this whole expedition he 

 was in a state of geographical confusion ; and even after 

 his return he seemed to imagine that the two continents 

 were separated by simply a narrow channel. He was 

 guided by observations of a scientific nature, and, as the 

 course of the St. Peter was no farther from the Aleutian 

 Islands than the appearance of seaweed, seals, and birds 

 indicated, he constantly imagined that they were off the 

 coast of the New World. The naval officers, on the other 

 hand, sought guidance in sounding ; but as their course 

 carried them out upon the great depths of the Pacific, the 

 northern wall of which very precipitously ascends to the 

 Aleutian Islands, their measurements were of no assist- 

 ance, and in various points Steller was undoubtedly cor- 

 rect. The principal reason for Steller^s complaint must 

 be sought in Bering^s illness, and it is easily perceived 

 that, if the scurvy had not at a very early stage under- 

 mined his strength, his superior seamanship would have 

 secured the expedition quite different results than those 

 that were obtained. 



After a prayer service, the ships weighed anchor on the 

 4th of June, 1741. Expectations on board were great, — 



