CHAPTER XVII. 



EXPLORATIOKS ALOKG THE AMERICAl^' COAST. — STELLER's 

 CENSURE OF BERING FOR UNDUE HASTE. — BERING 

 DEFENDED. — DALL, THE AMERICAN WRITER, REPRI- 

 MANDED. — THE RETURN VOYAGE. 



IT is by no means an easy matter to form an unbiased 

 opinion of Bering's stay oif Kayak Island. Steller 

 is about our only authority, but just at the point where 

 it is most difficult to supplement his account, he gives 

 vent to most violent accusations against the management 

 of the expedition from a scientific standpoint. On the 

 16th of July, when land was first seen, he says: ''One 

 can easily imagine how happy all were to see land. No 

 one failed to congratulate Bering, as chief of the expedi- 

 tion, to whom above all others the honor of discovery 

 belonged. Bering, however, heard all this, not only with 

 great indifference, but, looking toward land, he even 

 shrugged his shoulders in the presence of all on board." 

 Steller adds that on account of this conduct charges 

 might have been preferred against him in St. Petersburg, 

 had he lived. 



As Bering during the first few succeeding days did not 

 make any preparations for a scientific exploration of the 

 country, as he even tried, according to Steller's assurance, 

 to dissuade the latter from making the island a visit, and 



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