THE VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS. 151 



as Steller only through a series of oaths and threats (for 

 thus p. 30 must undoubtedly be interpreted) could obtain 

 permission to make, without help or even a guard for pro- 

 tection, a short stay on the island, his anger grew to rage, 

 which reached its culmination on the following morning 

 when Bering suddenly gave orders that the St. Peter 

 should leave the island. "The only reason for this," he 

 says, '^was stupid obstinacy, fear of a handful of natives, 

 and pusillanimous homesickness. For ten years Bering 

 had equipped himself for this great enterprise; the explo- 

 rations lasted ten hours ! " Elsewhere he says derisively 

 that they had gone to the New World '* simply to bring 

 American water to Asia.^' 



These accusations must seem very serious to every 

 modern reader. Unfortunately for Bering, his second 

 voyage is of interest principally from the standpoint of 

 natural history. It is especially naturalists that have 

 studied it. They are predisposed to uphold Steller. 

 Hence his account threatens wholly to undermine Bering's 

 reputation, and as a matter of course, W. H. Dall, in dis- 

 cussing this subject, finds opportunity to heap abuse upon 

 Bering. He says: '^On the 18th of July, Bering saw 

 land. On the 20th he anchored under an island. Between 

 two capes, which he called St. Elias and St. Hermogenes, 

 was a bay where two boats were sent for water and to rec- 

 onnoitre. * * * With characteristic imbecility, Bering 

 resolved to put to sea again on the next day, the 21st of 

 July. Sailing to the northward, the commander was 

 confused among the various islands, and sailed hither 

 and thither, occasionally landing, but making no explora- 

 tions, and showing his total incapacity for the position 



