APPEKDIX. 197 



crew. Others were hopelessly ill, and hence, as I 

 feared that the work assigned to this expedition would 

 not be accomplished, I was obliged to man the vessel 

 anew from Yakutsk. The sick were taken to Yakutsk 

 to be nursed. I did all that was possible for them, 

 and by the help of God they were saved. For these 

 same two ships I sent, in 1736, from the provisions 

 of my command, two lighters with provisions, and 

 during the present year, 1737, I have likewise sent a 

 boat to the mouth of the Lena, as the provisions sent 

 in 1735 were nearly exhausted. But from the voivode 

 in Yakutsk we received no support whatever. From 

 this it is evident that my stay in Yakutsk was neces- 

 sarily prolonged. Nor was it possible for me to go to 

 Okhotsk with my men until I had sent some provis- 

 ions ahead. Otherwise I should have taken the risk 

 of starving them to death, putting an end to all 

 hopes of accomplishing anything, and thus incurring 

 a heavy responsibility. Some of my men remained 

 in Yakutsk in charge of the affairs of the expedition 

 there, and to forward provisions. Others remained at 

 the Maya harbor, Yudomskaya Krest, and at the Urak 

 landing, to guard the magazines and attend to the 

 transportation of necessaries to Okhotsk, for it is not 

 yet possible to feed so many at Okhotsk. The fact 

 that the voivode in Yakutsk made such long delay 

 in appointing commissioners to receive and send me 

 supplies, prevented me from keeping my men together 

 and availing myself of their assistance. As early as 

 June 2, 1735, I demanded the appointment of three 

 commissioners and such assistants as I thought neces- 



