Account of the Russian Officer (Waxel). 225 



The first two, we must admit, agree well enough with the second and 

 third routes mentioned in the Paris memoir. They are expressed in these 

 terms : 



" 1. ' If one advances to the most northern extremity of Asia, and at the 

 same time the most eastern point reached by Captain Bering (wrong sup- 

 position, as I have already remarked), one cannot fail to reach America, no 

 matter what route one takes bet^'een the northeast and southeast, at a 

 distance of not more tlian 600 leagues (great error in estimating the 

 distance of the opposite lands of Asia and America, since they are only 

 separated in the north by a narrow strait which widens as it goes south). 



"2. Without going so far, it would perhaps be easier to start from the 

 eastern coast of Kamshatka, sail directly east and reconnoitre the neigh- 

 boring land, of which M. Bering discovered indications on his first 

 voyage.' 



" In regard to the third route, M. de I'lsle conjectures as follows : 



" 3. ' Perhaps the countries seen by Don Juan de Gama might be found 

 more speedily and Avith more certitude by seeking them to the southeast 

 of Kamshatka ; ' the outcome of which project showed him his mistake, 

 which is apparently the reason that induced him to change it to that 

 of the route by Japan and Yeco. 



"Nothing is so imperfect in detail, and withal so dry, as the recital 

 of M. Bering's voyage with which M. de I'lsle regales us. He makes him 

 start in 1741 to look to the east of Kamshatka for the land which he had 

 seen indications of in his first voyage. ' He did not go very far,' he says, 

 ' for, being assailed by a violent storm during thick weather, he could not 

 remain at sea, and brought up on a desert island in latitude 54°, only a 

 short distance from the Port of Avatcha from whence he had sailed.' 



" M. Bering, then, did nothing but fail, and he did so soon after leaving 

 port. I must therefore supplement the meagreness of M. de I'lsle's rela- 

 tion by giving an account of the voyage of M. Bering and the other offi- 

 cers, chiefs of these expeditions, which will be so much the more easy as 

 I took part in them and as I can, besides, refer to the charts and journals 

 of each vessel as proofs of my correctness. 



" The Captain Commanding Bering and Captains Spangenberg and 

 Tschirikow, with several other naval officers, left St. Petersburg in the 

 spring of 1733. They waited at Yakouzk and Ochozk until the vessels 

 being built at this latter place for their expedition were comjDleted, and 

 when all was ready for the departifi'e of M. de Spangenberg he was dis- 

 patched first, according to the orders of the Senate. He started, then, 

 from Ochozk in the month of June, 1738, having three vessels under his 

 command, to which he added a large covered row-boat of 24 oars, which 

 he caused to be constructed at Bolscherezkoi Ostrog in Kamshatka, Avhere 

 he wintered. This boat was to be used to go into the narrow straits be- 

 tween the islands that they might find and where the ships could not go. 

 In the summer of 1739 he went to Japan, the long chain of islands situated 

 between Japan and Kamshatka serving to guide him. He landed at two 

 different places in Japan and was received with great civility by the 

 people of the country ; but he never went to Matsmai, the principal jalace 



