240 CAPTAIN COOK 



north later, and to reach Kamchatka about May 

 1779. 



On his way southward Cook landed on Octo- 

 ber 3rd on the island of Oonalashka, at the har- 

 bour of Samganoodha. He had already stopped 

 at this island in July, and had received the 

 warmest welcome. His first care was to over- 

 haul the two ships. While the carpenters were 

 thus engaged the men had permission to gather 

 the mulberries and raspberries in which the 

 island abounded. These fruits made a change 

 from the insipid walrus-flesh which had figured 

 on the menu during the last few weeks. 



Six days after his arrival at Oonalashka, Cook 

 and Captain Clerke each received a curious 

 present, which was brought them by a native of 

 the island. It was a pie, made of rye meal and 

 filled with salmon seasoned with a quantity of 

 pepper. Each pie was accompanied by a letter 

 of which nobody on board could read the writ- 

 ing. Supposing that this culinary gift came 

 from some Russians in the neighbourhood. Cook 

 instructed a marine corporal, a very intelligent 

 young fellow, to find the mysterious donors. 

 Four days later he returned with three Russians 

 who were engaged in the fur trade and who 

 lived not far away, at a harbour where they had 

 their store-houses and a ship of thirty tons. On 

 October 14th a Russian named Ismylofif arrived 



