GVOZDEV'S REPORT 23 



a glimpse of two men who ran away on seeing us. We got under sail on the 

 8th, steering for an island on the course suggested by Moshkov. On the 

 following day Fedorov sent me a note saying that in his opinion we had 

 not yet reached the place in question [large country] since we were still 

 south of Chukotski Cape, and asked for my opinion. On the loth we 

 sailed back to the spot where we had been a few days before and took 

 on fresh water. Two days later we ran into a calm and anchored. On 

 going ashore we saw two huts and people, who, on noticing us, pulled 

 away from the land in three baidaras. We managed to get into conver- 

 sation with them and asked them for tribute, which they refused to give. 

 Having a fair wind on the 15th we went on our way and on the 17th 

 sighted an island, but on account of the head wind we could not approach 

 it but had to keep close to Chukotski Cape. 



Here we saw many Chukchi, with whom we tried to enter into conver- 

 sation but without much success. When the wind shifted once more 

 to fair we steered again for the northern end of the island [one of the 

 Diomedes]. Our attempt to land was resisted by a shower of arrows, 

 to which we replied with muskets. After a great deal of difficulty the 

 natives told us that they were Chukchi and that some of their people 

 had fought with the other Chukchi against Pavlutski. In cruising about 

 the island, which is about two and a half versts long and a verst wide, 

 we came across other natives, but all refused to pay tribute. We made a 

 landing and examined their homes, and from the island we saw the 

 "large country". It was near one o'clock of the morning of August 20 

 when we left the first island, and six hours later we anchored off the 

 second, which is smaller than the first, and about half a mile distant. 

 A ship's boat and a baidara were sent to the shore, but meeting with 

 an unfriendly reception they returned. 



About three o'clock of the afternoon of August 21 we sailed for the "large 

 country" and anchored about four versts from its shore. It was now 

 Fedorov's watch, and he, without consulting any one, gave orders to 

 weigh anchor and approach the southern point of the shore. From 

 there we could see huts, but in spite of our best efforts we did not come 

 as close to them as we wished on account of the head wind and the shallow 

 water. The breeze veering to north-northwest, we were obliged to stand 

 out to sea on a southwest course and by doing so came to the fourth island 

 on the 22nd. A strong wind was blowing, and when we tried to approach 

 the shore the sails gave way. The sailors then came to me and asked 

 that we return to Kamchatka because of the lateness of the season and 

 the stormy weather. I referred them to the underpilot without whose 

 consent I could not order such a move. In the meantime there came 

 to us from the island a Chukchi in a leather boat which had room for 

 but one man. He was dressed in a shirt of whale intestines which was 

 fastened about the opening of the boat in such a manner that no water 



