148 LOG BOOK OF THE "ST. PETER" 



Footnotes to Log of September .5 



91 A baidar (Russ. haiddra) is a large open skin boat able to accommodate a number 

 of passengers and a considerable amount of freight. A baidarka (Russ. baiddrka) is a 

 small skin boat covered all over, except the round openings at the top to admit the paddler 

 or paddlers (cf. Fig. 11). The baidar is related to the Eskimo umiak, the baidarka to the 

 kayak. Baidars may be seen today in the Bering Sea and baidarkas in the Aleutian Islands. 

 When the Russians first came in contact with the Aleuts the baidarkas were all of the 

 "one-hatch" type, that is, large enough for one person. This type has almost entirely 

 disappeared and has been succeeded by the "two-hatch" baidarka, and occasionally one 

 may even see a "three-hatch" baidarka. These little boats are very light and strong, 

 and the Aleuts are very skillful in handling them. 



Sauer, who visited Unalaska in 1790, has left a full description of these skin boats: 

 "The baidars, or boats, of Oonalashka, are infinitely superior to those of any other island. 

 If perfect symmetry, smoothness, and proportion constitute beauty, they are beautiful; 

 to me they appeared so beyond anything that I ever beheld. I have seen some of them 

 as transparent as oiled paper, through which you could trace every formation of the 

 inside, and the manner of the native's sitting in it; whose light dress, painted and plumed 

 bonnet, together with his perfect ease and activity, added infinitely to its elegance. 

 Their first appearance struck me with amazement beyond expression." (Martin Sauer: 

 An Account of a Geographical and Astronomical Expedition to the Northern Parts of 

 Russia ... by Commodore Joseph Billings, London, 1802, p. 157.) 



92 This was a form of greeting more or less common to all the natives of the north- 

 west coast of America. Cook met with it in Nootka Sound. "On their first coming, 

 they generally went through a singular mode of introducing themselves. They would 

 paddle, with all their strength, quite round both ships, a Chief, or other principal person 

 on the canoe, standing up with a spear or some other weapon in his hand and speaking, 

 or rather hollowing, all the time." (James Cook: A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, London, 

 1784, Vol. 2, p. 273.) 



93 Khitrov's journal: "At 4:30 we heard shouts of human voices from the island 

 alongside of which we were at anchor. 



"At 6 o'clock two baidarkas were seen coming towards us, one man in each boat, and 

 when they were within 50 fathoms of the ship they stopped and called in their own 

 tongue, but our Chukchi and Koriak interpreters could not make out what they said 

 nor could they make themselves understood when they shouted to them [the islanders], 

 because they pointed to their ears and to the island. On the island people were also 

 calling. One of the two men just mentioned paddled up close to the ship but not quite 

 alongside. At the order of Captain Commander Bering we threw overboard a piece of 

 board on which were tied a number of presents, namely, 5K arshins of red material, 

 2 small mirrors, 2 strings of Chinese iron beads, 20 small copper bells and S [knives?]. 

 The American received these things with pleasure and in return threw to us as a present 

 two thinly shaped rods to one of which were tied bird's feathers and to the other bird's 

 claws with feathers on them. The feathers we identified as those of the falcon. When 

 we had taken these things they paddled away for the shore and called to us and pointed 

 to the land. We lowered the longboat into the water for the purpose of going ashore. 

 In the boat was sent, by the order of the Captain, Lieutenant Waxel, who took with 

 him several members of the crew, (who were armed), a few presents, and Russian liquor. 

 He was gone about two hours, returning at 8 o'clock and reporting to the Captain Com- 

 mander that when he came to the island on which were the Americans he offered them 

 presents but they would not take them. He offered one of the islanders a glass of liquor, 

 but as soon as he tasted it he spat it out and returned the glass. The lieutenant allowed 

 several of the men, among them being the interpreter, to land; but he himself remained 

 in the boat which he anchored out a little distance from shore, for owing to the strong 

 wind and submerged rocks near the beach it was dangerous to approach it. The Americans 

 led the interpreter to their camp and gave him whale blubber, but when he attempted 

 to leave them to return to the boat, nine of the Americans seized him and would not 

 let him go, which shows that they regarded him as one of their own people even though 

 he is a Kamchadal by origin. In order to free the interpreter an order was given to fire 

 off several guns in the air, and when that was done the Americans fell down on the ground, 

 letting go of the interpreter, who hurried to the boat. When our party was ready to 

 leave the Americans seized the painter and started to haul the boat ashore. Seeing this, 

 the order was given to cut the painter and leave the anchor and pull for the ship. In 

 the drawing attached is given the position of the bay and the island [Fig. 11], and a sketch 

 of the Americans and their hair-seal skin boats." (See Fig. 12, upper.) 



