VOYAGE OF THE "ST. PETER" 339 



grew worse. On October 18 he was unable to leave his bed and 

 from that date was carried on the sick list. 



LANDFALLS OF KISKA AND BULDIR ISLANDS 



On October 23 the course was changed more to the northward 

 in order to regain the 53rd parallel; and at 8 a.m. on the 25th 

 a high, rocky, and treeless island was sighted in the northwest 

 which Waxel in his report states they named St. Markiana. This 

 was Kiska Island, the approximate position of the St. Peter 

 being latitude 51° ii^ longitude 178° 23' E. 



Passing to the northward and westward beyond Kiska Island 

 the St. Peter encountered the heavy tide rips frequently met with 

 in that vicinity, and at daylight on October 28 was close to Buldir 

 Island. Steller records in his diary that "it was quite evident 

 we were in a strait because the waves, even in stormy weather, 

 were not so high." Early in the morning of the 28th signs of 

 land were observed; and, the weather being foggy, the vessel 

 was put under short sail. Shortly after daylight the fog cleared 

 and disclosed a small island directly in the path of the vessel not 

 more than 3 miles distant. The log records that early in the 

 morning one of the ship's company, Stephen Buldirev, died, and 

 his body was lowered into the sea after land was sighted. Waxel 

 states in his report that they named the island St. Stephen; the 

 modern name is Buldir. 



LANDING ON BERING ISLAND 



The wind was now fair, and the St. Peter steered between W 

 and WNW, true, until 10 a.m. the following morning, October 29, 

 when another island was sighted which they named St. Abraham. 

 This was the eastern of the Semichi Islands. The St. Peter passed 

 to the northward of these islands and the island of Attu, and on 

 the morning of November 4 the eastern island of the Commander 

 group was sighted. At first it was believed the land was Kam- 

 chatka, but after rounding the southern point they realized their 

 error. By this time conditions on board were pitiful. Twelve of 

 the crew had already died, and of the remaining 65 Waxel reports 



