STELLER JOLXS EXPEDITION 15 



none ot which properly come under my plan, and I shall turn my 

 attention solely to what relates to the expedition of Captain 

 Bering and of Captain Chirikov, which started on June 5, 1741, 

 as long as the two packet-boats fitted out for this voyage kept 

 together, and later to the fortunes of Bering's crew alone until 

 their return to Kamchatka on August 26, 1742. 



As it is well known, however, in what capacity in the year 1738 

 I was sent from St. Petersburg to Kamchatka only for the pur- 

 pose of making an investigation of the three natural kingdoms 

 and consequently was not to have the slightest share in the enter- 

 prises of the naval officers, it is necessary for me to explain 

 briefly how I came to be in their company nevertheless. In the 

 year 1740 I had addressed from Kamchatka^*^ an application to 

 the High Governing Senate humbly petitioning to be permitted 

 to accompany Captain Spanberg on a second voyage to Japan 

 which he was planning, in order that, considering the great ex- 

 pense incurred, thorough information about the islands along the 

 route as well as about Japan itself might be secured through me. 

 When in the meantime Captain Commander Bering learned of 

 my insatiable desire to see foreign lands and to investigate their 

 resources and curiosities, he sent me,^^ in the month of February, 

 1 741, from the Harbor of St. Peter and St. Paul, or Avacha, a 

 special letter requesting me to journey to him for the purpose of 

 discussing certain matters with him. Perceiving at once that the 

 intention was to persuade me to undertake the voyage to America 

 in company with him, I did not hesitate long, and with only one 

 sluzhiv (cossack of the Siberian militia) I traveled to him by dog 

 team. As soon as I arrived he represented to me with many 

 arguments the important and useful service I could render and 



of 1 741, but the unseaworthiness of his newly built vessel forced him to 

 winter at the Bolshaya River and postpone the voyage to 1742. (J) 



laa -phe words "from Kamchatka," not in the MS, were probably 

 added by Pallas. Indeed, Steller seems to have sent his application 

 from Kirensk Post in the interior of Siberia (see the preceding footnote 

 and, above, p. 2). (J) 



19 Steller was then at Bolsheretsk Post. 



