20 STELLER'S JOURNAL 



many of whom because of the too protracted voyage in the late 

 autumn died from scurvy and exposure, but an exact knowledge 

 of the land and information as to its people and products would 

 also have been obtained, while the whole expedition could have 

 been finished in excellent condition and to the greatest advantage 

 of the Empire. However, the execution of this plan had already 

 been rendered impossible by Fleet Master Khitrov^^ and [his] 

 two misfortunes. First, through him all the ready supply of 

 biscuits for both packet-boats was lost in Okhotsk in 1740 at the 

 mouth of the Okhota River. Secondly, later on the supplies 

 destined for Avacha in place of the former had to be unloaded 

 at the Bolshaya River; because of the transportation of these, 

 which was to be undertaken by dog teams during the winter, the 

 Koryaks on the Tigil^o rebelled even before a start was made, 

 since it became necessary, in order [to be able] to deliver five 

 poods 31 of supplies per man at the port [Avacha], to gather 

 natives from a distance of five to six hundred versts at Bolshe- 

 retsk Post. During this process they were treated very harshly 

 by the men sent out for the purpose [of gathering them in], and 

 they were also led to suspect that something else might be in- 

 tended. — Owing to these circumstances the Captain Com- 

 mander as well as the other officers, in order not to incur a short- 

 age, found themselves compelled to organize two separate voy- 

 ages for the accomplishment of this task, as, even so, the delays 

 caused by the investigation of the rebels and the constant 

 drunken state of Kolessov, the commander of Kamchatka, 

 brought it about that we could not leave the Harbor of St. Peter 

 and St. Paul before the beginning of June, while in other 

 respects the month of May was suitable and [originally] deter- 

 mined on. 



29 As the reader will very readily discover, Khitrov was Steller's bete 

 noire. (G) 



30 The Tigil River flows into the west coast of Kamchatka in 58° N. 

 (see Vol. I, PI. I). 



*i One pood, containing 40 Russian pounds, equals about 36 pounds 

 avoirdupois. 



