34 STELLER'S JOURNAL 



Kamchatka. The coast was everywhere much indented and 

 therefore provided with numerous bays and inlets close to the 

 mainland. ^° 



Once having determined to tell the truth and be impartial in 

 all things, I must not fail to mention one circumstance which 

 perhaps may not escape the notice of the high authorities but 

 may receive an interpretation different from the actual facts. — 

 It can easily be imagined how happy every one was when land 

 was finally sighted; nobody failed to congratulate the Captain 

 Commander, whom the glory for the discovery mostly con- 

 cerned. He, however, received it all not only very indifferently 

 and without particular pleasure, but in the presence of all he 

 even shrugged his shoulders while looking at the land. Had the 

 Commander survived and had he intended to take any action 

 against his officers because of their misdoings, they would have 

 been ready to point to his conduct then as evidence of his evil- 

 minded disposition. But the good Captain Commander was 

 much superior to his officers in looking into the future, and in 

 the cabin he expressed himself to me and Mr. Plenisner as fol- 

 lows: "We think now we have accomplished everything, and 

 many go about greatly inflated, but they do not consider where 

 we have reached land, how far we are from home, and what may 

 yet happen; who knows but that perhaps trade winds ^^ may 

 arise, which may prevent us from returning? We do not know 

 this country; nor are we provided with supplies for a wintering." 

 — Now that we were close to land it was great fun to listen to the 

 conflicting expressions of great self-conceit and expectations of 

 future reward and pathetic effusions. Some would at once make 

 for the shore and search for a harbor. Others represented this as 

 very dangerous. However, everybody acted for himself, and no 

 one made any representations to the Captain Commander. 



60 The MS reads: "and therefore provided with many islands close 

 to the mainland and with numerous bays and inlets in the mainland it- 

 self." 



" In the sense of persistent winds (see also footnote 144, second 

 paragraph) ; in the present case, persistent westerly headwinds. 



