146 STELLER'S JOURNAL 



in the frozen sand and covered it over the next day with double 

 sails in order to shelter the sick. 



On November 12^30 we worked with the greatest industry on 

 our habitation, observed also that others, following our example, 

 dug for themselves in the same manner a third habitation which 

 received its name from its founder, the boatswain Alexei Ivanov. 

 — During the day many of the sick were brought from the vessel, 

 some of whom expired as soon as they came into the air, as was 

 the case with the cannoneer; others in the boat on the way over, 

 as the soldier Savin Stepanov; some right on the beach, as the 

 sailor Sylvester.^^i — Everywhere on the shore there was nothing 

 but pitiful and terrifying sights. The dead, before they could be 

 interred, were mutilated by the foxes, who even dared to attack 

 the living and helpless sick, who lay about on the beach without 

 cover, and sniffed at them like dogs. Some of the sick cried be- 

 cause they were cold, others because hungry and thirsty, since 

 the mouths of many were so miserably affected by the scurvy 

 that they could not eat anything because of the great pain, as 

 the gums were swollen like a sponge, brown black, grown over 

 the teeth and covering them. 



The blue ioxes (Lago pus), ^^^^ which by now had gathered about 

 us in countless numbers, became, contrary to habit and nature, 

 at the sight of man more and more tame, mischievous, and to 

 such a degree malicious that they pulled all the baggage about, 

 chewed up the leather soles.^^a scattered the provisions, stole and 

 carried off from one his boots, from another his socks, trousers, 

 gloves, coats, etc., all of which were lying under the open sky 

 and could not be guarded because of the lack of well persons. 



330 According to the date indicated in the log book (Vol. i, p. 215) for 

 Ivanov's activities, this would be November 10 (civil date). 



331 In the log book (Vol. i, pp. 219-220) and Waxel's report (ibid., p. 

 281) the deaths are stated to have taken place on the following dates: the 

 cannoneer (Ilya Dergachev) and the sailor Seliverst (= Sylvester) 

 Tarakanov on November 15 (astronomical), the soldier Savin Stepanov 

 on November 16 (astronomical). The last is stated to have died on board. 



33ia See, above, footnote 317, and, below, pp. 211-216. 

 S32 The MS reads "leather bags." 



