152 STELLER'S JOURNAL 



him, and refused him absolutely, especially because he was 

 mostly sick from laziness and was the chief author of our mis- 

 fortune. 



During the days that followed our misery and work grew 

 apace. Finally^^o Waxel himself was also brought ashore. He 

 was so badly ravaged by the scurvy that we abandoned all hope 

 for his life, but nevertheless we did not fail to come to his help 

 with both food and medicine, without a thought of former treat- 

 ment. We were all the more anxious for his recovery, as it was 

 to be feared that, after his decease, when the supreme command 

 would fall to Khitrov, the universal hatred would destroy all 

 discipline and delay, or even prevent, the enterprises necessary 

 for our deliverance. We also induced our men to build a separate 

 hut for him and a few other patients,^^! but until it was erected 

 he had to stand it in the Barracks. 



In these days we also received the news, which depressed 

 everybody still more, that our men sent out to scout had not 

 found any indication in the west^^^ of a connection of this land 

 with Kamchatka or even the slightest trace of human inhabi- 

 tants. Besides, we were in daily fear that our vessel, in view of 

 the constant storms, might be driven out to sea and that with 

 it we should lose at one stroke all our provisions and our hope of 

 deliverance. Because of the high waves we were often unable 

 for several days to reach the vessel in the boat for the purpose of 

 landing as many of the supplies as possible. ^^^ j^ addition ten or 



S50 In the MS this sentence is preceded by: "All the sick had been 

 landed and." 



351 In the MS this clause is represented by the following fuller state- 

 ment: "In spite of his urgent entreaty we could not take him into our 

 hut, but we promised to assist so that a separate one could be built for 

 him and a few other patients, which we induced our men to do." 



352 In the MS the passage up to this point reads: "On this day we also 

 received the disheartening news from three of the men who had been 

 sent out, which depressed the rank and file still more and made them less 

 tractable, that no indication had been found in the west," etc. 



The three men were Roselius and two men from Kamchatka (see 

 Yushin's journal, Vol. i, p. 229, footnote 126, last paragraph). 



353 Instead of this sentence, the MS has; "as because of the high waves 



