3<3 VOYAGE PROM OKHOTZK 



the 8 th. I went afhore on a baidar, which I fent back^ 

 myfelf remaining in order to purchafe fifh. Though' 

 this bufinefs did not detain me long, yet I met with fe- 

 \xral hindrances on quitting the land : and during this 

 time a violent ftorm tore our gaileot from her anchor. 

 My people were too difabledto work the fhip to wind- 

 ward, and confequently fhe was foon carried out to fea. 

 I now got into a boat for Bolfheretzk ; where I bought 

 three horfes for 200 roubles, in order to profecute my 

 journey by land to Okliotzk. On that very day news 

 came to Bolfheretzk that on the 9th of Auguft an 

 englifh fhip was arrived in the harbour of Peter and 

 Paul, but intending to make a flay there of no more 

 than 20 days. I was exceedingly curious to learn the 

 bulinefs and object of the voyage, and alfo probably 

 fome matters that might be ufeful to me ; I therefore 

 put off my journey to Okliotzk, and fet out on the 

 20th of Auguft, on horfeback, for Petropavloffk, where 

 I arrived on the 23d. The fhip's captain and fome of 

 the officers, as foon as they heard of our arrival, came 

 on more, greeted us in a very friendly manner, and 

 prevailed on me to accompany them on board ; where 

 they mewed me famples of their goods, and told mc 

 that they had brought with them a letter from the India 

 company to the governor of Kamtlhatka, expreffing 

 their wifhes to open a trade to Kamtlhatka, and re- 

 queuing permiffion to that effecl. I diligently en- 

 quired of them what way they had taken, and how 

 foon and , how well they had completed their voyage ; 

 to all which, without entering into farther particulars, 

 they told me they had nothing to conceal of their 

 chart. I then learnt of them that on the aoth of May, 



old 



