TO THE COAST OP AMERICA. 



and under that character to have an opportunity for 

 examining the country, of which they were to bring 

 me an account. I accordingly furnifhed them with fe- 

 veral forts of commodities for barter; and for the reft 

 consigned them to the protection of the Afkak # of the 

 illand Shuyek, who had been given to me as a hoftage. 



On the ioth of January I fent ir workmen to the 

 eaftern fide of the illand Kuktak, to the pine-foreft 

 there, at about 160 verfts from the harbour, in order 

 to build boats for us at that place. On arriving there, 

 the firft thing they did was to conftrucl for themfelves 

 a winter-habitation ; next they proceeded to execute 

 my commifiion, at the fame time made purchaces of 

 valuable furs ; and returned to me in the harbour on 

 the i ft of May. 



On the 25th of February I received a letter dated 

 at Katmanlkoi-Shik, from the Greek, Euftrathios De- 

 larof, informing me that the galleot St. Michael, of 

 our company, had, according to my directions., failed 

 from the illand Unalafhka on the 12th of May, 1785. 

 but no fooner were they out at fea, than they were 

 driven back by contrary winds, and were forced for 

 near fix weeks to beat on and off the faid ifland ; after 

 which, during a ftorm, they loft a maft, which broke 

 below'the yards, and obliged them to put back into the 

 port of Unalafhka ; that having repaired the maft, on 

 getting out to fea, in the month of Auguft, they were 

 ftopped by a fecond* misfortune : for, by a miftake of 



* Afkak, as well as the above explained Chafkak, and Tien, 

 which will appear a good way farther on, fignifies, a leader, com- 

 mander, or chief. 



I the 



