250 



THE POLAR WORLD. 



stones. This platform opened into a cellar containing a large quantity of 

 smoked fishes, and a few bundles of the inner bark of the larch or fir tree, 

 which, in case of necessity, serves as food throughout all Siberia. There were 

 also some arrows, dyed black and smoothed, of a size far superior to those 

 used in Kamchatka. 



After Steller, in spite of the danger of being surprised by the savages, had 

 accurately examined the contents of the cellar, he sent his Cossack back again 

 to the place where the boatmen were watering. He gave him specimens of 

 the various articles which he had found, ordering him to take them to Cap- 

 tain Bering, and to request that two or three men might be sent to him for 

 further assistance. In the mean time, though quite alone, he continued his 

 investigations of the strange land, and having reached the summit of a hill, 

 he saw smoke rising from a forest at some distance. Overjoyed at the sight, 

 for he now could hope to meet with the natives and to complete his knowl- 

 edge of the island, he instantly returned to the landing-place with all the 

 eagerness of a man who has something important to communicate ; and as 

 the boat was just about to leave, told the sailors to inform the captain of his 

 discovery, and to beg that the small pinnace, with a detachment of armed 

 men, might be sent out to him. 



Meanwhile, exhausted with fatigue, he sat down on the beach, where he 

 described in his pocket-book some of the more delicate plants he had collect- 

 ed, which he feared might speedily wither, and regaled himself with the ex- 

 cellent water. After waiting for about an hour, he at length received an an- 

 swer from Bering, telling him to return immediately on board, unless he chose 

 to be left behind ; and we can easily imagine the indignation of the disap- 

 pointed naturalist at this shameful command. 



On the morning of July 21, Bering, contrary to his custom, appeared on 

 deck, ordered the anchors to be weighed, and gave directions to sail back 

 again on the same course. The continent he had discovered was not even 

 honored with a single visit, so that Steller could not help telling the Russians 

 they had merely come thus far for the purpose of carrying American water to 

 Asia. Any conscientious commander would have continued to sail along the 

 unknown shore, or, considerin g that the season was already far advanced, would 

 have determined to winter there, and to pursue his discoveries next spring ; 

 but, unfortunately for Bering and his companions, the course he adopted 

 proved as disastrous as it was dishonorable. 



Three months long the ship was tossed about by contrary winds and 

 storms ; the islands of the Aleutic chain, though frequently seen through the 

 mists, were but seldom visited ; the scurvy broke out among the dispirited, 

 ill-fed crew, their misery increased from day to day, and their joy may be im- 

 agined when at length, on November 5, a land was seen which they firmly 

 believed to be Kamchatka — though in reality it was merely the desert of 

 Bering's Island, situated a hundred miles from that peninsula. Even those 

 who were nearly half dead crept upon deck to enjoy the welcome sight ; every 

 one thanked God, and the ignorant officer, convinced that they were at the 

 entrance of the Bay of Avatscha, even named the several mountains ; but 



