LOSS OF THE ST. PETER. 293 
The sea-cow likewise proved of great utility to the Rus- 
sians. One of these animals which they took weighed eight 
thousand pounds, and furnished them with food for a fortnight. 
Their flesh may be compared to beef, and the fat, with which 
it is covered to the depth of three or four inches, resembles 
that of pork. This they melted down and used instead of 
butter. They likewise salted a considerable quantity of the 
flesh and filled several casks, which they added to the provi- 
sion already destined for their voyage to Kamtschatka, Dur- 
ing their residence on the island two whales were likewise 
cast on shore, and these furnished them with an abundant 
supply when other marine animals failed. 
On the melting of the snow, about the end of March, 1742, 
the Russians began to think seriously of their return. Being 
all assembled, to the number of forty-five, they took into con- 
sideration the means of returning to Kamtschatka. The state 
of perfect equality in which they had lived since their landing 
on the island produced a variety of opinions, which were 
warmly supported by those with whom they originated. Wax- 
el, to whom the command by right devolved, conducted him- 
self under these circumstances with great art and prudence. 
Without giving ofl^ence to the authors of the diflferent plans, 
he opposed them to each other, and destroyed them by means 
of a third, w^hich he again overthrew by objections which ap- 
peared unanswerable. At length he and Chitrofl*, who acted 
in concert, proposed their opinion, which was to take the ves- 
sel to pieces, and to construct another of a smaller size, but 
sufficiently spacious to hold all the crew and the provisions. 
In discussing the business, they laid great stress on the con- 
sideration that all those who had sufl^ered together would not 
be separated ; that none would be left behind ; that if a new 
misfortune occurred, they would be together, and that none of 
them would be exempted from it. This opinion being una- 
nimously approved of, a paper was drawn up to the effect, and 
signed by all the crew. The favorable weather at the begin- 
ning of April permitted them to put it in execution. The 
whole month was employed in breaking up the ship, and the 
officers, by their diligence, set a laudable example to the rest. 
On the 6th of May they began to work upon their new 
vessel, which was forty feet in length and thirteen wide. She 
had but one mast and one deck, with a cabin at the stern and 
a kitchen at the head. At the same time they likewise built 
a boat capable of holding nine or ten persons. 
The vessel being completed, was launched on the 10th of 
25* 
