304 
THE ‘^OLT) JOHN” IS COMPLIMENTED. 
desired. They therefore entered tiie brake in liigh 
glee; but, though they saw a few here and there, and 
lieard hundreds of them rushing through the canes, the 
growth was so dense as to render such a thing as taking 
aim impossible. They consequently returned empty- 
handed and in great disgust, to be informed by Martin, 
the steward, that our preserved meats were almost ex- 
pended, and that, if ‘Mhe gentlemen” didn't shoot some- 
thing soon, we would be in a starving condition. 
At this place we took in another supply of wood, 
saving our coal for the Okotsk Sea, and licre succeeded 
in making payment in the shape of tea, sugar, rice, &c. 
Here we also caught a fair supply of small rock-cod, 
which rendered the breakfast-table so attractive as to 
open the state-room doors half an hour sooner than 
usual. 
Continuing on to the northward with a leading wind, 
we passed the English frigate Winchester and brig 
Bittern, appai'ently beating down for lla-ko-da-di. As 
usual, we were running quite close in with the land, 
and they, ever on the look-out for the absconding 
Russians, came well in before the unmistakable pro- 
portions of the elongated anchor-hoy convinced them 
that we were not the Vosgoth under American colours. 
The southern corner of Strogonoff Bay gave us 
shelter during the following night, and the next day, 
taking advantage of a moderate southeasterly gale, we 
succeeded in sighting Cape Roraanzofi, the northwest 
extremity of the island. We found this cape very 
well located on the chart; and, had the w^cather been 
clear, the eye might easily have crossed the Straits ol 
