250 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, sand continued along the coast to Cape Espenburg, and there termi- 
nated. 
July. We entered Kotzebue Sound early in the morning of the 22d of 
July, and plied against a contrary wind, guided by the soundings ; the ap- 
pearance of the land being so distorted by mirage and in parts so obscured 
by low fog, that it was impossible to distinguish where we were. The 
naturalist who accompanied Kotzebue in his voyage particularly remarks 
this state of the atmosphere in the vicinity of the sound, and suggests 
that it may be occasioned by the swampy nature of the country ; in which 
opinion I fully concur. When it cleared olF we were much surprised to 
find ourselves opposite a deep inlet in the northern shore, which had 
escaped the observation of Captain Kotzebue. I named it Ilotham Inlet, 
in compliment to the Hon. Sir Henry Hotham, K. C. B., one of the lords 
of the Admiralty. We stood in to explore it, but found the water too 
shallow, and were obliged to anchor in four fathoms to prevent being 
carried away by a strong tide which was setting out of the sound, the 
wind being light and contrary. 
As it would be necessary to remain three or four days at Chamisso 
Island to increase our stock of water, previous to proceeding to the 
northward, the barge was hoisted out and sent to examine the inlet, 
with directions to meet the ship at Chamisso Island. She was again 
placed under the command of Mr. Elson, and equipped in every way 
necessary for the service required. 
We were visited by several baidars, containing from ten to thirteen 
men each, whose object was to obtain articles in exchange. They were 
in every respect similar to the natives of Schismareff Inlet, though 
rather better looking, and were all, without exception, provided with 
labrets, either made of ivory and blue beads, as before described, of ivory 
alone, or of different kinds of stone, as steatite, porphyry, or greenstone ; 
they readily disengaged these from their lips, and sold them, without 
minding the inconvenience of the saliva that flowed through the badly 
cicatriced orifice over the chin ; but rather laughed when some of us 
betrayed disgust at the spectacle, thrusting their tongues through the 
hole, and winking their eyes. One or two had small strings of beads 
suspended to their ears. 
