PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
2S3 
vented a second landing. During the afternoon we turned to wind- CHAP, 
ward, with the wind blowing fresh from the westward. 
From the time of our passing Beering’s Strait up to the 23d in- August, 
stant, we enjoyed an almost uninterrupted series of fine weather ; 
during which we had fortunately surveyed the whole of the coast from 
Cape Prince of Wales as far to the northward as I deemed it proper 
to go, consistent with the necessity of keeping the ship, at aU times, 
in open water and in safety. Now, however, there appeared to be a 
break up, and a commencement of westerly winds, which made the 
whole of this coast a lee shore, and together with several hours of 
darkness rendered it necessary to keep the ship at a distance from the 
land. In doing this the chances were equal that the land expedi- 
tion, in the event of its success, would pass her. I therefore de- 
termined to repair to the rendezvous in Kotzebue Sound, and, as 
nothing further was to be done at sea, to await there the arrival 
of our boat and of Captain Franklin’s expedition. Accordingly on 
the 27th we made Cape Krusenstern, and on the following evening 
anchored at Chamisso Island nearly in our former situation. 
Directly the ship was secured, two boats were despatched to the 
islands to examine the state of the rivulets, and ascertain whether the 
cask of flour, that had been buried for Captain Franklin’s use, had 
been molested ; our suspicion of its safety having been excited by ob- 
serving six baidars upon the beach opposite the anchorage, none of 
which ventured off to the ship as was usual. On the return of the boat 
from Chamisso Island we learned that there was not a drop of water to 
be had, in consequence of the streams at which we had formerly filled 
our casks being derived from beds of thawing ice and snow which 
were now entirely dissolved. 
By the other boat, we found, as we expected, that the cask of flour 
had been dug up and broken open, that the hoops had been taken away, 
and that the flour had been strew^ed about the ground, partly in a kneaded 
state. Suspicion immediately fell upon the natives encamped upon the 
peninsula, which was strengthened by the manner in which they came 
off the next morning, dancing and playing a tambourine in the boats, a 
conciliatory conduct with which we had never before been favoured. 
o o 2 
