COASTING OBSERVATIONS. 
7 
the interior of Unalaschka. Farther on, it is narrower by one 
half, and the shore by no means so steep. Its depth is from 
SO to 25 fathoms, and the bottom is composed of a sand mixed 
with shells. In the middle of this strait, and particularly 
towards the right bank, there are many concealed rocks, and 
one, which at its termination rises considerably above the 
water. In the vicinity of these rocks the water is 10 fathoms 
deep. The hidden part of the large one is covered with an in¬ 
crustation of coral. 
On my return late in the evening, I found that Mr. Merk 
had collected a vast number of plants, and that our hunters had 
shot two woodcocks, besides finding a nest full of eggs, 
which afforded us a comfortable supper. We did not observe 
many birds on shore, but the few we saw were chiefly white- 
headed eagles, and some small birds of the finch species; with 
whose red feathers the Aleutians adorn themselves. 
On the 6th, we pursued our rout along the shore of the 
Beavers-bay, passing five other different bays. The first of 
them, named Amugul, has an island in its centre ; and the second 
Taneska, has four such islets. All these bays run three or four 
miles into the country, and are supplied with streams of fresh 
water from the mountains ; their depth, in the middle, being 
50 fathoms, and at the sides much less. From the last of these 
bays, called Kikukala, we passed over to the opposite . shore 
as far as the entrance into BeaveFs-bay, and lay to, for the 
night, close by a small cataract that descended from a lofty 
mountain. 
On the 7th we passed the bay of Unytschaba, and finding 
another bay at noon, named Ugadaga, we ran into it for the 
purpose of taking our dinner. Here, as the Aleutians informed 
us, we were not very distant from Captain’s-haven, beyond 
the mountains, which had received its name from Captain 
Lewaschew’s having wintered there. Mr. Merk and I being both 
desirous of visiting it, we immediately resolved to repair to the spot. 
For two miles we were obliged to ascend the steep mountains, 
until we gained the summit of the high chain which encompasses 
the whole island, and to which the crater on the northern 
side belongs. These mountains are covered from the foot 
half way up with moss and grass: higher up they are quite 
barren, terminating at the summit in naked rock. In the vallies 
on the banks of the lakes and rivulets, a few alders and small 
bushes are occasionally to be met with. On the summit of the 
mountain which we ascended we found two lakes of fresh 
water; at the bottom of which we perceived some chalybeate 
Qchre, with which the swampy places appeared to be filled, 
i'rom thence we passed over some inferior mountains, until. 
