behring’s island. 
35 
and a half distant from the island. Here we were very near the 
spot where Commodore Behring, being obliged to land, on his 
return from America, in order to seek assistance in his dis¬ 
tress, terminated his earthly career. We lamented very much 
that it was not possible for us to get nearer land, in order to 
visit the place where the first navigator of these seas is con¬ 
signed to the peaceful grave. We would fain have heaved a 
sigh of regard and sorrow over his remains, and those of our un¬ 
fortunate countrymen who lie buried by his side. We passed 
the place of meeting, and perceiving no vessel, Captain Bil¬ 
lings resolved on steering for the Aleutian islands. 
Towards evening, we were enveloped in a thick fog. Cap¬ 
tain Billings directed our course by an English map, taken dur¬ 
ing Cook’s voyage, far more northerly than the Copper Islands 
are there given. As this direction, according to the Russian 
map, would have led us strait to the middle of the Copper 
Islands, I made my representations to Captain Billings, who 
paid so little regard to the Russian map, that I persuaded him, 
with difficulty, to alter his course two rumbs more northerly, 
and by that means alone we escaped the impending danger; for 
the next morning the mist clearing away, we saw we had passed 
the northern point of the Copper Island by no more than two 
hundred fathoms; nay, that from the stern of our ship we could 
distinguish the rocks concealed under water. 
All were now' satisfied that this island is marked on the Eng¬ 
lish map much more southerly than it ought to be. 
As 1 am informed, solid copper is to be found in the clifts 
of the rocky shore, at the fall of the water, on the Copper 
Island, w e sailed round it, and directed our course to the first 
inhabited and large Aleutian island, Atta. 
On the 4th of June we discovered through the fog a part of 
the mountains on the southern side of the island Atta, which 
were entirely covered with snow. We were, at noon, fifteen 
miles south of them, and got a glimpse of the island Agatta 
through the mist. Their shores appear to consist of gradually 
sloping mountains, being thirty-four miles in extent. 
At break of day, on the 5th, the summits of the mountains 
on the island Semitsch opened to view; and in the afternoon 
we passed the island Buldyr, lying in latitude 52° 40', and 
longitude I7t>° 13' of Greenwich ; having an extent of twelve 
miles, consisting entirely of mountains, and encompassed with 
a rocky shore. About a mile aT&d a half to the south-w est we 
found some rocks projecting out of the water. 
On the Gth we stood off the Rat Islands, the first of which, 
towards the west, is called Kyska, a mountainous island; the 
E 2 
