THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
197 
Serjeant very readily promised to procure us. Our applica- i 77g . 
tions were next made to the merchant, but we found the kj 
terms, upon which he offered to ferve us, fo exorbitant, 
that Captain Clerke thought it necelfary to fend an officer 
to vifit the Commander at Bolcheretfk, and to inquire into 
the price of ftores at that place. As foon as this determi¬ 
nation was communicated to Mr. Port, he difpatched an ex- 
prefs to the Commander, to inform him of our intentions, 
and, at the fame time, to clear us from the fufpicions that 
were entertained with refpedt to the defignation and pur- 
pofes of our voyage. 
Captain Clerke having thought proper to fix on me for 
this fervice, I received orders, together with Mr. Webber, 
who was to accompany me as interpreter, to be ready to fet 
out the next day. It proved, however, too ftormy, as did Wednef. 5. 
alfo the 6th, for beginning a journey through fo wild and Thurfday 6. 
defolate a country; but, on the 7th, the weather appearing Friday 7. 
more favourable, we fet out early in the morning in the 
fhip’s boats, with a view to reach the entrance of the 
Awatfka at high water, on account of the fhoals with which 
the mouth of that river abounds: here the country boats 
were to meet us, and carry us up the ftream. 
Captain Gore was now added to our party, and we were 
attended by Meffis. Port and Fedofitfch, with two coffacks, 
and were provided, by our conduftors, with warm furred 
clothing; a precaution which we foon found very necef- 
fary, as it began to fnow brifkly juft after we fet out. At 
eight o’clock, being flopped by fhoal water, about a mile 
from the mouth of the river, fome fmall canoes, belonging 
to the Kamtfchadales, took up us and our baggage, and 
carried us over a fpit of fand, which is thrown up by the 
rapidity of the river, and which, they told us, was con¬ 
tinually 
