222 AVOYAGETO 
1779. l a g e ? Opatchin, till the evening of the 17th, which was at 
the rate of about twenty miles a day. We got to Natcheekin 
Monday i 7 . on the 19th; and, on the 20th, we crolfed the plain to 
Wednef. i 9 . Karatchin. We found the road much better than when 
ay 20. we p ac | paffed it before, there having been a fmart froft 
Friday 21. on the night of the 19th. On the 21ft, we proceeded down 
the Awatlka River; and, before it was dark, got over the 
fhoals which lie at the entrance of the bay. During the 
whole courfe of our journey, we were much pleafed with 
the great good-will with which the Towns, and their Kamt- 
fchadales, afforded us their afliftance, at the different ojlrogs 
through which we paffed; and I could not but obferve 
the pleafure that appeared in their countenances, on feeing 
the Major, and their ftrong expreffions of forrow, on hear¬ 
ing he was fo foon going to leave them. 
We had difpatched a meffenger to Captain Clerke, from 
Bolcheretfk, with an account of our reception, and of the 
Major’s intention of returning with us ; at the fame time, 
apprizing him of the day he might probably expedt to fee 
us. We were therefore very well pleafed to obferve, as 
we approached the harbour, all the boats of the two fliips 
coming toward us, the men clean, and the officers as 
well dreffed as the fcarcity of our clothing would permit. 
The Major was much ftruck at the robuft and healthy 
appearance of the boats crews, and ftill more at feeing 
moft of them without any other covering than a fhirt 
and trowfers, although at the very moment it actually 
fnowed. 
As Major Behm had exprefled his intentions of viliting 
the fhips before he landed, as foon as we arrived off" the 
town, I delired to receive his commands; when remarking, 
that from the account we had given of the very bad ftate of 
Captain 
