THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
22 S 
i77 9 * 
May. 
Captain Gierke’s health, it might be imprudent to difturb 
him at fo late an hour (it being now pad: nine o’clock), he 
thought it, he faid, moft advifeable to remain that night on 
fhore. Accordingly, after attending him to the Serjeant’s 
houfe, I took my leave, for the prefent, and went on board 
to acquaint Captain Clerke with my proceedings at Bolche- 
retfk. It was with the utmoft concern I found, that in the 
fortnight we had been abfent, this excellent officer was 
much altered for the worfe, inftead of reaping that advan^ 
tage we flattered ourfelves he might, from the repofe of 
the harbour, and the milk and vegetable diet with which 
he was fupplied. 
As foon as I had difpatched this bufinefs, I returned to Saturday 22] 
the Major, and the next morning conduced him to the 
ffiips ; where, on his arrival, he was faluted with thirteen 
guns, and received with every other mark of diftindtion, 
that it was in our power to pay him. He was attended by 
the Commander of one of the Ruffian galliots, the matter 
of a floop that lay in the harbour, two merchants from 
Bolcheretfk, and the prieft of the neighbouring village 
of Paratounca, for whom he appeared to entertain the 
higheft refpedt, and whom I fhall hereafter have occafion 
to mention, on account of his great kindnefs to Captain 
Clerke. 
After vifiting the Captain, and taking a view of both the 
fhips, he returned to dinner oh board the Refolution; and, 
in the afternoon, the various curiofities we had collected in 
the courfe of our voyage, were ffiewn him, and a complete 
afTortment of every article prefented to him by Captain < 
Clerke. On this occafion I mutt not pafs over an inftance of 
great generality and gratitude in the bailors of both fhips ; 
who, when they were told of the handfome prefent of to¬ 
bacco 
