t h e p a c i f i c o c e a n .
we were under the neceffity o f concluding to be Petro- »pjpaulowika.
However, in juftice to the generous and ho- » •— '
fpitable treatment w e found here, I ihall be g leave to anticipate
the reader’s curioiity, b y alluring him, that our disappointment
proved to be more o f a laughab le than a feri-
ous nature. For, in this wretched extremity o f the earth,
Situated beyond every thing that w e conceived to be moft
barbarous and inhofpitable, and, as it were, out o f the ve ry
reach o f civilization, barricaded with ice, and covered with
fummer fnow, in a poor miferable port, far inferior to the-
meaneft o f our fiihin g towns, w e met w ith feelings o f h u manity,
joined to a greatnefs o f mind, and elevation o f Sentiment,
w h ich would have done honour to any nation or
climate.
D u rin g the night, much ice drifted b y us with the tide,
and at da y-light I was fent w ith the boats to examine the Thurfdayzj.
bay, and deliver the letters w e had brought from Oona-
la ih k a to the Ruffian Commander. We direfted our courfe
toward the v illa g e I have juft mentioned, and ha vin g p ro-#
ceeded as fa r as we were able w ith the boats, we got upon
the ice, w hich extended near h a lf a mile from the ffiore.
Mr. Webber, and two o f the Teamen, accompanied me,
whilft the Mailer took the pinnace and cutter to finifli the
Survey, leaving the jolly-boat behind to carry us back.
I believe the inhabitants had not yet feen either the fliip
or the boats ; for even after we had got on the ice, we could
not perceive any figns o f a livin g creature in the town. By
the time w e had advanced a little w a y on the ice, we ob-
ferved a few men h u rry in g backward and forward, and
prefently after, a fledge, drawn by dogs with one o f the
inhabitants in it, came down to the fea-fide, oppofite to us.
Von, III. B b Whilft