C H A P . II.
Scarcity o f Provifons and Stores at the Harbour o f
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, — A Party fe t out
to vifit the Commander at Bolcheretjk.-— Pajfage up the
River Awatjka. — Account of their Reception by the
Toion of Karatchin. — Defcription of a Kamtfchadale
Drefs.— Journey on Sledges. — Defcription of this
Mode o f‘Travelling.— Arrival at Natcheekin.— Account
o f hot Springs.— Embark on the Bolchoireka.— Reception
at the Capital.— Generous and hofpitabie ConduSl o f the
Commander and the Garrifon. — Defcription of Bolcheretjk.—
Prefents from the Commander.— Rujfian and
Kamtfchadale Dancing. — AjfeEling Departure from
Bolcheretjk.— Return to Saint Peter and Saint Paul's,
accompanied by Major Behm, who vifts the Ships.— Ge-
nerofity o f the Sailors.— Difpatches fent by Major Behm
to Peterfburg.— His Departure and Chara&er.
BEING now enabled to converfe w ith the Ruffians, by
the aid o f our interpreter, with tolerable facility,, our
firlt inquiries were directed to the means o f procuring a fup-
p ly o f freffi provifions, and naval ilo re s ; from the want o f
w hich latter article, in particular, we had been for fome
time in great diftrefs. On inquiry, it appeared, that the
whole flock o f live cattle, which the country about the bay
a A 8 could
• Ould furnifh, amounted only to two h e ife r s ; an'd thefe the J779-
ferjeant ve ry readily promifed to procure us. Our applica- v—->
tiorts were next made to the merchant, but we found the
terms, upon w hich he offered to ferve us, fo exorbitant,
that Captain Clerke thought it neceflary to fend an officer to
vifit the Commander at Bolcheretfk, and to inquire into the
price o f ftores at that place. As foon as this determination
was communicated to Mr. Port, he difpatched art
exprefs to the Commander, to inform him o f qpr intentions,
and, at the fame time, to clear us from the fufpicions that
were entertained with refpedt to the defignation and purpofcs-
o f our voyage.
Captain Clerke ha vin g thought proper to fix on me for Taefday,)..
this fervice, I" received orders, together with Mr. Webber,
w h o 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 journ ey through fo wild and Thurfday6.
defolate a co u n try ; but, on the 7th, the weather appearing triday 7.
more favourable, w e fet out early in the morning in the
fhip’s boats, with a v iew to reach the entrance o f the
Awatika at h igh water, on account o f the ihoals with which
the mouth o f 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 Meflis. Port and Fedofitfch, with two coffaeks,
and were provided, by our conductors, with warm furred
c lo th in g ; a precaution which we foon found very necef-
fary, as it began to fnow brifkly juft after we fet out. A t
eight o’clock, being flopped b y fhoal water, about a mile
from the mouth o f the river, fome fmall canoes, belonging
to the Kamtfchadales, took up us and our baggage, and
carried