H l i ,
ì l i ; !
chap. repass the straits; together with the state of our provisions, and the
— improbability of meeting with Captain Franklin after all, it appeared
O c t to me that the risks which it involved were greater than the uncertainty
of the result justified; and painful as it was to relinquish every
hope of this successful issue of our voyage, it became my duty to do so.
In the execution of this necessary resolution, it was some consolation
to reflect, that from the nature of Captain Franklin’s instructions, it
was almost certain that by this time he had either commenced his
return or taken up his winter abode. He had been directed to return
to his winter quarters on the 15th of August, if he found the prospect
of success was not such as to ensure his reaching Icy Cape that season,
and if it should prove impracticable to winter at an advanced station
on the coast. We were justified, therefore, in supposing that he had
already been either compelled to pause or to turn back, as, in the event
of the successful prospect anticipated in his instructions, it could hardly
happen, considering the open state in which we had found the sea to
the northward, that he should not have reached Kotzebue Sound by
the time the Blossom left it.
In taking our departure from these seas, some general observations
on the country, the natives, the currents, meteorology, and other subjects,
naturally present themselves; but as we returned to the same
place the following year, and extended our experience, I shall defer
them until a future opportunity.
Up to this period of the voyage, my instructions had been a safe
guide for my proceedings ; but between our departure from these seas,
and our return to them the following year, with the exception of touching
at the Sandwich Islands, there were no specific directions for my
guidance, and it became me seriously to consider how the time could
be most usefully employed. It was necessary to repair to some port to
refit and caulk the ship, to replenish the provisions and stores, and,
what was equally important, to recruit the health of the people, who
were much debihtated from their privations; having been a considerable
time on short allowance of salt provision, and in the enjoyment of only
seven weeks’ fresh meat in the last ten months.
From the favourable account I had heard of Saint Francisco in Cali-
fornia, it appeared to be the most desirable place to which a ship under C H A T
our circumstances could resort ; and as the coast between that port ^
and Cape St. Lucas was very imperfectly known, that the time could not
Oct.
1826.
be more usefully employed than in completing the survey of it. I therefore
directed our course to that place, and determined to enter the
Pacific by the Strait of Oonemak ; which, if not the safest of those
formed by the Aleutian Islands, is certainly the best known.
After passing King’s Island on the 16th, we saw some very large
flocks of ducks migrating to the southward, and fell in with the lummes,
which had deserted us more than a month before at Chamisso Island.
As we approached St. Lawrence Island, the httle crested auks flew
around us, and some land birds took refuge in our rigging. YY"e passed
to the eastward of this island in very thick weather, and had only a
transient view of its eastern extremity, and thence pursued a course to
the southward, passing between Gore’s Island and Nunevack, an island
recently discovered by the Russians, but not known to us at that time.
The soundings increased, though not always regularly ; and we had
thick misty weather which prevented any thing drying. The barometer
fluctuated a little on either side of 28,6. On the 18th, the temperature,
which had risen gradually as we advanced to the southward, was twenty
degrees higher than it was the day we left Kotzebue Sou n d-a change
which was sensibly felt. _ x» i u
On the 21st we came within sight of the island of St. Paul, the
northern island of a small groupe which, though long known to English
geographers, has been omitted in some of our most esteemed modem
charts. The groupe consists of three islands,named St. George’s, St. Paul s,
and Sea-otter. YY’e saw only the two latter iu this passage, but in the
following year passed near to the other, and on the opposite side of St.
Paul’s to that on which our course was directed at this time. 1 he islands
of St. Paul and St. George are both high, with bold shores, and without
any port, though there is said to be anchoring ground off both, and
soundings in the offing at moderate depths. At a distance of twenty-
five miles from Sea-otter Island, in the direction of N . 37° YV. (true),
and in latitude 59” 22' N., we had fifty-two fathoms hard ground ; after
this, proceeding southward, the water deepens. St. Paul’s is distin-
X X 2