Ilk to
I'«.
IV
x vm ' *^° interest us in this passage, beyond that
July.
which ahvays attends a material change of climate, we watched the birds
which tiew around us, and found that the tropic birds deserted us in
36" N. The brown albatross and shearwaters fell off in 40" N. In
41" we saw the wandering albatross and black divers ; some petrel in 45°;
puffins, fulmar petrels, and gannets in 49°, and as we approached Kam-
schatka, lummes, dovekies, and small tern. About the latitude of 42° we
saw many whales, but they did not accompany us far. AYe observed
driftwood occasionally, but it was not so plentiful as in the preceding
year.
On the 2d of July we made the snowy mountains of Kamsehatka,
but did not reach the Bay of Awatska before the evening of the next
day, when, after experiencing the difficulties which almost always attend
the entry and egress of the port, we came to an anchor off the town of
Petrapaulski nearly in the same situation as before.
AA"e found lying in the inner harbour the Okotsk Packet, a brig of
200 tons, commanded by a Russian sub-lieutenant, on the point of
sailing W’ith the mail for St. Petersburgh, and availed ourselves of the
favourable opportunity of transmitting despatches and private letters by
her. I received some official letters which had been too late for the
ship the preceding year ; but neither in them nor in the Petersburgh
Gazette, which finds its way occasionally to Kamsehatka, was there intelligence
to influence our proceedings, and we consequently began to
refit the ship for her northern cruize. AA"hile this duty was in progress,
we were also employed sounding and surveying the capacious bay and
the harbours of Tareinski, Eakovya, and Petrapaulski, the plans of
those places which had been constructed by Captain King being by no
means complete.
Before the ship was at an anchor we received from the governor,
Captain Stanitski, a very acceptable present of some new potatoes, fresh
butter, curds, and spring water—a mark of attention and politeness
for which we were very thankful. On landing I had the pleasure to
find all the colony in good health, but a little chagrined to learn the
ship was not one of the periodical vessels from St. Petersburgh. As
these vessels bring out every kind of supply for the inhabitants, tliey
are most anxiously looked for; and if they are detained they occasion
great inconvenience.
AYe endeavoured to supply some ofthe deficiencies of the place by
presents of flour, rice, tea, and bottled porter, and three large turtle,
with some water-melons. Both the last-mentioned were great curiosities,
as they had never been brought to the place before, or indeed seen by
any of the inhabitants, except those in the government service. Much
curiosity was consequently excited when the turtle were landed; and
very few would at first believe such forbidding animals were intended
to be eaten. As no person knew how to dress them, 1 sent my cook on
shore, and they were soon converted into an excellent soup, some of
which was sent round to each o fth e respectable inhabitants ofthe
place; but, as may be imagined, after having brought the animals so far,
we were mortified at hearing several persons declare their preference for
their own dishes made of seals’ flesh. These turtle were the last ofthe
supply we had taken on board at Port Lloyd, three having died upon
the passage, and the ship's company having continued to consume two
every day, which on an average was about five pounds a man. This
lasted for about three weeks, during which time we saved hall the usual
allowance of provision.
C H A P .
X V I I I .
The season at Petrapaulski was more backward than the preceding
year ; and though it was the beginning of July, the snow lay deep upon
some parts of the shore, and the inhabitants were glad to keep on their
fur dresses. ^
The little town, which has been repeatedly described since King s
visit, has been removed from the spit of land which forms the harbour,
to a ’valley at the back of it, where there are several rows of substantial
log-houses, comfortably fitted up inside, and warmed with large ovens in
tlm centre, furnished with pipes for the conveyance of hot air. Glass
for windows has partly superseded the laminm of talc, before used for
that purpose. Neat wooden bridges have been thrown over the ravines
which intersect the town, and a new church has been biult. A guardhouse
and several field-pieces command the landing; and a little to the
nortliward there are magazines for powder and stores. Among other
buildings in the town there is a hospital and a school. The yourts
July,
1827.