Chapter II: Book VI

Transactions during the Second Expedition to the North, by the Way of Kamtschatka; and on the return Home, by the Way of Canton and the Cape of Good Hope.

CHAP. I.

Departure from Oneeheow.—Fruitless Attempt to discover
Modoopapappa.—Course steered for Awatska Bay.—
Occurrences during that Passage.—Sudden Change from
Heat to Cold.—Distress occasioned by the leaking of
the Resolution.—View of the Coast of Kamtschatka.—
Extreme rigour of the Climate.—Lose Sight of the
Discovery.—The Resolution enters the Bay of Awatska.—
Prospect of the Town of St. Peter and St. Paul.—Party
sent Ashore.—Their Reception by the Commanding
Officer of the Port.—Message dispatched to the
Commander at Bolcheretsk.—Arrival of the Discovery.—
Return of the Messengers, from the Commander.—
Extraordinary Mode of Travelling.—Visit from a
Merchant, and a German Servant belonging to the
Commander 156

CHAP. II.

Scarcity of Provisions and Stores at the Harbour of
Saint Peter and Saint Paul.—A Party set out to visit
the Commander at Bolcheretsk.—Passage up the River
Awatska.—Account of their Reception by the Toion of
Karatchin.—Description of a Kamtschadale Dress.—
Journey on Sledges.—Description of this Mode of
Travelling.—Arrival at Natcheekin.—Account of hot
Springs.—Embark on the Bolchoireka.—Reception at the
Capital.—Generous and hospitable Conduct of the
Commander and the Garrison.—Description of
Bolcheretsk.—Presents from the Commander.—Russian and
Kamtschadale Dancing.—Affecting Departure from
Bolcheretsk.—Return to Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s,
accompanied by Major Behm, who visits the Ships.—
Generosity of the Sailors.—Dispatches sent by Major
Behm to Petersburg.—His Departure and Character 179

CHAP. III.

Continuation of Transactions in the Harbour of St.
Peter and St. Paul.—Abundance of Fish.—Death of a
Seaman belonging to the Resolution.—The Russian
Hospital put under the Care of the Ship’s Surgeons.—
Supply of Flour and Cattle.—Celebration of the King’s
Birth-day.—Difficulties in sailing out of the Bay.—
Eruption of a Volcano.—Steer to the northward.—
Cheepoonskoi Noss.—Errors of the Russian Charts.—
Kamtschatskoi Noss.—Olutorskoi Noss.—Tschukotskoi
Noss.—Island of St. Laurence.—View from the same
Point, of the Coasts of Asia and America, and the
Islands of St. Diomede.—Various Attempts to get to
the north, between the two Continents.—Obstructed by
impenetrable Ice.—Sea-horses and white Bears killed.—
Captain Clerke’s Determination, and future Designs 208

CHAP. IV.

Fruitless Attempts to penetrate through the Ice to the
north-west.—Dangerous Situation of the Discovery.—
Sea-horses killed.—Fresh Obstructions from the Ice.—
Report of Damages received by the Discovery.—Captain
Clerke’s Determination to proceed to the Southward.—
Joy of the Ships’ Crews on that Occasion.—Pass Serdze
Kamen.—Return through Beering’s Straits.—Inquiry into
the Extent of the north-east Coast of Asia.—Reasons
for rejecting Muller’s Map of the Promontory of the
Tschutski.—Reasons for believing the Coast does not
reach a higher Latitude than 70-1/2° north.—General
Observations on the Impracticability of a north-east
or north-west Passage from the Atlantic into the
Pacific Ocean.—Comparative View of the Progress made
in the Years 1778 and 1779.—Remarks on the Sea, and
Sea-coasts, north of Beering’s Straits.—History of
the Voyage resumed.—Pass the Island of St. Laurence.—
The Island of Mednoi.—Death of Captain Clerke.—Short
Account of his Services 233

CHAP. V.

Return to the Harbour of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.—
Promotion of Officers.—Funeral of Captain Clerke.—
Damages of the Discovery repaired.—Various other
Occupations of the Ships’ Crews.—Letters from the
Commander.—Supply of Flour and Naval Stores from a
Russian Galliot.—Account of an Exile.—Bear-hunting
and Fishing Parties.—Disgrace of the Serjeant.—
Celebration of the King’s Coronation-day, and Visit
from the Commander.—The Serjeant reinstated.—A
Russian Soldier promoted at our Request.—Remarks on
the Discipline of the Russian Army.—Church at
Paratounca.—Method of Bear-hunting.—Farther Account
of the Bears and Kamtschadales.—Inscription to the
Memory of Captain Clerke.—Supply of Cattle.—
Entertainments on the Empress’s Name Day.—Present
from the Commander.—Attempt of a Marine to desert.—
Work out of the Bay.—Nautical and Geographical
Description of Awatska Bay.—Astronomical Tables, and
Observations 258

CHAP. VI.

General Account of Kamtschatka.—Geographical
Description.—Rivers.—Soil.—Climate.—Volcanoes.—Hot
Springs.—Productions.—Vegetables.—Animals.—Birds.—
Fish 297

CHAP. VII.

General Account of Kamtschatka continued.—Of the
Inhabitants.—Origin of the Kamtschadales.—Discovered
by the Russians.—Abstract of their History.—Numbers.—
Present State.—Of the Russian Commerce in
Kamtschatka.—Of the Kamtschadale Habitations and
Dress.—Of the Kurile Islands.—The Koreki.—The
Tschutski 326

CHAP. VIII.

Plan of our future Proceedings.—Course to the
southward, along the Coast of Kamtschatka.—Cape
Lopatka.—Pass the Islands Shoomska and Paramousir.—
Driven to the eastward of the Kuriles.—Singular
Situation with respect to the pretended Discoveries
of former Navigators.—Fruitless Attempts to reach the
Islands north of Japan.—Geographical Conclusions.—
View of the Coast of Japan.—Run along the east side.—
Pass two Japanese Vessels.—Driven off the Coast by
contrary Winds.—Extraordinary Effect of Currents.—
Steer for the Bashees.—Pass large Quantities of
Pumice Stone.—Discover Sulphur Island.—Pass the
Pratas.—Isles of Lema, and Ladron Island.—Chinese
Pilot taken on Board the Resolution.—Journals of the
Officers and Men secured 348

CHAP. IX.

Working up to Macao.—A Chinese Comprador.—Sent on Shore
to visit the Portuguese Governor.—Effects of the
Intelligence we received from Europe.—Anchor in the
Typa.—Passage up to Canton.—Bocca Tygris.—Wampû.—
Description of a Sampane.—Reception at the English
Factory.—Instance of the suspicious Character of the
Chinese.—Of their Mode of Trading.—Of the City of
Canton.—Its Size.—Population.—Number of Sampanes.—
Military Force.—Of the Streets and Houses.—Visit to a
Chinese.—Return to Macao.—Great Demand for the
Sea-Otter Skins.—Plan of a Voyage for opening a fair
Trade on the Western Coast of America, and
prosecuting further Discoveries in the Neighbourhood
of Japan.—Departure from Macao.—Price of Provisions
in China 380

CHAP. X.

Leave the Typa.—Orders of the Court of France
respecting Captain Cook.—Resolutions in Consequence
thereof.—Strike Soundings on the Macclesfield Banks.—
Pass Pulo Sopata.—Steer for Pulo Condore.—Anchor at
Pulo Condore.—Transactions during our Stay.—Journey
to the principal Town.—Receive a Visit from a
Mandarin.—Examine his Letters.—Refreshments to be
procured.—Description, and present State of the
Island.—Its Produce.—An Assertion of M. Sonnerat
refuted.—Astronomical and Nautical Observations 405

CHAP. XI.

Departure from Pulo Condore.—Pass the Straits of
Banca.—View of the Island of Sumatra.—Straits of
Sunda.—Occurrences there.—Description of the Island
of Cracatoa.—Prince’s Island.—Effects of the Climate
of Java.—Run to the Cape of Good Hope.—Transactions
there.—Description of False Bay.—Passage to the
Orkneys.—General Reflections 421