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

APPENDIX.

Vocabulary of the Languages of the Friendly Islands 445

Vocabulary of the Language of Nootka, or King George’s Sound 453

Vocabulary of the Language of Atooi, one of the Sandwich Islands 457

Table to show the Affinity between the Languages spoken at Oonalashka and Norton Sound, and those of the Greenlanders and Esquimaux 461

A comparative Table of Numerals, exhibiting the Affinity and Extent of Language, which is found to prevail in all the Islands of the Eastern Sea, and derived from that spoken on the Continent of Asia, in _To face_ p. the Country of the Malayes 462

A

VOYAGE

TO THE

PACIFIC OCEAN,

TO DETERMINE

THE POSITION AND EXTENT OF THE WEST SIDE OF NORTH AMERICA; ITS DISTANCE FROM ASIA; AND THE PRACTICABILITY OF A NORTHERN PASSAGE TO EUROPE.

PERFORMED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

CAPTAINS COOK, CLERKE, AND GORE,

IN HIS MAJESTY’S SHIPS THE RESOLUTION AND DISCOVERY,

IN THE YEARS 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780.

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VOL. III.

WRITTEN BY CAPTAIN JAMES KING, LL. D. AND F. R. S.

A

VOYAGE

TO

THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

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