The spot we selected for our picnic was on a bank about half cable wide that separated the northern lagoon from the sea. There was the usual bar; the sea being smooth, one of our boats passed up. We saw no natives, but near where we landed was a hut, the residence of fishermen during the last season. By the number of heads hung up to dry (as winter food for the sleigh dogs), salmon must have been large and plentiful. Eight and a half couple of wild ducks were bagged by the parties “gunning.” The lagoons appeared to be bordered by long grass and sedges and surrounded by hills covered with firs; these woods were difficult to get through, not so much from underwood as from the enormous quantity of decayed and fallen timber, which was covered with moss or hid by ferns, and treacherous to tread on. Beyond the hut mentioned, I can imagine no ground better adapted for the breeding of wild-fowl. None of the pine trees appeared to grow to any size. In working his way through the wood Heneage disturbed a covey of birds, quite young, about a dozen of them; we shot one, a pheasant. [Sidenote: Najassi, July 8.] 9.15 A.M.--Weighed and made sail. Our next place was to be Najassi, some fourteen miles farther to the northward, where Mr. Esche had a small settlement and a grant of an extensive coal district; We came to in the afternoon off his house, determined to coal during continuance of fine weather. We found Mr. Esche’s hut on the right bank of a small stream, the inhabitants of the settlement consisting of one Russian and a boy; they appeared happy and contented, netting as much salmon as they required for use, drying and salting others for winter food. They were occasionally visited by bears. Although provided with a double-barrelled rifle, Esche never liked to fire for fear of provoking an attack. [Sidenote: Najassi.] However, he showed me, in case of Bruin’s coming to close quarters, a formidable-looking spear, which was kept inside the house. There had been some Chinese coolies and boat-builders, but they preferred the society of Nicholai. Green hills rose everywhere from the beach, intersected at two or three hundred yards by ravines and rivulets, while patches of coal were seen cropping out in all directions, at the foot, at the sides and tops, every convenient height for mining. The great and only drawback to this valuable property was the want of a harbour or shelter for coal-lighters. About four miles to the southward of where Mr. Esche had built his hut is a small river, inside which there is a good boat harbour; but, like all the other streams, there is a bar on which the surf must always break, except in the finest weather. [Sidenote: July 10.]