The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VII. Being the Third of the Third VoyageKing, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VII. Being the Third of the Third Voyage
King, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
To our very great disappointment, he had so totally forgotten both his
German and French, as not to be able to speak a sentence, nor readily to
understand what was said to him, in either of these languages. We found
ourselves thus unfortunately deprived of what we flattered ourselves
would have turned out a favourable opportunity of getting farther
information relative to this country. We had also promised ourselves
much pleasure from the history of this extraordinary man, which he
probably would have been induced to relate to strangers, who might
perhaps be of some little service to him, but who could have no
inducement to take advantage, from any thing he might say, to do him an
injury. No one here knew the cause of his banishment; but they took it
for granted, that it must have been for something very atrocious;
particularly, as two or three commanders of Kamtschatka have endeavoured
to get him recalled, since the present empress’s reign; but far from
succeeding in this, they have not been even able to get the place of his
banishment changed. He told us that, for twenty years, he had not tasted
bread, nor had been allowed subsistence of any kind whatsoever; but
that, during this period, he had lived among the Kamtschadales, on what
his own activity and toil in the chace had furnished. That afterward he
had a small pension granted; and that since Major Behm came to the
command, his situation had been infinitely mended. The notice that
worthy man had taken of him, and his having often invited him to become
his guest, had been the occasion of others following his example;
besides which, he had been the means of getting his pension increased to
one hundred roubles a-year; which is the common pay of an ensign in all
parts of the empress’s dominions, except in this province, where the pay
of all the officers is double. Major Behm told us, that he had obtained
permission to take him to Okotzk, which was to be the place of his
residence in future; but that he should leave him behind for the
present, on an idea, that he might, on our return to the bay, be useful
to us as an interpreter.
Having given orders to the first lieutenants of both ships, to let the
rigging have such a repair as the supply of stores, we had lately
received, would permit, we set out on our hunting party, under the
direction of the corporal of the Kamtschadales, intending, before we
began to look for our game, to proceed straight to the head of Behm’s
Harbour. It is an inlet on the west side of the bay (which we had named
after that officer, from its being a favourite place of his, and having
been surveyed by himself), and is called by the natives Tareinska.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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