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.