mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i5-023
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- 183 -
Sailing northward to Sitka
Leaving the harbor with the "Discovery" we set a course
N and saw at dawn of the 8th Atio Island. This island, al-
though it is hilly, is incomparably lower than the others. Its
northern part is low, and only on the southern end rises a
rather high conically shaped mountain. Although it is much
lower than Mono-Roa and Mono-Kaa mountains, nevertheless,
it can be seen from far away at sea, and, standing completely
apart, serves sailors as a good point of orientation.
Passing Atoi Island we were met by the northeast trade
winds, which slowed down our sailing considerably until we
reached latitude 39°, where, after a considerable storm we got
the SW. Here an innumerable quantity of sea swallows wheeled
over us, which generally do not venture into the ocean far
from shore, whereupon we considered their appearance as a sign
of some island. But as the purpose of our voyage did not
permit us to waste time on explorations in the ocean, we took
advantage of the mentioned wind to reach Sitka as speedily
as possible.
On May 8th, we were at latitude 53°. Here a thick fog
seperated us from the "Discovery," but this did not prevent
us continuing our voyage so that on the 12th we saw Mt. Edge-
cumbe, which we approached toward evening, but hindered by
headwinds, could not enter the Sound until the 14th.
On this day we safely crossed the middle passage and
cast anchor directly opposite the fort, which saluted the
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