mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i4-036

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squall from the NE and saved the masts only by the timely re-
moval of the sails. This squall was accompanied first by a
downpour and then by thick snow, which, in one minute so
cooled the hot air that we, drenched to the bone, had to put
on warm clothing. Fortunately, the squall did not last more
than a half hour, and on its passing, the same temperature
was again restored. Knowing that nothing is more harmful
than such a sudden change, we hastened to reach the shore in
order to dry out, and to take refuge from the heat in the
tents. Choosing a suitable place, we came ashore on the north
side of the cape at five o'clock in the afternoon. The depth
from the islet to the cape on which we landed varies from one
and a half to 15 sazhens, having a muddy bottom near the shores,
and fine sand in the middle.

Mooring the longboat on shore behind some stumps, we
pitched the tents on the edge of a laurel grove, started a
fire, and began to dry out. Directly beyond the grove rise
rather high sandstone cliffs beyond which, farther on, rise
considerable mountains extending to some distance northward
from the shore, then making a semicircle in the form of blue
mounds. The sandy soil from the grove to the shore furnished
us a dry campsite. The night was dark, as is usual in these
latitudes, especially in winter, although there was not a cloud
in the sky, and the stars shone brightly in the almost black
firmament. Not the slightest breeze stirred the leaves of
the nearby grove. On the southern shore were seen a few fires,
which we attributed to some native tribe, although the Spaniards