mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i2-014

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On July 4th, the sloop Good Intent was at latitude
62° 32', longitude east of Greenwich 193° 11', and from it
they sighted a high shore extending from SETE to SE, at an
approximate distance of 70 miles, but according to the map of
[Editor: this is correct spelling for K. here] Mr. Khromchenko, it appears that Cap. Lieut. Shishmarev was
only a distance of 45 miles from it.

Captain-Lieutenant Shishmarev, comparing it with all known
maps, saw that this shore was located at a distance of 245
versts [a little more than 16 miles] from the mainland shore
of America, and therefore acknowledged it very rightly as a
new discovery. Wishing to survey this new unknown land,
he directed his way toward it, but having gone 15 miles, he
found the depth of the sea five sazhens, and for that reason
did not dare to sail farther. Below we shall have occasion to
talk about this new shore again.⁹

From this place, Captain Lieutenant Shishmarev went to
St. Lawrence Island and surveying the northern part of it,
collected much curious information about the inhabitants. On
July 11, the sloop Good Intent entered St. Lawrence Bay and
Cap. Lieut. Shishmarev compiled a very interesting descrip-
tion concerning the manners, customs, and character of the
Chukchi people.¹⁰ It is noteworthy that he saw there two rifles,
which they had received from an American brig [apparently the
Pedler], which had come there because the Russians trading
with them in Izhiga and Nizhne-Kovymsk [Lower Kolyma ] may not
sell them firearms.

Until July 21st, Captain Lieutenant Shishmarev sailed