mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i2-016

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a general direction SE and of a chain of low mountains. To-
ward the sea, several cliff-like capes, about 500 feet in height,
stand out. Between these capes, the shore is low and forms
small inlets, but timber is nowhere to be seen, not even a
little green grass is to be seen. What a contrast to the
shores of America. In many places we saw large settlements,
but could not approach them because of the ice.

Ice, head winds, and stormy weather prompted Mr. Shish-
marev to abandon further attempts, and to sail to Mecheg-
menskaia Bay [Mechegmenan Bay] where he hoped to fortify his
crew with fresh provisions. The Chukchi here received the Rus-
sians very amicably, and the chief delivered ten live deer to
the sloop. Cap. Shishmarev collected, here, too, rather
interesting information, discovering, at the same time, that
among the Mechegmenskaia Chukchi lived four more nations, talk-
ing various languages different from the Chukchi dialect.

On Aug 15, Mr. Shishmarev left Mechegmenskaia Bay and
went to St. Lawrence Island. Having surveyed its northern
shore, and having established communications with the inhabi-
tants, who, in his opinion, are much poorer than the Chukchi,
Mr. Shishmarev went his way to St. Matthew Island, which was
discovered in 1766 by Lieut. Sind. Determining the geographical
location of this island and both [?] located near it, Mr.
Shishmarev decided to end his voyage in arctic regions,
and went toward the harbor of St. Peter and Paul ----------|