Three Accounts of the Vasil'ev-Shismarev Expedition of 1819-1822

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"The whole day (August 11th, during the return journey from Bering Strait) we went toward the narrowest entrance of Mechigmenskaia Bay with a light west wind and intermittent very light wind between N and W. The Chukchi from the settlement, Liugren, with their chief, Telmuurgin, came in three baidars, but brought nothing for trade because they apparently were hunting, and for this reason they soon returned, promising to deliver deer without fail to us and assuring us that they grazed very near.

"In the morning (the 12th) the Chukchis came with the same chief, Telmuurgin, who assured us that the deer would come very soon because yesterday they had been sent for.

"After midday, I went with some officers to the settlement Liugren, a distance of 4 1/3 miles3 with the depth gradually decreasing from six to two sazhens, being not farther than 1/4 mile from shore. The settlement stands on an elevation consisting of two parts divided by a slope, beyond which is a swamp and a few lakes of brackish water. In the settlement there are summer and winter yurts, 40 altogether. The summer ones are exactly the/same as in St. Lawrence Bay, only larger, and the winter ones are dug halfway into the ground, and the other half covered around with sod and earth. Inside are cross beams and supports from driftwood and whale ribs needed for the support of the yurt. Part of the floor is covered with planks. The entrance is gained from the top into a little hatchway. We saw here very many altars for