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

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from the fore crosstree was announced that directly in front of us was seen a coast. We did not want to believe this because the longitude, which was determined with a clear horizon according to lunar distances similar to dead reckoning, did not allow for the supposition of inexactnesses in calculation, and the maps did not show any islands here. Therefore, we decided that the shore was one of the common phenomena so often deceiving to sailors, which occurs because of refraction during condensation of the atmosphere at the horizon. However, we soon saw in front of us a group of low coral islands, the greater part of which was covered with forest, above which coconut palms majestically raised their crowned tops. The latitude of this group was 8° 4' S and the longitude 178° 24' E. [north of the Fiji Islands]. Taking this as a new discovery, we notified Captain Vasilev by telegraph about it, who, concurring in this opinion, named them "Islands of Good Intent" after our sloop from which they were sighted for the first time.

About midday, we approached the southern end of the group. It consisted of four large and 12 small coral islands, connected to each other by the same kind of underwater reef, clearly indicated by the yellowish color of water and surf. By their mutual positions they formed a spherical triangle and the concave western arc had, in the middle, a passage into the interior, about the width of one and one-half cables' length [900 feet]. We did not investigate the character of the ground and depth in either the passage or the lagoon because of lack of time.

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crew and us as there is nothing more unbearable than freezing under sail, especially shortly after damp and inclement weather. On deck it is cold, and below it is suffocating from stuffy damp air warmed up by the fireplaces. During the night of August 1, the wind shifted to the SW and with it a thick wet snow started falling again. Toward morning, we saw directly in front of us the "Discovery" keeping under least sail. We were extremely overjoyed by this event because we had got bored cruising aimlessly in one spot, and could hope now to get instructions for further action. Toward noon, the weather cleared completely and the wind died down. We found ourselves at that time at latitude 68° 34'. During our first time in this latitude, we noticed a strong current from the NE, which now during a calm left no doubt whatsoever. Being near stationary ice fields and shores, we clearly saw how we were being carried toward the SW with reference to these objects. To keep our position, we had no other means but to drop anchor. We dropped it at a depth of 18 sazhens. In order to measure the strength of the current we lowered a log and it proved to be almost two knots. Captain Vasilev requested through the telegraph that our captain come to him, and some of our officers, taking advantage of good weather, went out to hunt walrus on the ice. But this was very unsuccessful. In these latitudes, there are very few, and those are so fearful that they would not let us approach to the distance of a shot. Toward evening, our captain returned from the "Discovery"

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At about nine o'clock, we reached the entrance of the bay, but finding it clogged with ice could not enter. Hoping that during the night the ice would be carried out with the current, we lay to until morning, but we were deceived; the ice remained as before, and we were obliged to go on because of lack of time.

A course taken toward the west end of St. Lawrence Island brought us in sight of this island on the 11th. On that day Captain Vasilev, ordered our captain by telegraph to continue surveying the island and to join him later at Unalashka. The sloop "Discovery" departed for exploration of the American shore between Norton Sound and Bristol Bay. Following that direction, it soon disappeared from our sight. Because it was too late that day to start surveying, we tacked and withdrew farther from the shore for the night where we hove to under least sail.

The night was very dark. We lay close-hauled on a port tack having only the reefed topsails, foresails, staysails, and mizzens. According to our calculations we were more to the north, almost opposite the middle of the strait between the island and the continent of Asia; therefore, a tack to starboard was proposed only at midnight. At about 11 o'clock the boatswain on watch came from the forecastle to report that from leeward the sound of breakers was heard. The lieutenant on duty, knowing that we were more than 30 miles from both shores at eight o'clock, and having no more than three knots speed--in three hours we made only nine miles--did not want