Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/145

1837.] I despatched Lieutenant Collinson to Bird Island, in order to secure the latitude and longitude during the present favourable weather. He was soon joined by Kellett.

About three the breeze enabled us to lay up for the centre channel, the houses, citadel, and flags of Sitka showing very distinctly. About half-past three we were visited by the Governor's secretary, Mr. Alexander, in a caiack, with the customary string of boarding questions answered by merchant vessels; but finding, as they had imagined, a ship-of-war, these were laid aside, and a note containing the principal points of interest forwarded by the caiack.

The pilot having arrived, we beat into the channel, where, the breeze failing, we resorted to towing, aided by the Governor's barge and other boats sent to our assistance; a practice quite indispensable here, where nine vessels out of ten are forced to tow in or out. The Governor had also despatched his lieutenant-aide, who directed in person the exertions of the Russians, and did not quit us until dark, when, unable to stem the tide, we dropped anchor about two miles from the Fort.

The aide-de-camp then accompanied me in my gig to call on the Governor, Captain Koupreanoff, formerly commanding the Azof, seventy-four, in the Black Sea, who received me in the warmest manner, and tendered all the facilities which the port or arsenal could afford; at the same time, to put me