Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-07
KAMSCHATKA.


The London Times says: Mr.. G. T. Kettle
WELL whose steam yacht Marchesa sailed from
Cowes on January II, on voyage round the
world, brought his vessel back to Yokohama on
October 5, after cruise of some eight weeks in
northern waters, during which time, accom-
panied by Lieut.. Ffolliott Powell, R. N, and
DIR. Guillemard, he trayersed Kamschatka
almost from end to end. From an interesting
letter recently received from DR.. Guillemard,
we gather the following particulars: Leaving
Hakodadi on August 4. voyage of nine days
under steam and sail brought the Marchesa
to PetrOpaulOvsky, a town Of some 500
inhabitants, situate on the shores of Avatika
Bay. This is perfectly land-locked harbor,
containing. like Sydney harbor, numerous
minor harbors, and pronounced to excel both
Sydney and the Bay of Rio In the beauty and
grandeur OF its surroundings FIVE grand noun
talns. volcanoes, ranging from 1900 to II. 900
feet In altitude, towering above the placid
waters of the bay. week was spent here in
organizing the expedition to the north. and on
August ~ the party started, accompanied by
two Russian guides and Interpreters and five
kamtschatdaerS in charge Of the 26 horses and
foals which were required for the journey.
Riding nine hours o day, and stopping
two days only en- route. on one of
which they hunted. but only obtained one
bear, the party travelled north for fourteen
days. at the end of which time they struck the
head waters of the Great Kamschatka river the
distance to which had been much underesti-
mated by the guides: Having made arrange
ments for the yacht to meet them on the coasts.
and not wishing her to be longer than was nee
essary IN unsurveyed waters. all ideas of hunting
mad to be abandoned, and the voyage down the
river was commenced without delay. Rats were
quilt over dug-out canoes, and on these the ex-
pedition f1oated down to the sea-a distance of
4OO miles The scenery, which was that of birch
forests bordering long lake-Iike reaches of river
Tor great part Of the voyage, became of a
grander type as the coast was neared At one
point six magnificent mountains were in sight
at the same time, one, Klootchefskoiia by
name, superb volcano, absolutely conical, and
nearly 1900 feet in height. Autumn had by
this time had its effect upon the landscape, and
the colOring of the forest is described by DR..
Gulllemard as equal In richness Of scarlet, GRIM
son and gold to that of the forests of birch,
rowan and aspen in Lapland and Norway. The
expedition camped nightly on the banks of the
river; the weather was brilliant but very cold
after sunset, so much 80, indeed, that the mer-
curry fell below the freezing point in the tents,
but 1t was a perfectly dry cold, and the whole
party reached the coast in rude health.
Bears swarmed In the forest, and at one
hamlet passed on the voyage as MANY
as ninety had been killed in one month Duck
and capercailzie abOunded, and afforded plenty
OF sport. while in places the river was so fuIl Of
salmon that the banks were lined with thou
sands OF fish In dead or dying condition Dr.
Guillemard made ont six or seven varieties OF
salmon. but expresses an opinion that there are
even more than this Photographs of the prin-
clpal mountains were taken, and their positions
and attitudes obtained by observation, and
soundings were taken of the river and it's course
from the head-waters to the sea- Joining the
Marchesa at the mouth Of the river Mr.
Kettlewell took her across to Behring's Island,
where the Alaska Fur Company's seal
''roOkery' was visited, the party travelling
across the tundras in sedges drawn by twelve
dogs each. The '.rOOkery" was found to con-
sist of some Sc, 600 fur seals basking on the low
shores of one of the most desolate islands I'm the
world Hence the Marchesa proceeded to Cape
Shipunsky, where the party made a good bag of
morn. and after a short stay at PetrOpaulov-
sky visit was paid to the south of the promon-
tory, where the Aleuts hunt the seat otter. the
skins OF which fetch such high prices in the Lon
don market. On the return voyage to Janan
the Marchesa encountered the full fury of a ty-
phOon in the height of which one of the hands
vas unfortunately lost overheard The Yacht
behaved well, but two boats We're smashed and
part OF the bulwarks carried away. Yokohama
was reached on October 5, and Mr. Kettlewell
and his friends left for na inf Of I,non