Some two
hundred men, of whom a score had already perished of scurvy, had gone
down the Siberian rivers to the Arctic coast. Spanberg, the Dane, with
a hundred others, had thoroughly charted Japan, and had seen his
results vetoed by the authorities at St. Petersburg because there was
no Gamaland. Bering, himself, undertook the voyage to America. All
the month of {19} May, council after council had been held at Avacha
Bay to determine which way Bering's two ships should sail. By the vote
of this council, Bering, the commander, was compelled to abide; and the
mythical Gamaland proved his evil star.
The maps of the D'Isles, the famous geographers, contained a Gamaland;
and Louis la Croyere d'Isle, relative of the great map maker, who had
knocked about in Canada and was thought to be an authority on American
matters, was to accompany Chirikoff, Bering's first lieutenant. At the
councils, these maps were hauled out. It was a matter of family pride
with the D'Isles to find that Gamaland. Bering and Chirikoff may have
cursed all scientists, as Cook, the great navigator, cursed savants at
a later day; but they must bow to the decision of the council; and the
decision was to sail south-southeast for Gamaland.
Pages:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44