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entered it the day before. I found two villages of Schuktchi on the shore of Bay and visited them and found large herds of Reindeer, I was most friendly received by the natives. With one who represented himself to be the Captain (named O-Carg-Cray) & who seemed perfectly familiar with the river, I made what I deemed satisfactory arrangements for reaching Inadyrst on deer sleds as soon as snow fell to a proper depth. I then landed my stores as fast as possible on a point on river five miles above its mouth where I could find sufficient fire wood. The equinoctial storms prevailed at this time and I did not get all my stores landed until the 30" instant.

  Had the weather permitted it was evidently too late to attempt an ascent of the river in the boat.

 We would scarcely have time to construct from the poor material in our possession a shelter for ourselves & Stores. Captain Harding reluctantly and as a great favor gave me enough boards for a roof 9 by 16 feet & allowed me to purchase a stove from the Company. After two days hard labor I was gratified to find that we had a house when finished would answer for winter quarters should we be compelled to remain. Oct 2d Col