Russian Explorations, 1725-1743

Vitus Bering: The Discoverer of Bering Strait

Russian Explorations, 1725-1743
Vitus Bering: The Discoverer of Bering Strait

This edition features
• illustrations
• a linked Table of Contents, Footnotes, and Index

CONTENTS
Lieut. Schwatka's Introduction
Translator's Preface
Author's Preface
PART I.
BERING'S FIRST EXPEDITION.
Chapter I.
Russia and England in the work of Arctic exploration.—Vitus Bering's rank as an explorer
Chapter II.
Bering's nativity.—Norwegians and Danes in the service of Peter the Great.—Founding of the Russian navy
Chapter III.
Plans for Bering's First Expedition.—Peter the Great's desire to know the extent of his empire.—The Northeast passage
Chapter IV.
Bering's knowledge of Siberian geography.—Terrors of traveling in Siberia.—The expedition starts out.—The journey from St. Petersburg to the Pacific
Chapter V.
The building of the Gabriel.—The discovery of Bering Strait
Chapter VI.
The task assigned by Peter the Great accomplished.—History of the cartography of East Siberia.—Captain Cook's defense of Bering
Chapter VII.
Bering's winter at the fort.—Indications of an adjacent continent.—Unsuccessful search for this continent.—Return to St. Petersburg.—General review of the results of the First Expedition
PART II.
THE GREAT NORTHERN EXPEDITION.
Chapter VIII.
Bering's plans for a second expedition.—The greatest geographical enterprise ever undertaken
Chapter IX.
The Great Northern Expedition on its way through Siberia.—Difficulties and dangers encountered and overcome
Chapter X.
Delay of the expedition caused by the death of Lassenius and his command in the Arctic regions.—Dissatisfaction of the Senate and Admiralty with Bering's work
Chapter XI.
Final Preparations for the Pacific expeditions
PART III.
THE VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS.
Chapter XII.
The Arctic expeditions.—The Northeast passage.—Severe criticisms on Nordenskjöld
Chapter XIII.
The discovery of the Kurile Islands and Japan from the north
Chapter XIV.
Preparations for Bering's voyage of discovery to America.—Founding of Petropavlovsk.—The brothers De l'Isle
Chapter XV.
The discovery of America from the east.—Steller induced to join the expedition.—The separation of the St. Peter and the St. Paul
Chapter XVI.
Bering's place of landing on the American coast.—Captain Cook's uncertainty.—The question discussed and definitely settled
Chapter XVII.
Explorations along the American coast.—Steller's censure of Bering for undue haste.—Bering defended.—Dall, the American writer, reprimanded.—The return voyage
Chapter XVIII.
The discovery of the Aleutian Islands.—Terrible hardships of the voyage.—Steller's fault-finding.—Bering confined to his cabin.—Deaths on board from exhaustion and disease.—Bering Island discovered.—A narrow escape
Chapter XIX.
The stay on Bering Island.—Fauna of the island.—A rich field for Steller.—His descriptions immortalize the expedition.—The sea-cow.—Its extermination.—Nordenskjöld refuted.—Preparations for wintering.—Sad death of Bering.—An estimate of his work.—Chirikoff's return.—The crew of the St. Peter leave the Island.—The Great Northern Expedition discontinued.—Bering's reports buried in Russian archives.—Bering honored by Cook
APPENDIX.
Bering's Report to the Admiralty from Okhotsk
Notes
Index
Maps.