On the 20th, at three in the morning, the weather having cleared up, we stood in toward the land; and in an hour’s time saw it ahead, extending from N.W. to N.N.E., distant about five leagues.  The north part we took to be Kronotskoi Noss; its position in the Russian charts agreeing nearly with our reckoning as to its latitude, which was 54 deg. 42’; but in longitude we differed from them considerably, they placing it 1 deg. 48’ E. of Awatska; whereas our reckoning, corrected by the time-keepers and lunar observations, makes it 3 deg. 34’ eastward of that place, or 162 deg. 17’ E. from Greenwich.  The land about this cape is very high, and the inland mountains were still covered with snow.  The shore breaks off in steep cliffs, and the coast is without appearance of inlets or bays.  We had not been long gratified with this sight of the land, when the Wind freshened from the S.W., and brought on a thick fog, which obliged us to stand off to the N.E.by E. The weather clearing up again at noon, we steered toward the land, expecting to fall in with Kamtschatskoi Noss, and had sight of it at day-break of the 21st.

The southerly wind was soon after succeeded by a light breeze blowing off the land, which prevented our approaching the coast sufficiently near to describe its aspect, or ascertain with accuracy its direction.  At noon our latitude, by observation, was 55 deg. 52’, and longitude (deduced from a comparison of many lunar observations, taken near this time, with the time-keepers), 163 deg. 50’; the extremities of the land bearing N.W. by W. 3/4 W., and N. by W. 3/4 W., the nearest part about eight leagues distant.  At nine o’clock in the evening, having approached about two leagues nearer the coast, we found it formed a projecting peninsula, extending about twelve leagues in a direction nearly north and south.  It is level, and of a moderate height, the southern extremity terminating in a low sloping point; that to the north forming a steep bluff head; and between them, about four leagues to the southward of the northern cape, there is a considerable break in the land.  On each side of this break the land is quite low; beyond the opening rises a remarkable saddle-like hill; and a chain of high mountains, covered with snow, ranges along the back of the whole peninsula.

As the coast runs in an even direction, we were at a great loss where to place Kamtschatskoi Noss, which, according to Muller, forms a projecting point about the middle of the peninsula, and which certainly does not exist; but I have since found, that in the general map published by the Academy of Petersburgh in 1776, that name is given to the southern cape.  This was found, by several accurate observations, to be in latitude 56 deg. 3’, longitude 163 deg. 20’; the difference, in longitude, from the Russian charts, being the same as at Kronotskoi Noss.  The variation of the compass at this time was 10 deg.  E. To the southward of this peninsula, the great river Kamtschatka falls into the sea.