Alexander Massov. The circumnavigation of the sloop "Krotkiy"

THE CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE SLOOP "KROTKIY"

The sloop "Krotkiy" sailed off from Kronshtadt on the 20th (8) of September 1828 in order to dispatch provisions to the Russian America and cruise near its shore. The sloop was commanded by the renown Russian seafarer captain-lieutenant L.A. Gagemeister. He was the first Russian captain who visited Australia back in 1807 on an RAC ship "Neva". The navigation of "Krotkiy" was the third major voyage undertaken by Gagemeister and his second one to Australia. The captain of "Krotkiy" as well as other captains navigating to the Russian America had received exploration tasks apart from commercial ones. The instruction given to Gagemeister had directed that his route should not be made "...precisely along the ways of the previous seafarers... If you are fortunate to discover a previously unknown island or land do your best to determine their position... with a depiction of inhabitants...". During the navigation the seamen of "Krotkiy" actually discovered and plotted on the map the Menshikov Atoll in the chain of the Marshall Islands and specified position of some other already known islands. The spirit of exploration which was so typical for this expedition (as well as for the majority of the Russian circumnavigations of the first half of the XIX century) found is reflection in the documents of the navigation of "Krotkiy" including those which did not relate to the stay in Australia.

"Krotkiy" arrived in Port-Jackson (Sydney) on the 7th of April (26th of March) 1829 en route to Alaska. Initially the stay in Sydney was not meant to be long: only to replenish the provisions. The sloop, however, stayed in the Australian seaport for more than three weeks and sailed off only on the 1st of May (19th of April). The delay had been caused by necessity to repair the ship: the rigging was fixed up and the hold was dried up. Besides, having encountered a warm reception from the colonial authorities, Gagemeister decided to give the crew a rest. "The Governor General-Lieutenant Darling and all inhabitants, - Gagemeister wrote to the Russian Naval Minister A.V. Moller, - tried to make our stay on the shores of New Holland as pleasant as possible". The Russian seamen also expressed courtesy and took part in celebration of the King George IV's birthday. On the 23rd (11th) of April "Krotkiy" and the RAC ship "Elena" anchored in Port-Jackson as well hanged flags and conducted the Salute of Nations.

The stay of the Russian sloop in Australia was most fully described in the diary of the midshipman from "Krotkiy" Evgeniy Andreevich Berens. This diary was found in the Archive of the Department of Hydrography and published in the "Morskoi Sbornik" ("Naval Collection") in 1903.

During the expedition E.A. Berens (on the picture to the left) was only 20 years old. The voyage on "Krotkiy" was his first circumnavigation. Later he was to sail around the globe twice more (and to come to Australia once again in 1835), become an Admiral and Member of the Admiralty Counsel. His diary is full of interesting and precise observations. The clever and inquisitive midshipman looked at life and customs of the countries he chanced to see in detail. Berens considered it worthwhile to write into his diary not only his direct impressions but also information on nature, economy, state system of countries poorly known to the young man. He wrote the diary for himself - that's where from are his vivid language and absolutely open appraisal of all he saw.

In the beginning of his story about Australia the author noted the warm reception given to the Russian seamen and frankly cheers the Gagemeister's decision to delay in Port-Jackson - "there will be some time to see outskirts of the city". Alas, not without humor he pointed out in the following lanes that "we completely forgot that we would deal with the Englishmen which believe that the hospitality means dining". The young midshipman described in detail these festivities so courteously set up by the English authorities and officers for the Russian seamen. These descriptions are thought to be not so useless for a modern researcher. His stories about the etiquette, dancing, education and behavior of the local maidens (the theme seemingly never avoided by any Russian seaman) to a certain extent adds to perceptions of the customs of the top of the white community. It has to be noted that the gloss of the local "high society" greatly impressed the young seafarer: "I have to admit we did not expect at all to come across such a society so far from Europe".

Of course, Berens referred to the ethnography of the Aboriginals. In particular, he was the first of the Russian seamen to note the abrupt decline of the numbers of the native population being displaced and exterminated. Berens considered it necessary to enter into his diary information on tattoos, arms, excellent hunting skills of the natives of Australia. He described the exterior of the natives he had met in the streets of Sydney. He was interested in the problem of mixed marriages between white and dark Australians, the fate of their children. Apparently Berens felt sorry for the plight of the Aboriginals under the White reign. He re-told a story about the persecution of the Tasmanian Aboriginals hunted down by the English as "wild animals" and "killed with no mercy", heard by him from an English officer, with outrage.

We emphasize in this connection that the well-disposed attitude towards the "native inhabitants" could be explained not only by the personal humanness of the young midshipman. The respect to the Aboriginals of Australia and Oceania was typical for the participants of all Russian navigations, this attitude had become kind of an official Russian policy. "When you chance to be amongst the wild peoples, - it was written, for example, in an instruction given by the Russian Naval Minister to the captain of "Krotkiy" L.A. Gagemeister, - you, on caressing them, ought to aquire their friendship, .. and not to inspire them to attack you".

Informing about the arrival in Port-Jackson of two English ships with 320 convicts during the stay of "Krotkiy" Berens referred to the growth of white population in New Holland. He noted the quick increase of the white population and pointed out in this connection that although the current and ex-convicts made up the majority of the white population more and more people "settled down by their own will knowing well the climate and prosperity of the land".

Sydney left very good impressions on the Russian sailor by its architecture as well as the cleanness. The everyday life in Sydney was not simple though: "There is a great plenty of thieves and it is not safe to walk around the city in the night". The authorities could not handle the situation although the Governor's authorities "extend up to a death sentence". 23 (!) men were hanged in Sydney during the stay of the Russian seamen. The executions were carried out publicly and numerous spectators "watched it with rather quiet feelings" and that especially astonished Berens.

Berens briefly and, apparently, from the words of Gagemeister wrote about Paramatta: the Captain of "Krotkiy" had visited this suburb and made an excursion to the Blue Mountains by an invitation of the Governor of New South Wales. However, Gagemeister remained dissatisfied with the trip: the road had seemed to him tiring and all he'd seen - not very interesting. The other members of the crew did not have a chance to travel outside Sydney. And although Berens complained in his diary that the endless dinners inhibited his better acquaintance with the country, the inquisitive and observant midshipman managed to notice not so little. "One can say, - wrote Berens summarising his Australian impressions, - that New Holland prospers every day: the towns are built to the plan, the fields are cultivated, the stock and poultry are in abundance".

As well as Gagemeister Berens especially noted the warm reception given to the Russian seamen by the officials and locals. "During all our stay here, - the midshipman wrote with gratitude, - we have seen that he (the Governor - A. M.) and all the inhabitants have tried to bring us continious pleasure, ...have always seen a friendly attitude towards us and the endless respect to Russia". The Russian seamen were pleased to get convinced that the names of the Russian captains who had visited Australia previously were still remembered in Australia. The crew of "Krotkiy" as well as the crews of all ships which had come to Sydney and Hobart before were really received warmly and friendly. During the stay of "Krotkiy" and "Elena" the "Sydney Gazette" and "The Australian" newspapers issued a series of publications related to the visit of the Russian ships. The publications had quite a benevolent intonation.

Unfortunately, "Krotkiy" and "Elena" appeared to be the last Russian ships welcomed in Australia. The deterioration of the Russo-British relations led to the point that the call of the next Russian ship to Sydney (naval cargo ship "America" in 1832 commanded by captain-leutenant V.S. Khromchenko) was accompanied by an anti-Russian campaign. "America" was received with the same animosity in 1835 when under command of captain-lieutenant I.I. Shantz she called in Sydney en route from Kronshtadt to Kamchatka.

By the end of the second decade of April 1829 "Krotkiy" was ready for a further navigation. The Governor Darling held a farewell dinner for the crew of "Krotkiy" and on the 1st of May (19th of April) the Russian sloop left Port-Jackson. On the 15th (3rd) of October 1829 Gagemeister successfully led his ship to Petropavlovsk, and on the 7th of November (26th of October) - to Novo-Archangel. Soon after that "Krotkiy" set off for the return voyage - this time around the South America. On the 28th (16th) of September 1830 she returned to Kronshtadt having finished a circumnavigation.

Berens E.A. Zapiski michmana Evgeniya Andreevicha Berensa, vedennye v krugosvetnom plavanii na shlyupe "Krotkiy" v 1828-1830 gg. "Morskoi Sbornik", 1903 NN 1-5.

Rossiiskie moryaki i puteshestvenniki v Avstralii. Compiled by E.V. Govor and A.Ya. Massov. Moscow, 1993