Fridrikhs, Vasiliy Nikolayevich (1852-1898). Plavanie na Kreisere “Afrika” pod Flagom Kontr-Admirala Aslanbegova (1880-1882) [A Voyage on Cruiser “Africa” under the Flag of Rear Admiral Aslanbegov (1880-1882)] // From: Russky Vestnik. 1883. Vol. СLXIV. No. 3, pp. 321-347; No. 4, pp. 670-702. [Moscow: University Typ., 1883].

First edition. Octavo (ca. 20x14 cm). A custom-made convolute (collection) of two articles from the “Russky Vestnik” magazine: pp. 321-347; 670-702 [= 60 pp.]. 20th-century paper wrappers. An ink stamp “A magazine offprint” and an ink note “Russky Vestnik, vol. CLXIV, 1892” on the first page. Paper slightly age-toned, but overall a very good copy.

Interesting original account of a visit of a Russian naval cruiser “Africa” to Vladivostok, Sakhalin, Petropavlovsk, Bering and Medny Islands (the Commodores) and Unalaska (the Aleutians) in the summer of 1881. The voyage was a part of a circumnavigation of a Russian naval squadron in 1880-1883, under command of rear admiral Avramy Aslanbegov (1822-1900). Cruisers “Asia” and “Africa,” who were later joined by clippers “Vestnik” and “Plastun,” left Kronstadt and proceeded to Vladivostok via the Suez Canal, visiting Singapore and Japanese ports. The squadron then went around the Pacific Ocean, calling at Sakhalin, Petropavlovsk, Bering and Medny Islands, Unalaska, Esquimalt and Victoria (Vancouver Island), San Francisco, Sandwich Islands (Oahu and Big Island), Nukuhiva (the Marquesas), Tahiti, New Zealand (Auckland), Australia (Sydney, Bathurst by railway, Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany), Tasmania (Hobart), Java (Batavia), Singapore, Siam (Bangkok), Saigon (Cochinchina), Hong Kong, Japan (Nagasaki, Osaka and Kyoto, Yokohama), and then returned to Petropavlovsk.

The articles, written by “Afrika’s” flag officer, Captain of the Staff, Vasiliy Fridrikhs, described the cruiser’s voyage in the North Pacific in July-August 1881. The first article is the account of her visits to Vladivostok, two main Russian anchorages in the Strait of Tartary - De Kastri Bay (“Chikhachyova Bay” after 1952) and Imperatorskaya (“Sovetskaya” after 1922) Gavan, and Sakhalin (Due and Post Korsakovsky in the Aniva Bay). Interesting are Fridrikhs’ notes about the slow urban development of Vladivostok (i.e., there are street signs, but no streets but two) and the life of convicts on Sakhalin. The second article describes “Afrika’s” calls at Petropavlovsk, two main islands of the Commodore Group (Bering and Medny) and Unalaska. The author talks about the “Hutchison, Kohl & Co.” (a fur-hunting San Francisco company), its operations on the Commodore Islands and high profits, the business of A. Filippeus (Kamchatka’s leading food supplier at the time), the cruiser’s reception in the villages on the Bering and Medny Islands, compares the life of locals during the rule of the Russian American Company with contemporary times. The last part of the article describes “Afrika’s” visit to Unalaska, the main town and its inhabitants, activities of the “Alaska Commercial Co.” and Russian Orthodox church, the crew’s meeting with the local Orthodox priest, 70-year old fr. Zaitsev.

Overall an interesting original account of the Russian Far East, Kamchatka, Commodore and Aleutian Islands in the early 1880s. To our knowledge, the articles were not reissued or translated into other languages. Vasily Fridrikhs continued serving in the Russian navy on clipper “Plastun” (1884-86) and schooner “Slavyanka” (1888); later, he commanded Russian Imperial yachts “Tsarevna” and “Shtandart.”