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AND

THE HISTORY OF THE TRANSACTIONS AND
COMMERCE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.

ByeWELEIAM COX Ey A. M.

Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, and Chaplain to his Grace the

Duke of Marizorouca.

LONDON,
PRINTED BY J. NICHOLS,
HOw T) GCADEERE, IN THE STRAND.

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BAP ASPUB LIE "TES TIMON ¥
OF
THE PLGHEST) RESPECT. FOR
HIS DISTINGUISHED LITERARY ABILITIES,
res tT RMS Tt ES TEE M FOR
EDES PREV AL EA ViIR PUES,
AMD TIE MOST GRATEPUL SENSE. OF
MANY PERSONAL FAVOURS,
THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE INSCRIBED,
BY
PS Ar AF Ul AN D AEF EEC TIONAT E
HUMBLE SERVANT,
WILLIAM COXE.

Cambridge,
March 27, 1780.

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HE late Ruffian Difcoveries between Afia and

America have, for fome time, engaged the atten-
tion of the curious; more efpecially fince Dr. Robertfon’s
admirable Hiftory of America has been in the hands of
the public. In that valuable performance the elegant
and ingenious author has communicated to the world,
with an accuracy and judgement which fo eminently dif-
tinguifh all his writings, the moft exact information
at that time to be obtained, concerning thofe impor-
tant difcoveries. During my ftay at Petersburg, my in-
quiries were particularly directed to this interefting fub-
ject, in order to learn if any new light had been thrown
on an article of knowledge of fuch confequence to the
hiftory of mankind. For this purpofe I endeavoured to
collect the refpective journals of the feveral voyages
fubfequent to the expedition of Beering and T{chirikoff
in 1741, with which the celebrated Muller concludes
his account of the firft Ruffian navigations.

Durin g

vi

PR EF ALL E

During the courfe of my refearches I was informed,
that a treatife in the German language, publifhed at
Hamburg and Leipfic in 1776, contained a full and
exact narrative of the Ruffian voyages, from 1745 to

hope ko ae

As the author has not prefixed his name, I fhould
have paid little attention to an anonymous publication,
if I had not been affured, from very good authority, that
the work in queftion was compiled from the original
journals. Not refting however upon this intelligence, I
took the liberty of applying to Mr. Muller himfelf, who,
by order of the Emprefs, had arranged the fame jour-
nals, from which the anonymous author is faid to
have drawn his materials. Previous to my application,
Mr. Muller had compared the treatife with the original
papers; and he favoured me with the following
ftrong teftimony to its exadinefs and authenticity :
“ Vous ferés bien de traduire pour VPufage de vos com-
“¢ patriotes le petit livre fur les ifles fituées entre le Kamt-
“¢ chatka et TAmerique. I] n’y. a point de doute, que
«‘ Yauteur wait eté pourvu de bons memoires, et qu'il ne
“ gen foit fervi fidelement. J’ai confronte le livre avec les

* 'The title of the book is, Neue Nachrichten von denen Neuendeck_
ten Infuln in der See zwifchen Afia und Amerika aus mitgetheilten Ur-
kunden und Aufzuegen verfaffet von J. L, S.

* originaux.”

PoR ESF tA“ Cs E,

“ originaux.” Supported therefore by this very refpec-
table authority, I confidered this treatife as a performance
of the higheft credit, and well worthy of being more
generally known and perufed. 1 have ‘accordingly, in
the firft part of the prefent publication, fubmitted a tranf-
lation of it to the reader’s candour; and added occafional
notes to fuch paffages as feemed to require an explanation.
The original is divided into fections without any refe-
rences. But as it feemed to be more convenient to di-
vide it into chapters; and to accompany each chapter
with a fummary of the contents, and marginal references;
I have moulded it into that form, without making how-
ever any alteration in the order of the journals.

The additional intelligence which I procured at
Peterfburg, is thrown into an appendix: It con-
fits of fome new information, and of three jour-
nals *, never before given to the public. Amongft
thefe I muft particularly mention that of Krenitzin and
Levafheff, together with the chart of their voyage,
which was communicated to Dr. Robertfon, by order of

the Emprefs of Ruffia; and which that juftly admired

hiftorian has, in the politeft and moft obliging manner,

* The journals of Krenitzin and Levafheff, the fhort account of Synd’s
voyage, and the narrative of Shalauroff’s expedition, N° I. IX. XI.

4 permitted

Vii

viii

PERE AY A EC (ck.

permitted me to make ufe of in this collection. This
voyage, which redounds greatly to the honour of the
fovereign who planned it, confirms in general the au-
thenticity of the treatife above-mentioned ; and afcertains
the reality of the difcoveries made by the private mer-

chants.

As a farther illuftration of this fubject, I collected the
beft charts which could be procured at Peterfburg,
and of which a lift will be given in the following ad-
vertifement. From all thefe circumftances, I] may ven-
ture, perhaps, to hope that the curious and inquifitive
reader will not only find in the following pages the
moft authentic and circumftantial account of the pro-
grefs and extent of the Ruffian difcoveries, which has
hitherto appeared in any language; but be enabled here-
after to compare them with thofe more lately made by
that great and much to be regretted navigator, Captain
Cooke, when his journal fhall be communicated to the
public.

As all the furs which are brought from the New
Difcovered Iflands are fold to the Chinefe, 1 was natu-
rally led to make enquiries concerning the commerce
between Ruifia and China; and finding this branch of
traffic much more important than is commonly imagined,
J thought that a general fketch of its prefent ftate,

2 together

Bik Eee A&C. OR.

together With a fuccinct view of the tranfactions between

the two nations, would not be unacceptable.

The conqueft of Siberia, as it firft opened a commu-
nication with China, and paved the way to all the in-
terefting difcoveries related in the prefent attempt, will
not appear unconnected, 1 truft, with its principal

defign.

The materials of this fecond part, as alfo of the pre-
liminary obfervations concerning Kamtchatka, and the
commerce to the new-difcovered iflands, are drawn from
books of eftablifhed and undoubted reputation. Mr. Mul-
ler and Mr. Pallas, from whofe interefting works thefe
hiftorical and commercial fubjects are chiefly compiled,
are too well known in the literary world to require any
other vouchers for their judgement, exactnefs, and fide-
lity, than the bare mentioning of their names. I have
only farther to apprize the reader, that, befides the intel-
ligence extracted from thefe publications, he will find
fome additional circumftances relative to the Ruffian com-
merce with China, which I collected during my conti-
nuance in Ruffia. .

b I CAN-

ix

I CANNOT clofe this addrefs to the reader without
embracing with peculiar fatisfaCtion the juft occafion,
which the enfuing treatifes upon the Ruffian difcoveries
and commerce afford me, of joining with every friend
of fcience in the warmeit admiration of that en-
larged and liberal {pirit, which fo ftrikingly marks the
character of the prefent Emprefs of Ruflia, Since
her acceffion to the throne, the inveftigation and difco-
very of ufeful knowledge has been the conftant object of
her generous encouragement. The authentic records of
the Ruffian Hiftory have, by her exprefs orders, been pro-
perly arranged; and permiffion is readily granted of in-
{fpecting them. The moftdiftant parts of her vaftdominions
have, at her expence, been explored and defcribed by per-
fons of great abilities and extenfive learning; by which
means new and important lights have been thrown upon
the geography and natural hiftory of thofe remote re-
gions. In a word, this truly great princefs has contri-
buted more, in the compafs of only a few years, towards
civilizing and informing the minds of her fubjects, than
had been effeéted by all the fovereigns her predeceffors
fince the glorious wera of Peter the Great.

Io

{ x ]

In order to prevent the. frequent mention of the full
title of the books referred to in the courfe of this per-
formance, the following catalogue is fubjoined, with
the abbreviations.

Miiller’s Samlung Ruffifcher Gefchichte, IX volumes, 8vo. printed at
St. Peterfburg in 1732, and the following years ; it is referred to in the
following manner: S. R.G. with the volume and page annexed.

From this excellent collection I have made ufe of the following
treatifes :

vol. II. p. 293, &c. Gefchichte der Gegenden an dem Fluffe Amur.

There is a French tranflation of this treatife, called Hiftoire du
Fieuve Amur, 12mo, Amfterdam, 1766.

vol. III. p. 1, &c. Nachrichten von See Reifen, &c.

There is an Englifh and a French tranflation of this work ; the former
as called ** Voyages from Afia to America for completing the Difcoveries
of the North Weft Coaft of America,” &c. 4to, London, 1764. The
title of the latter is Voyages et Decouvertes faites par les Ruffes, &c.
12mo, Amfterdam, 1766. p.413. Nachrichten Von der Hanlung in Sibirien,

Vol. VI. p. 109, Sibirifche Gefhichte.

Vol. VIII. p. 504, Nachricht Von der Ruffifchen Handlung nach
China. ;

Pallas Reife durch verfchiedene Provinzen des Ruffifchen Reichs, in
Three Parts, 4to, St. Peterfburg, 1771, 1773, and 1776, thus cited,
Pallas Reife.

Georgi Bemerkungen einer Reife im Ruffifchen Reich in Jahre, 1772,
III volumes, 4to, St. Peterfburg, 1775, cited Georgi Reife.

Fifcher Sibirifche Gefchichte, 2 volumes, 8vo, St. Peterfburg, cited
Fif, Sib. Gef.

Gmelin Reife durch Sibirien, Tome IV. 8vo. Gottingen, 1752, cited

‘Gmelin Reife.
b 2 There

{ xi J]

There is a French tranflation of this work, called Voyage en Siberie,
&c. par M. Gmelin. Paris, 1767.

Neuefte Nachrichten von Kamtchatka aufgefetft im Junius des
1773 Yahren von dem dafigen Befehls-haber Herrn Kapitain Smalew.
Aus dem abhandlungen der freyen Ruffifchen Gefellfchaft Mofkau.

In the journal of St. Peterfourg, April, 1776,—cited Journal of St. Pet,

Explanation of fome Ruffian words made ufe of in the
following work.
Baidar, a {mall boat.
Guba, a bay.
Kamen, a rock.
Kotche, a veflel.
Krepoft, a regular fortrefs.
Nofs, a cape. i
Oftrog, a fortrefs furrounded with palifadoes.
Oftroff, an ifland.
Ofirova, iflands.
Quafs, a fort of fermented liquor.
Reka, a river.

The Ruffians, in their proper names of perfons, make ufe of pa-
‘tronymies; thefe patronymics are formed in fome cafes by adding
Vitch to the chriftian name of the father; in others Of or Eff: the
former termination is applied only to perfons of condition; the latter
to thofe of an inferior rank. As, for inftance,
Among. perfons of condition ——I/van lvanovitch,

of inferior rank, Ivan lvangff
Michael Alexievitch,) Michael the fon
Michael Alexeeff, I of Alexey.
Sometimes a furname is added, Ivan Ivanovitch Romanoff.

ivan the fon of Ivan.

Table

[ xii J

Table of Ruffian Weights, Meafures of Length, and
Value of Money.

WET G BLT.
A pood weighs 40 Rufhan pounds = 36 Englifh.

NM ERS OR ho tO (EE (NG. PE
16 verfhocks = an arfheen.
An arfheen = 28 inches.
Three arfheens, or feven feet == 4 fathom *, or fazfhen.
500 fazfhens = a vert.
A degree of longitude comprifes 104+ verfts = 691 Englifh miles. A
mile is therefore 1,515 parts of a verft; two miles may then be cfti-
mated equal to three verfts, omitting a finall fraction.

RE RE OPE OR PSS PAN! NO Nia
A rouble = 100 copecs. !
Its value varies according to the exchange from 3s. 8d. to 4s. 2d.
Upon an average, however, the value of a rouble is reckoned at four

fhillings.

* The fathom for meafuring the depth of water is the fame as the Englith fa-
thom = 6 feet,

a EPRe

C xiv J

E.R BR At DBS

T. 23, Reference, for Appendix I, N° I. read N° IL.
24, for Appendix L N° Il. read N° IE.
30, for Rogii read Kogii,
46, for Rikfa read Kifka.
96, for Korovin read Korelin.
186, Note—/or Tobob read Tobol.
154, Note—Line 2, after handpauken omitted yon verfchiedenen Klang.
119, for Saktunk read Saktunak.
134, Line 6, for were read was.
188, 1. 16. for pretection read protection.
190, |. 5. for nor read not.
195, for Sungur read Sirgut.
226, 1,13. read other has an.
226, for harlbadeers read halberdiers.
234, Note—line 3, dele See hereafter, p. 242.
246, for Marym read Narym.
256, Note—for called by Linnzus Lutra Marina read Lutra Marina, called by
Linnzeus Muftela Lutris, &c.
267, Line 5, for made of the bone, &c. read made of bone, or the ftalk, &c.
278, Note 2—line 2, for Corbus read Corvus.
424, Note—line 4, dele was.
413, Note—line 3, dele that.
Ibid. Note—line 10, “I fhould not” &c. is @ feparate note, and relates to she
extra in the text beginning ‘In 1648,” &ce

Omitted in the ERRATA.

P. 242.. 1.9. 7. 18,275.
L1%0 1%. 1,383,621. 35¢

ADVER-

ADVERTISEMENT.

‘AS no aftronomical obfervations have been taken in

the voyages related in this collection, the longitude
and latitude afcribed to the new-difcovered iflands in the
journals and upon the charts cannot be abfolutely de-
pended upon. Indeed the reader will perceive, that the
pofition * of the Fox Iflands upon the general map of
Ruffia is materially different from that affigned to them
upon the chart of Krenitzin and Levafheff. Without
endeavouring to clear up any difficulties which may
arife from this uncertainty, I thought it-would be moft
fatisfactory to have the beft charts engraved : the reader
will then be able to compare them with each other, and
with the feveral journals. Which reprefentation of the
new-difcovered iflands deferves the preferance, will pro-
bably be afcertained upon the return of captain Clerke
from his prefent expedition.

* See p. 286.

Lait

{ ‘evi |]

Lift of the CoH anrs, and Directions for placing them.

CHART I. A reduced copy of the general map of Ruffia, pub-
lithed by the Academy of Sciences at St. Peterf-
burg, 1776. to face the title-page.

}J. Chart of the voyage made by Krenitzin and Leva-
fheff to the Fox Iflands, communicated by Dr. Ro-

bertfon, to face p. 251.
lil. Chart of Synd’s Voyage towards Tfchukotfkoi-

Nofs, Pp. 300.
IV. Chart of Shalauroff’s Voyage to Shelatfkoi-Nofs,

with a fmall chart of the Bear-Iflands, pog22s
View of Maimatfchin, ps 21s

Communicated by a gentleman who has been upon
the fpot.

CON-

[ .xvit j

Cc oO N TT BN fF &

Dedication, p- ili.
Preface, p. v.
Catalogue of books quoted in this work, p- Xi.

Explanation of fome Ruffian words made ufe of, p- Kili.
Table of Ruffian Weights, Meafures of Length, and Value
of Money, p- xiv.
Adver tifement, p. Xv.
Lift of Charts,.and Directions for placing them, p. XVI.
Pea eae
‘Containing Preliminary Obfervations concerning KamT-
CHATKA, and Account of the NEw DIscovERIEs made
by the RussIAwns, p. 3—16.
Chap. I. Di/covery and Conqueft of Kamtchatka—Pre/ent
Slate of that Peninfula—Population—Tribute—Produc-
tions, &C. Pp. 3;
Chap. Il. General idea of the conemerce carried on to the
New Difcovered [lands —Equipment of the veffels—Rifks

of the trade, profits, &c. 1 oe
Chap. Il. Furs and fkins procured from Kamtchatka and
the New Difcovered Ifands, pi 12.
Account of the RussiAN DIscoveERi£s, p- 19.

Chap. I. Commencement and progrefs of the Ruffian Di/-
coveries in the fea of Kamtchatka—Genera/ divifion of
the New Di/covered Ilands, ibid.

c Chap.

XYilk ¢ O NF IN, TS.

Chap. Il. Voyages in 174.5 — Firft difcovery of the Aleutian
Ifles, Jy Michael Nevodfikoff, Pp. 29;
Chap. Il. Succefive voyages, from 1747 to 1753, to
Beering’s and Copper Hand, and to the Aleutian Mfles—
Some account of the inhabitants, P2367"
Chap. IV. Voyages from 1753 t0 1756. Some of the fur-
ther Aleutian ov Fox Iflands touched at by Serebrani-
koff’s vefel—Some account of the natives, p. 48:
Chap: V. Voyages from 1756 101758, p-54
Chap. VI. Voyages in 1758, 1759, and 1760, to the
Fox Iflands, 72 the St. Vladimir, fitted out by Trapef-
nikofi—and in the Gabriel, by Bethfhevin—Tze /atter,
under the command of Puthkareff, fails to Alakfu, or
Alachfhak, ome of the remoieft Eafiern [lands hitherto
vifited—Some account of its inhabitants, and produc-
tions, which latter are different from thofe of the more
Wefiern iflands, p. 61.
Chap. VIL. Voyage of Andrean Tolftyk, 77 the St. Andrean.
and Natalia—-Difcovery of fome New Ifands, called
Andreanoftsky Oftrova—De/cription of jix of thofe
iflands, Dp. 7 iL.
Chap. VHI. Voyage of tbe Zacharias and Elizabeth, fitted
out by Kulkoff, and commanded by Daufinin—They fail.
to Umnak and Unalathka, and winter upon the latter
ifland—The vet defiroyed, and all the crew, except.
four, murdered by the iflanders—The adventures of thoje
four Ruffians, and their wonderful efcape, p- 80.

GC OCNNIP Ee «N- UF +8,

Chap. IX. Voyage of the veffel called the Trinity, under
the command of Korovin—Sails to the Fox Wands—
Winters at Unalathka—Puts to fea the Spring follow-
ing—The veel 1s flranded in a bay of the ifand Um-«
nak, and the crew attacked by the natives—Many of
them killed—others carried off by fickne/s—They are re-
duced to great fireights—Relieved by Glottoff, twelve of
the whole company only remaining—Defcription of Um-
nak and Unalafhka, p- 89.

Chap. X. Voyage of Stephen Glottoff’—He reaches the
Fox Iflands—Sai/s beyond Unalafhika fo Kadyak—
Winters upon that ifland—Repeated attempts of the na-
tives to defiroy the crew——They are repulfed, reconciled,
and prevailed upon to trade with the Ruflians— Account
of Kadyak—I¢s inbabitants, animals, productions—
Glottoff /ails back to Umnak—winters there—returns to
Kamtchatka—ournal of bis voyage, p- 1006.

Chap. XI. Solovioff’s voyage—He reaches Unalafhka, and
pajes two winters upon that tland—-Relation of what
paljed there—fruitle/s attempts of the natives to deftroy
the crew—Reiurn of Solovioff fo Kamtchatka—Yournal
of bis voyage in returning—De/cription of the iflands of
Umnak avd Unalathka, productions, inhabitants, their
manners, cuftoms, &c. &c. pe Raa:

Chap. XII. Voyage of Otcheredin—He winters upon
Umnak—Arrival of Levatheff upow Unalafhka—Re-
turn of Otcheredin ¢#o Ochotfk, p. 1456.

Cy. 2 Chap.

XX Cc OW F EN. € SG.

Chap. XIII. Conclufion—General pofition and fituation of
the Aleutian and Fox Mlands—/heir difiance from each
other—Further defcription of the drefs, manners, and
cufiom of the inbabitants—their feafls and ceremonies, &C..

p- 164.
POA RB) de

Containing the Conqueft of SrpERta, and the Hiftory of
the Tranfactions and Commerce between Russta and
CHINA, p17 5.

Chap. I. Firf irruption of the RuMfians into Siberia—/econd
inroad—Yermac driven by the Tzar of Mufcovy fromm
the Volga, retires to Orel, @ Ruffian fertlement—Enters
Siberia, with an army of Goflacs——bis progre/s and ex-
ploits—Defeats Kutchum Chan—conquers his dominions
—cedes them to the Txar—receives a reinforcement of
Ruffian ¢roops—is furprized by Kutchum Chan—Zdis
defeat and death—veneration paid to bis memory—Rul-
{ian zroops evacuate Siberia—re-enter and conquer the
whole country—-their progrefs Jftopped by the Chinefe,

p. x77.

Chap. Il. Commencement of boftilities between the Ruffians
and Chinefe—difputes concerning the limits of the two
enpires—treaty of Nerfhinsk—embaffies from the court
of Ruffia to Pekin—vsreaty of Kiachta—efablifhment of

the commerce between the two nations. Pp. FE7.

Chap. Ul. Account of the Ruffian and Chinefe fettlements
upon the confines of Siberia—defcription of the Ruffian
frontier town Kiachta—of the Chinefe frontier town
Maitmat(chin-—its duidings, pagodas, &c. p. 211.

Chap.

CONTENTS.

Chap. IV. Commerce between the Chinefe and Ruffians—
lift of the principal exports and tmports—duties—average

amount of the Ruffian trade. p. 231.
Chap. V.. De/eription of Zuruchaitu—and its trade—tran/-
port of the merchandize through Siberia. Pp. 244.

PA. RoT, UE é
APPENDIX. I..and II. containing, SUPFLEMENTARY
Accounts of the RussIAN.DISCOVERIES, &£c. &£c.
Appendix I. Extrac? from the journal of a voyage made by

Captain.Krenitzin amd Lieutenant Levafheff zo the Fox.
Iflands, 771768, 1769, dy order of theEmprefs of Ruffia .

they fail from Kamtchatka—arrive at Beering’s

and Copper Llands—reach the Fox. Ilands—Krenitzin:

winters at Alaxa—Levatheff upon Unalathka—produc-
tions of Unalafhka—de/cription of the inbabitants of the
Fox Iflands—+their manners and cufloms, &c.. p. 251.
N° Il. Concerning the longitude of Kamtchatka, and of the

Eafiern extremity of Afia,.as laid. down by the. Ruffian.

geographers. p-.267.

N° Ill. Summary of the proofs tending to_fhew, that Beer--
ing and Tichirikoff ether. reached America in. 174.1;.

or camé very near tt. Pp: 277:

N° IV. Lift of the principal charts reprefenting the Poaflian .
Difcoveries. prizby..

N° V. Pofition of the Andreanoffiky Iles afcertained—
number of tbe Aleitian Iles. - p. 288,
5 N®

xxii

C#¥O UN ST FE BNOGOT BS.

N° VI. Conjectures concerning the proximity of the Fox
Iflands zo the continent of America. PANZOT.
N° VII. Of the Tichutfki—vreports of the vicinity of Ame-
rica to their coaf, firft propagated by them, f/cem to be
confirmed by late accounts from thofe paris. p. 293.
N° VII. Lif of the New Difcovered Ifands, procured from
an Alciitian chief—catalogue of iflands called by different
names in the account of the Ruffian difcoveries. p. 297.
N° IX. Voyage of Lieutenant Synd zo the North Eaft of
Siberia—he difcovers a clufter of iflands, and a promon-~
tory, which be fuppofes to belong to the continent of Ame-

rica, jing near the coaft of the T{chutski. Dp. 9300.
N° X. Specimen of the Aleutian language. p: 303.

N° XI. Attempts of the Rufflians to di/cover a North Eaft
paffage—voyages from Avchangel towards the Lena—
from the Lena towards Karatchatka—euxtrac? from
Muller’s account of Defhnefi’s voyage round Tichukot-
skoi Nofs—wnarrative of a voyage made by Shalauroff
from the Lena to Shelatskoi Nofs. ey Pp. 304.

Appendix II. Tartarian rhubarb brought to Kiachta by the
Bucharian merchants—wmetbod of examining and pur-
chafing the roots—different fpecies of roeum which yield
the fine rhubarb—price of rhubarb in Ruflia—expor-
tation—Jfuperiority of the Tartarian over tbe Indian

rbubarb. pi3 32.
Table of the longitude and latitude of the principal places
mentioned in this work. p- 344.

7 | PART

Pe A Rep L

CON EA.EN,EN G

BPREEIMEN ARMY ‘O-BisER VATIONS
GCONCERNING KAMTCHATKA,

AND

i. ACCOUNT OF THE NEW DISCOVERIES
MADE BY THE RUSSIANS,

ori aoe
Res

ne i vA cin As ot i ai a

t

LATE Trea
ae ele a

oa Nv aisle

mei . kA RAO i bi

va ii ne
1? q ge ats v
'

a oe

a 4
ay ay

pas 7i]

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

CONCERNING

RA Mer. Cb AD Ke AL. &e.

Ge De Ay PL UT:

Difcovery and Conquef? of Kamtchatka—Prefent flate of
that Peninfula—Population—Tribute—Productions, Sc.

HE Peninfula of Kamtchatka was not difcovered ee ierey:
by the Ruffians before the latter end of the laft **
century. The firft expedition towards thofe parts was
made in 1696, by fixteen Coffacs, under the command
of Lucas Semzenoff Morofko, who was fent againft the
Koriacks of the river Opooka by Volodimir Atlafloff
commander of Anadirfk. Morofko continued his march
until he came within four days journey of the river
Kamtchatka, and having rendered a-Kamtchadal village

tributary, he returned to Anadir{k *.

# SR, G. V. IIL p. 72.
B 2 The.

4 “ PRELIMINAHY OBSERVATIONS

‘The following year Atlaffoff himfelf at the head of

a larger body of troops penetrated into the Peninfula,

* took poffeffion of the river Kamtchatka ‘by .erecting a
crofs upon its banks; and built fome huts upon the

fpot, where Upper Kamtchatkoi Oftrog now ftands.-

ThaPeninfula 2 hefe expeditions were continued during the following
sconquered at : .
Sita by years: Upper and Lower Kamtchatkoi Oftrogs and Bel-
the Ruffians. i A jus
cheretfk were built; the Southern difirict conquered
and colonifed ;~.and in 2742 the whole Peninfula was

finally reduced under the dominion of the Ruffians.

During fome years ‘the poffeffien of Kamtchatka
“brought. very -little advantage to the crown, excepting
the {mall tribute of furs exacted from the inhabitants.
The Ruffians indeed occafionally hunted in that Penin-

dula foxes, wolves, ermines, fables,.and other animals,

whofe valuable {kins form. an extenfive article of com-
merce among the Eaftern nations.. But the fur trade
carried on from thence was inconfiderable. until the
Ruffians difcovered the iflands fituated between Afia and
America, in a feries of voyages, the journals of which
will be exhibited in the fubfequent tranflation. Since
thefe difcoveries, the variety of rich furs, which are
procured from thofe Iflands, has. greatly encreafed the
trade of Kamtchatka, and rendered it a very unportant
branch of the Ruffian commerce.

The

{

‘CONCERNING IHKAMTCHATKA,: &c. 3

The >:Peninfula ef ‘Kamtchatka lies between 51 and
‘62 degrees of North latitude, and 173 and 182 of
longitude ‘from ithe dfle ef Pero. It is bounded on
the Eaft and South by the Sea ef Kamtchatka, on the
Weft iby the Seas of Ochotfk and Penfhinik, andion the
North by the country of the Koriacs.

It is divided into four diftricts, Bolcherefk, Tigilfkaia Beles
Krepof, Verchnei or Upper Kamtchatkoi Oftrog, and %***
Nifhnei or Lower Kamtchatkoi Oftrog, The govern- Government.
ment is velted in the chancery of Bolcherefk, which de-
pends upen and is fubject to the infpection of the chan-
cery_of Ochotfk. . The whole Ruffian force ftationed in
the Peninfula confifts of no miore than three hundred
aren *,

The prefent population of Kamtchatka is very fimall, Population.
amounting to fcarce four thoufand fouls. Formerly the
inhabitants were miore numerous, but in 1768, that
country was greatly depopulated by the ravages of the
finall-pox,> ‘by which diforder: five thoufand three hun-
dred and fixty-eight perfons were carried off. There are
now only feven hundred and 4x males in the whole Pe-
ninfula who are tributary, and an hundred aiid fourteen
in the Kuril Tiles, which are fubject to Ruffia.

* Journal of St. Peterfburg for April ke

The

6

Tribute.

Volcanos.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

The fixed annual tribute confifts in 279 fables, 464
red foxes, 50 fea-otters with a dam, and-38 cub fea-
otters. All furs exported from Kamtchatka pay a duty
of ro per cent. tothe crown; the tenth of the cargoes
brought from the new difcovered iflands is alfo delivered

into the cuftoms.

Many traces of Volcanos have been obferved in this
Peninfula ; and there are fome mountains, which are at
prefent in a burning ftate. The moft confiderable of
thefe Volcanos is fituated near the Lower Oftrog. In
1762 a great noife was heard iffuing from the infide of
that mountain, and flames of fire were feen to burft from
different parts. Thefe flames were immediately fucceed-
ed by a large ftream of melted {now water, which flowed
into the neighbouring valley, and drowned two Kamt-
chadals, who were at that time upon an hunting party.
The afhes, and other combuftible matter, thrown from
the mountain, fpread to the circumference of three hun-
dred verits. In 1767 there was another difcharge, but
lefs confiderable. Every night flames of fire were ob-
ferved ftreaming from the mountain; and the eruption
which attended them, did no {mall damage to the inha-
bitants of the Lower Oftrog. Since that year no flames
have been feen; but the mountain emits a_ conftant
fmoke. The fame phenomenon is alfo obferved upou
another mountain, called Tabaetfhinikian.

4 The

CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, &e,

The face of the country throughout the Peninfula is Protudtions.
chiefly mountainous, It produces in fome parts birch,
poplars, alders, willows, underwood, and berries of dif-
ferent forts. Greens and other vegetables are raifed with
great facility; fuch as white cabbage, turneps, radifhes,
beetroot, carrots, and fome cucumbers. Agriculture is
in a very low ftate, which is chiefly owing to the nature
of the foil and the fevere hoar frofts; for though fome
trials have been made with refpeét to the cultivation of
corn, and oats, barley and rye have been fown; yet
no crop has ever been procured fufficient in quality or
quality to anfwer the pains and expence of raifing it.
Hemp however has of late years been cultivated with great
fuccefs*.

Every year a veffel, belonging tothe crown, fails from
Ochotfk to Kamtchatka laden with falt, provifions, corn,
and Ruffian manufactures; and returns in June or July
of the following year with fkins and furs.

* Journal of St. Peterfburg.

Gre AP:

Equipment of
the vetfels.

PRELIMINARY OBSERV ATE LON S)

Coe Elsinsy Be 14:

General idea of the commerce carried: on. to the» New: Dif*
covered Llands.—Equipment of the vefels.—Rifksoof the
trades. profits, Fes.

S INCE the conclufion of -Beering’s. voyage,, which:

was made at the expence of the crown, the profecu--
tion of the New Difcoveries began by him. has, been: al.
moit entirely carried on by individuals. Thefe perfons.
were principally merchants of Irkutfk, Yakutfk, andjother
natives of Siberia, who formed themfelves into fmall.
trading companies, and. fitted) out veffels. at. their, joint
expence.

Mott of the veffels which are equipped. for. thefe.expe-
ditions are two matted : they are commonly built with-
out iron, and in general fo badly conftructed,. that it is
wonderful how they can weather fo ftormy a. fea. They
are called in Ruffian Skitiki or fewed veffels, becaufe the
planks are fewed together with thongs of leather. Some
few are built in the river of Kamtchatka; but they are
for the moft part conftruéted at the haven of Ochotfk..
The largeft of thefe veflels are manned with feventy men,
and the fmalleft with forty. The crew generally confifts
of an equal number of Ruffians and Kamtchadals. The

3 latter

i

CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, “&c.

latter occafion a confiderable faying, as their pay is
finall; they alfo_refift, more eafily than the former,
the attacks of the fcurvy. - But Ruffian mariners are
more enterprifing and more to be depended upon in
time of danger than the. others; fome therefore. are
unavoidably necefiary.

The expences of building and fitting out the veffels
are very confiderable : for there is nothing at Ochotfk
but timber for their conftruction. Accordingly cordage,
fails, and fome provifions, muft be brought from Ya-
kutfk upon horfes. The dearnefs of corn and flour,
which muft be tranfported from the diftriéts lying about
the river. Lena, renders it impoffible to lay-in any
large quantity for the fubfiftence of the crew during
a voyage, which commonly lafts three or four years.
For this reafon no more is provided, than is neceffary
to fupply the Ruffian mariners with quafs and other
fermented liquors.

“From ihe exceffive {carcity of cattle both at Ochotfk
and * : Kamtchatka very little provifion is laid in at
cither of thofe places. : but the’ crew provide themfelves

* In 1772 there were only 570 head of cattle upon the whole Penin-
fula. A cow fold from 50 to 60 Roubles, an ox from 60 to 100. A
pound of frefh beef fold upon an average for 124 copecs. The excef-
five dearnefs of this price will ibe eafily BscAied, when it is known,
that at. Mofcow a pound of beef fells for about three copecs. Journ.
St. Peterfb,

Gi With

Expences at
tending this
trade,

to

Prefits,_

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

with a large ftore of the flefh of fea animals, which

are caught and cured upon Beering’s Hiand, where the
Oo °

veffels for the moft part winter.

After all expences are paid, the equipment of each:
yeflel ordinarily cofts from 15,000 to 20,000 Roubles.
And fometimes the expences amount to 30,000. Every
vefiel is divided into a certain number of fhares, gene-.
rally from thirty to fifty;. and each fhare is worth:
from. 300 to 500 Roubles..

The rifk of the trade is very great, as fhipwrecks are
common in the fea of Kamtchatka, which is full of rocks
and very tempeftuous.. Befides, the crews are frequently:
furprifed and killed by the iflanders, and the veffels:
deftroyed. In return the profits arifing from. thefe:
voyages are very confiderable, and compenfate the in--
conveniencies and dangers. attending them.. For if a:
fhip comes back after having made a profitable voyage, .
the gain at the moft: moderate computation amounts:
to cent. per cent. and frequently to as much more..
Should the veffel be capable of performing a fecond.
expedition, the expences- are of courfe confiderably.
leffened, and: the {hares are at.a lower. price.

Some notion of the general. profits arifing from:
this trade. (when: the voyage is. fuccefsful), may be
deduced. from. the fale of a rich cargo of furs, brought

to

CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, &c.

to Kamtchatka, on the 2d of June, 1772, from the
new-difcovered iflands, in a veffel belonging to Ivan
Popoff.

The tenth part of the fkins being delivered to the
cuftoms, the remainder was diftributed in fifty-five
fhares. Each fhare confifted of twenty fea-otters,
fixteen black and brown foxes, ten red foxes, three
fea-otter tails; and fuch a portion was fold upon the
{pot from 800 to 1000 Roubles: fo that according to
this price the whole lading was worth about 50,000
Roubles *.

* Georgi Reife Tom. I. p. 23, & feq. Journal of St. Peterfburg.

C2 CHAP.

Ii

12 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

ida) Ge DT

Furs and fkins procured from Katntchatka -and the New
Di/covered Iflands.

Furs and Skins
brought from

HE principal furs and fkins, proctired from the

Kamtchatka : j i OC ©s FAik JOG!
and the New Peninfula of Kamtchatka and the New Dulcovered.
ifcovere ' rrt 73
ES Iflands are fea-otters, foxes, fables, ermines, wolves, bears

2 3 ? 7 7 as ?

&c.—Thefe furs are tran{ported to Ochotik by fea, and
from thence Ccarried’to *Kiachta upon’ the frentiers of
Siberia; where the greateft part of them are fold to
the Chinefe at a very confiderable profit..

Sea-Otters. Of all thefe furs the fkins of the fea-otters are the
richeft and moft valuable. Thofe animals refort in great
numbers to the Aleutian and Fox Iflands: they are
called by the Ruffians Bobry Moriki or fea-beavers, and
fometimes Kamtchadal beavers, on account of the re-
femblance of their fur to that of the common beaver.
From thefe circumftances feveral authors have been:led
into a miftake, and have fuppofed that this animal is
of the beaver fpecies; whereas it is the true fea-otter ft.

* See Part JI. Chap. III.
+ S.R.G. IID. p. 530.

The

CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, &c.

The female are called Matka or dams 3 and the cubs
till five months old Medviedki or little bears, becaufe their
coat refembles that of a bear; they lofe that coatvafter
five months, and then are called Kofchloki.

The fur of the fineft fort is thick and long, of a dark
colour, and a fine gloffy hue. They are taken four
ways; {track with darts as they are fleepine upon their
backs in the fea, followed in boats and hunted down
till they are tired, furprifed in caverns, and taken in

nets.

Their fkins fetch different prices according to their
quality.

At Kamtchatka* the beft fell for
per fkin from - = - 30 to 40 Roubles.
Middle fort - 20 to’ 30
Wore fort. 15 to. 2.5

At Kiachta+ the old and middle-
‘aged fea-otter fkins are fold

to the Chinefe per ikin from $o to roo
The worft fort 30 to 40

*' Journal St. Peterfburg.
“> Pallas'Reife. Part III. p. 137.

r4

Different fpe-
cies of Foxes.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

As thefe furs fetch fo great a price to the Chinefe,
they are feldom brought into Ruffia for fale: and feve-
ral, which have been carried to Mofcow as a tribute, were
purchafed for 30 Roubles per fkin; and fent from
thence to the Chinefe frontiers, where they were difpofed
of ata very high intereft.

There are feveral fpecies of Foxes, whofe fkins are
fent from Kamtchatka into Siberia and Ruffia. Of thefe
the principal are the black foxes, the Petfi or Arctic
foxes, the red and ftone foxes.

The fineft black foxes are canght in different parts
of Siberia, and more commonly in the Northern regions
between the Rivers Lena, Indigirka, and Kovyma: the
black foxes found upon the remoteft Eaftern iflands
difcovered by the Ruffians, or the Lyffie Oftrova, are not
fo valuable. They are very black and large; but the
coat for’ the moft part is as coarfe as that of a wolf.
The great difference in the finenefs of the fur, be-
tween thefe foxes and thofe of Siberia, arifes probably
from the following circumitances. In thofe iflands
the’. cold’ ais: not. fo devere,. as dn, Siberia; and as
there is no wood, the foxes live in holes and ca-
verns of the rocks; whereas in the abovementioned
parts of Siberia, there are large tracts of forefts in
which they find fhelter. Some black foxes how-

* SR. G. V. Ill. Pallas Reife.

a ever

CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, &c.

ever are occafionally caught in the remoteft Eaftern
Iflands, not wholly deftitute of wood, and thefe are
of great value. In general the Chinefe, who pay the
deareft for black furs, do not give more for the black
foxes of the new-difcovered iflands than from 20 to
30 Roubles per {kin.

The arctic or ice foxes are very common upon fome of
the New-Difcovered Iflands. They are called Petfi by the
Ruffians,, and by the Germans blue foxes.. Their natural ee
colour is of a bluifh grey or afh colour; but they change
their coat at different ages, and in. differerent feafons of
the year. In general. they are born brown, are white in
winter, and:brown in fummer; and in {pring and autumn,
as the hair gradually falls. off, the coat.is marked with.

different fpecks and croffes..

At Kiachta* all the feveral varieties fell upon: an ave—
rage to the Chinefe per {Kin from 50.

copecs to - - - 2 = Roubles.
Stone Foxes at Kamtchatka per {kin.

from - - - - I to as
Red Foxes from 80 copecsto = I 80. copecs.
At Kiachta from 80 copecs to 9:
Common wolves {kins at per {kin 2
Beft fort per {kin from = 8 to 16:
Sables per ditto = _ = 2>to1@

* Pallas Reife.

A poc

PRYELDIMIMARY OBSERVATIONS:

A pood of-the beft feashorfe teeth * fells

AYakuthk for Jo - - ~ ro Roubles:
Of the middling = > = ws is 3, |
Inferior ditto - i - from 5 to 7.

Four, five, or fix teeth generally weigh a pood, and
fometimes, but very rarely, three. They are fold to the
Chinefe, Monguls, and Calmucs.

* 5.8. G, Voli

CHAP.

OF THE

NEE Wee 1 iSeerGs Ve EB RTE os

MADE BY THE

Pee Ss pear A NGS

IN THE EASTERN OCEAN,

BETWEEN KAMTCHATKA AND AMERICA.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.

WITH NOTES BY THE TRANSLATOR.

and
ie Rad:

i

"
"

c 5 S

——
=e
— a on ao

dirs menckd tia een earmapnca Sige
Hae RW, ae eae
9 a am Eyre Dh St a de ll
ee J

OF THE

BU ssit AN, DIS €O V. ERA ES,

5 Ot chs Oe elie &

Commencement and progre/s of the Ruffian Di/coveries
in the fea of Kamtchatka—General divifion of the
New Difcovered Ifands.

Thirft after riches was the chief motive which

excited the Spaniards to the difcovery of America;
and which turned the attention of other maritime nations
to that quarter. The fame paffion for riches occafioned,
about the middle of the fixteenth century, the difcovery
andconquett of Northern Afia, a country, before that time,
as unknown to the Europeans, as Thule to the ancients.
The firit foundation of this conqueft was laid by the Gonquet of
celebrated Yermac *, at the head of a band of adven-
turers, lefs civilized, but at the fame time, not fo inhu-
man as the conquerors of America. By the acceffion of
this vaft territory, now known by the name of Siberia, the
Ruffians have acquired an extent of empire never before
attained by any other nation.

* The reader will find an account of this conqueft by Yermac in

Part I. Chap. I,

io)
ie)

The

20

Commence-
ment of the
New Difco-
veries.

ACCOUNT OF THE

The firft project * for making difcoveries in that tem-
peftuous fea, which lies between Kamtchatka and. Ame-
rica, was conceived and planned by Peter I. the greateft
fovereign who ever fat upon the Ruffian throne, until

it was adorned by the prefent emprefs. The nature and

completion of this project under his immediate fuccef-'
fors are well known to. the public from the relation of
the celebrated Muller. No fooner had + Beering and

* 'There feems a want of connection in this place, which will be cleared
up by confidering, that, by the conqueft of Siberia, the Ruffians advanced
to the fhores of the Eaftern Ocean, the fcene of the difcoveries here al-
luded to.

+ Beerine had already made feveral expeditions in the fea of Kamt-
chatka, by orders of the crown, before he undertook the voyage men-
tioned in the text.

In 1728, he departed from the mouth of the Kamtchatka river, in
company with Tfchirikof “The purport of this voyage was to afcer-
tain, whether the two Continents of Afia and America were feparated ;
and Peter I. a fhort time before his death, had drawn up inftructions
with his own hand for that purpofe. Beering coafted the Eaftern fhore
of Sibetia as high as latitude 67° 18’; but made no difcovery of the
oppofite Continent.

In 1729, he fet fail again for the profecution of the fame defign ; but
this fecond attempt equally failed of fuccefs.

In 1741, Beering and Tfchirikoff went out upon the celebrated expe-
dition (alluded to in the text, and which is fo often mentioned in the
courfe of this work) towards the coafts of America. This expedition led
the way to all the important difcoveries fince made by the Ruffians.

Beering’s veflel was wrecked in December of the fame year; and
Tichirikoff landed at Kamtchatka on the 9th of October, 1742.

S. R. G. IIL. Nachrichten von See Reifen, &c. and Robertfon’s Hif-
tory of America, Vol. I. p. 273, & feq.

1 Tichirikoff,

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

Tfchirikoff, in the profecution of this plan, opened their

way to iflands abounding in valuable furs, than private
merchants immediately engaged with ardour in fimilar
expeditions ; and, within a period of ten years, more im~ 7)e" Pr"
portant difcoveries were made by thefe individuals, at

their own private coft, than had been hitherto effected by

all the expenfive efforts of the crown.

Soon after the return of -Beering’s crew from the
ifland where he was fhip-wrecked and died, and which
is called after his name, the inhabitants of Kamtchatka
ventured over to that ifland, te which the fea-otters and
other fea-animals were accuftomed to refort in great
numbers. Mednoi Oftroff, or Copper Ifland, which
takes that appellation from large maffes of native copper.
found upon the beach, and which lies full in fight of
Beering’s Ifle, was an eafy and {peedy difcovery.

Thefe two {mall uninhabited {pots were for fome time
the only iflands that were known; until a {carcity of land
and fea-animals, whofe numbers were greatly diminifhed
by the Ruffian hunters, occafioned other expeditions.
Several of the veffels which were fent out upon thefe
voyages were driven by ftormy weather to the South-
eaft; and difcovered by that means the Aleutian Ifles,
fituated about the 195th * degree of longitude, and but
moderately peopled.

From

% The author reckons, throughout this treatife, the longitude from
the

22

‘The Emprefs
promotes all
attempts to-

wards New Dif-

coveries.

ACG OvUMNGT FO FP Pirin £

From the year 1745, when it feems thefe iflands were
firft vifited, until 1750, when the firft tribute of furs
was brought from thence to Ochotfk, the government
appears not to have been fully informed of their difcovery.
In the laft mentioned year, one Lebedeff was commander
of Kamtchatka. From 1755 to 1760, Captain Tfheredoff
and Lieutenant Kafhkareff were his fucceflors. In 1760,
FeodorIvanovitch Soimonoff, governor of Tobol{k, turned
his attention to the abovementioned iflands; and, the
fame year, Captain Rtiftfheff, at Ochotfk, inftructed Lieu-
tenant Shmaleff, the fame who was afterwards commander
in Kamtchatka, to promote and favour all expeditions in
thofe feas. Until this time, all the difcoveries fubfe-
quent to Beering’s voyage were made, without the inter-
pofition of the court, by private merchants in fmall vef-
fels fitted out at their own expence.

‘The prefent Emprefs (to whom every circumftance which
contributes to aggrandize the Ruffian empire is an object of
attention) has given new life tothefedifcoveries. The mer-
chants engaged in them have been animated by recom-
pences. Theimportance and true pofition of the Ruffian

the firft meridian of the ifle of Fero. The longitude and latitude, which
he gives to the Fox Iflands, correfponds exactly with thofe in which they
are laid down upon the General Map of Ruffia. ‘The longitude of
Beering’s, Copper Ifland, and of the Aleiitian Iles,‘ are fomewhat dif-
ferent. See Advertifement relating to the Charts, and alto Appendix

TONGA Ve
iflands

RU Sis il ANID HSICOWVSE RAE S;

iflands have been afcertained by an expenfive voyage *,
made by order of the crown ;. and much additional in-
formation will be derived from the journals and charts
of the officers employed in that expedition, whenever
they fhall be publifhed.

Meanwhile, we may reft affured, that feveral modern.
geographers have erred in advancing America too much:
to the Weft, and in queftioning the extent of Siberia Eaft-.
wards, as laid down by the Ruffians.. It appears, indeed,.
evident, that the accounts and. even. conjectures of the
celebrated Muller, concerning the pofition. of thofe diftant.
regions, are more and more confirmed by facts ;. in. the
fame manner as the juftnefs of his fuppofition concern-
ing the form of the coaft. cf the fea. of Ochotfk + has.
been lately eftablifhed. With refpect to the extent of
Siberia, it appears almoft beyond a doubt from the moft
recent obfervations, that its Eaftern extremity is fituated
beyond } 200: degrees of longitude. In regard to the
Weftern coafts of America, all the navigations to the
New Difcovered Iflands evidently fhew, that, between 50:

* The author here alludes to the fecret expedition of Captain Kre-

nftzin and Levaheff, whofe journal and chart were fent, by order of the

Emprefs of Ruffia,to Dr. Robertfon. See Robertfon’s Hiftory of. Ame-
rica, Vol. I. p. 276 and 460.. See Appendix I. N° J.

+ Mr. Muller formerly conjectured, that the coaft of the fea of
Ochotfk ftretched South-weft towards the river Ud; and from-thence to
the mouth of the Amoor South-eaft: and the truth of this conjecture

had been fince confirmed by a coafting voyage made by Captain Synd,.

}: Appendix I, Ne I..

and.

24 ACCOUNTIGOGFATRAE

and 60 degrees of latitude, that Continent advances no
where nearer to Afia than the *coafts touched at by
Beering and Tichirikoff, or about 236 degrees of longi-
tude.

As to the New Difcovered Iflands, no credit muft be
given to a chart publifhed in the Geographical Calendar
of St. Peterfburg for 1774; in which they are inac-
curately laid down. Nor is the antient chart of the New
Difcoveries, publithed by the Imperial Academy, and
which feems to have been drawn up from mere reports,
more deferving of attention ¢.

ne Die The late navigators give a far different defcription of

vered Iflands.

the Northern Archipelago. From their accounts we
learn, that Beering’s Ifland is fituated due Eaft from Kamt-
chatkoi Nofs, in the 18 5th degree of longitude. Near itis
Copper Ifland; and, at fome diftance from them, Eaft-
fouth-eaft, there. are three fmall iflands, named by their
inhabitants, Attak, Semitfhi, and Shemiya: thefe are
properly the Aleutian Ifles; they ftretch from Weft-
north-weft towards Eaft-fouth-eaft, in the fame direction
as Beering’s and Copper Iflands, in the longitude of
195, and latitude 54. |

* Appendix I. No If.
“+ Appendix I. N° 1V.

To

RUSSTAN DISCOVERIES.

To the North-eaft of thefe, at the diftance of 600 or
800 ver{ts, lies another group of fix or more iflands,
known by the name of the Andreanoffikie Oftrova.

South-eaft, or Eaft-fouth, of thefe, at the diftance of
about 15 degrees, and North by Eaft of the Aleutian, be-
gins the chain of Lyffie Oftrova, or Fox Hlands: this chain
of rocks and ifles ftretches Eaft-north-eaft between 56 and
61 degrees of North latitude, from 211 degrees of longi-
tude moit probably to the Continent of America; and ina
line of direction, which croffes with that in which the
Aleutian ifles lie. The largeft and moft remarkable of
thefe iflands are Umnak, Aghunalafhka, or, as it is com-
monly fhortened, Unalafhka, Kadyak, and Alagfhak.

Of thefe and the Aleutian Ifles, the diftance and pofi-
tion are tolerably well afcertained by fhips reckonings,
and latitudes taken by pilots. But the fituation of the
Andreanoffiky Ifles * is till fomewhat doubtful, though
probably their direction is Eaft and Weft; and fome of
them may unite with that part of the Fox Ilands which
are moft contiguous to the oppofite Continent.

The main land of America has not been touched at by
any of the veffels in the late expeditions ; though poflibly

* Thefe are the fame iflands which are called, by Mr. Stehlin, Ana-

dirfky Iflands, from their fuppofed vicinity to the river Anadyr. See

Appendix I. Ne V.
E the

to
wr

26

AG @ @ BNF - O BF. GH &

the time is not far diftant when fome of the Ruffian ad-
venturers will fall in with that coaft**. More to the
North perhaps, at leaft as high as 70 degrees latitude,
the Continent of America may {ftretch out nearer to the
coatt of the T{chutfki; and form a large promontory,
accompanied with iflands, which have no connection
with any of the preceding ones, That fuch a promon-
tory really exifts, and advances to within a very {mall
diftance from Tichukotfkoi Nofs, can hardly be doubted ;
at leaft it feems to be confirmed by all the lateft accounts
which have been procured from thofe parts. That
prolongation, therefore, of America, which by Delifle is
made to extend Weftward, and is laid down juft oppofite
to Kamtchatka, between 50 and 60 degrees latitude, muft
be entirely removed; for many of the voyages related
in this collection lay through that part of the ocean,
where this imaginary Continent was marked down.

It is even more than probable, that the Aleutian, and
fome of the Fox Ilands, now well known, are the very
fame which Beering fell-in with upon his return ; though,
from the unfteadinefs of his courfe, their true pofition
could not be exactly laid down in the chart of that ex-
pedition f.

As

* Appendix I, N° VI.

+ Appendix I. N° VII.

{ This error is however fo fmall, and particularly with refpeé to the
more Eaftern coafts and iflands, as laid down in Beering’s chart, fuch as

Cape Hermogenes, Toomanoi, Shumaghin’s Ifland, and mountain of St.
Dolmat,

RUSSIAN DISCOWERIES.

As the fea of Kamtchatka is now fo much frequented,
thefe conjectures cannot remain long undecided; and it
is only to be wifhed, that fome expeditions were to be
made North-eaft, in order to difcover the neareft coafts
of America. . For there is no reafon to expect a fuccefs-
ful voyage by taking any other direction ; as all the vef-
fels, which have f{teered a more foutherly courfe, have
failed through an open fea, without meeting with any
fiens of land.

A very full and judicious account of all the difcoveries
hitherto made in the Eaftern ocean may be expected from
the celebrated Mr. Muller *. Meanwhile, I hope the
following account, extracted from the original papers,
and procured from the beft intelligence, will be the more
acceptable to the public; as it may prove an inducement
to the Ruffians to publifh fuller and more circumftantial
relations. Befides, the reader will find here a narrative
more authentic and accurate, than what has been pub-

Dolmat, that if they were to be placed upon the general map of
Rufa, which is prefixed to this work, they. would coincide with the
very chain of the Fox Iflands.

* Mr. Muller has already arranged and put in order feveral of the
journals, and fent them to the board of admiralty at St. Peterfburg,
where they are at prefent kept, together with the charts of the re-
{pective voyages.

E 2 lifhed

e7

ps

ACCOUNT OF THE

lifhed in the abovementioned calendar*; and feveral mif-
takes in that memoir are here corrected.

* A German copy of the treatife alluded to in the text, was fent, by
its author, Mr. Stehlin Counfellor of State to the Emprefs of Ruffia, to
the late Dr. Maty ; and it is mentioned, in the Philofophical Tranfactions
for 1774, under the following title: ‘ A New Map and Preliminary
*¢ Defcription of the New Archipelago in the North, difcovered a few
«‘ Years ago by the Ruffians in the N. E. beyond Kamtchatka.” A
tranflation of this treatife was publifhed the fame year by Heydinger.

itisA P.

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 29

eo -Rv ATP II.

Voyages in 1745.—Firfi difcovery of the Aleutian Ifles dy
Michael Nevodtfikoff.

A Voyage made in the year 1745 by Emilian Bafloff

is fcarce worth mentioning; as he only reached
Beering’s land, and two {maller ones, which lie South
of the former, and returned on the 3 rft of July, 1746.

The firft voyage which is in any wife remarkable, was Voyage of _
undertaken in the year 1745. The veflel was a Shitik 77+:
named Eudokia, fitted out at the expence of Aphanaffei
Tfebaefskoi, Jacob Tfiuproff and others ; fhe failed from
the Kamtchatka river Sept. 19, under the command of
Michael Nevodtfikoff a native of Tobolfk. Having dif-
covered three unknown iflands, they wintered UPON ONE Difeorers the
of them, in order to kill fea-otters, of which there was Mans.

a large quantity. Thefe iflands were undoubtedly the

neareft * Aleutian Iflands : the language of the inhabi-

* The {mall group of iflands lying S. E. of Beering’s Ifland, are the
real Aleiitian ifles : they are fometimes called the Neareft Aleiitian Iflands ;
and the Fox Iflands the Furtheft Aleiitian Ifles.

tants

ALL PUNaT OK VHE

tants was not underftood by an interpreter, whom they
had brought with them from Kamtchatka. For the
purpofe therefore of learning this language, they carried
back with them one of the Iflanders; and prefented
him to the chancery of Bolcheretfk, with a falfe account
of their proceedings. This iflander was examined as
foon as he had acquireda flight Knowledge of the Ruf-
fian language; and as it is faid, gave the following re-
port. He was called Temnac, and Att was the name of
the ifland of which he was a native. At fome diftance
from thence lies a great ifland called Sabya, of which
the inhabitants are denominated Rogii: thefe inhabi-
tants, as the Ruffians underftood or thought they under-
{tood him, made croffes, had books and fire-arms, and
navigated in baidars or leathern canoes. At no great
diftance from the ifland where they wintered, there were
two well-inhabited iflands: the firft lying E.S.E. and
S.E. by South, the fecond Eaftand Eaft by South. The
above-mentioned Iffander was baptifed under the name
of Paul, and fent to Ochotfk.

As the mifconduét of the thip’s crew towards the na-
tives was fufpected, partly from the lofs of feveral men,
and partly from the report of thofe Ruffians, who were
not concerned in the diforderly conduct of their com-
panions, a ftrict examination took place; by which the
following circumftances relating to the voyage were
brought to light.

According

RUSsSilAN CDT SCO E RA E S.

According to the account of fome of the crew, and
particularly of the commander, after fix days failing they
came in fight of the firft ifland on the 24th of Septem-
ber, at mid-day. They failed by, and towards evening
they difcovered the fecond ifland; where they lay at an-
chor until the next morning.

The 25th feveral inhabitants appeared on the coatft,
and the pilot was making towards fhore in the fmall
boat, with an intention of landing ; but obferving their
numbers increafe to about an hundred, he was afraid of
venturing among them, although they beckoned to him.
He contented himfelf therefore with flinging fome
needles amongft them: the iflanders in return threw
into the boat fome fea-fowl of the cormorant kind. He
endeavoured to hold a converfation with them by means
of the interpreters, but no one could underftand their
language. And now the crew endeavoured to row the
veffel out to fea; but the wind being contrary, they
were driven to the other fide of the fame ifland, where
_ they caft anchor.

The 26th, Tfiuproff having landed with fome of the
crew in order to look for water, met feveral inhabitants :
he gave them fome tobacco and {mall Chinefe pipes; and
received in return a prefent of a ftick, upon which the
head of a feal was carved. They endeavoured to wretft his.

4 hunting

Narrative of
the Voyage.

ACI OOIN T OOF THE

hunting gun from him ; but upon his refufing to part
with it and retiring to the fmall boat, the iflanders ran
after him; and feized the rope’ by which the boat was
made faft to fhore. This violent attack obliged Tfiuproff
to fire; and having wounded one perfon in the hand,
they all let go their hold; and he rowed off to the fhip.
The Savages nu fooner faw that their companion was hurt,
than they threw off their cloaths, carried the wounded
perfon naked into the fea, and wafhed him. In confe-
quence of this encounter the fhip’s crew would not ven-
ture to winter at this place, but rowed back again to the
other ifland, where they came to an anchor.

The next morning Tfiuproff, and a certain Shaffyrin
landed with a more confiderable party: they obferved
feveral traces of inhabitants; but meeting no one they
returned to the fhip, and coafted along the ifland. The
following day the Coffac Shekurdin went on fhore, ac-
companied by five failors: two of whom he fent back
with a fupply of water; and remained himfelf with the
others in order to hunt fea-otters. At night they came
to fome dwellings inhabited by five families: upon their
approach the natives abandoned their huts with precipi-
tation, and hid themfelves among the rocks, Shekur-
din no fooner returned to the fhip, than he was again
fent on fhore with a larger company, in order to look out
for a proper place to lay up the veffel during winter: In
their way they obferved fifteen iflanders upon an height ;

2 and

RUSSTAN DISCOVERTES.

and threw them fome fragments of dried fifh in order to
entice them to approach nearer. But as this overture
did not fucceed, Tfiuproff, who was, one of the party,
ordered fome of the crew to mount the height, and to
{eize one of the inhabitants, for the purpofe of learning
their language: this’ order was accordingly executed,
notwithftanding the refiftance which the iflanders made
with their bone {pears; the Ruffians immediately re-
turned with their prifoner to the thip. They were foon
afterwards driven to fea by a violent ftorm, and beat
about from the 2d to the gth of October, during which
time they loft their anchor and boat; at length they
came back to the fame ifland, where they paffed the
winter.

Soon after their landing they found in an adjacent hut
the dead bodies of two of the inhabitants, who had pro-
bably been killed in the laft encounter. In their way the
Ruffians were met by an old woman, who had-been taken
prifoner, and fet at liberty. She was accompanied with
thirty-four iflanders of both fexes, who all came dancing
to the found of a drum; and brought with them.a pre-
fent of coloured earth. Pieces of cloth, thimbles, and
needles, were diftributed among them in return; and
they parted amicably. Before the end of October, the
fame perfons, together with the old woman and {everal
children, returned dancing as before, and brought birds,

fifh, and other provifion. Having paffed the night with
F the

3$

34

ACCOUNT OF THE

the Ruffians, they took their leave. Soon after their de-
parture, Tfiuproff, Shaffyrin, and Nevodfikoff, accompanied
with feven of the crew, went after them, and found them
among the rocks. In this interview the natives behaved
in the moft friendly manner, and exchanged a baidar and
fome {kins for two fhirts. They were obferved to have
hatchets of fharpened f{tone, and needles made of bone:
they lived upon the flefh of fea-otters, feals, and fea-
lions, which they killed with clubs and bone lances.

So early as the 24th of October, Tfiuproff had fent
ten perfons, under the command of Larion Belayeff, upon
a reconnoitring party. The latter treated the inhabitants
in an hoftile manner; upon which they defended them-
felves as well as they could with their bone lances. This
refiftance gave him a pretext for firing; and accordingly
he fhot the whole number, amounting to fifteen men,
in order to get at their wives.

Shekurdin, fhocked at thefe cruel proceedings, re-
tired unperceived to the fhip, and brought an account of
all that had paffed. Tfiuproff, inftead of punifhing thefe
cruelties as they deferved, was fecretly pleafed with them;
for he himfelf was affronted at the iflanders for having
refufed to give him an iron bolt, which he faw in their
poffeffion. He had, in confequence of their refufal,
committed feveral acts of hoftilities againft them; and
had even formed the horrid defign of poifoning
them with a mixture of corrofive fublimate. In order

; however

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

however to preferve appearances, he difpatched Shekur-
din and Nevodfikoff to reproach Belayeff for his diforderly
condu&; but fent him at the fame time, by the above-
mentioned perfons, more powder and ball.

The Ruffians continued upon this ifland, where they
caught a large quantity of fea otters, until the 14th
of September, 1746; when, no longer thinking them-
felves fecure, they put to fea with an intention of looking
out for fome uninhabited iflands. Being however over-
taken by a violent ftorm, they were driven about until
the 30th of October, when their veffel ftruck upon a
rocky fhore, and was fhipwrecked, with the lofs of al-
moft all the tackle, and the greateft part of the furs.
Worn out at length with cold and fatigue, they ventured,
the firft of November, to penetrate into the interior
part of the country, which they found rocky and un-
even. Upon their coming to fome huts, they were in-
formed, that they were caft away upon the ifland of
Karaga, the inhabitants of which were tributary to Ruffia,
and of the Koraki tribe. The iflanders behaved to them
with great kindnefs, until Belayeff had the imprudence
to make propofals to the wife of the chief. The woman
gave immediate intelligence to her hufband; and the
natives were incenfed to fuch a degree, that they threat-
ened the whole crew with immediate death: but means

were found to pacify them, and they continued to live

with the Ruffians upon the fame good terms as before.

F 2 The

35

36

ACCOUNT OF THE

The 30th of May, 1747, a party of Olotorians made a:
defcent upon the ifland in three baidars, and attacked,
the natives; but, after fome lofs.on both fides, they went.
away. They returned foon after with a larger force, and
were again forced to retire. But as they threatened:to:
come again in a fhort time, and to deftroy all the inhabi-,
tants who paid tribute, the latter advifed the Ruffians to.
retire from the ifland, and affifted them in building two.
baidars. With thefe they put to feathe 27th of June,,
and landed the 21ft of July at Kamtchatka, with the.
reft of their cargo, confitting of 320 fea-otters, of which,
they paid the tenth into the cuftoms.. During this expe-

dition twelve men were loft.

C Ane

RUSSIAN DISCOV ERIE S..

Grr Ae Be YT:

Succefive voyages, from 1747 to 1753, ¢o Becring’s and
Copper Ifland, and o the Aleutian Iles.—Some account
of the inhabitants.

N the year 1747* two veffels failed from the Kamt-
chatka river, according to a permiffion granted by the
chancery of Bolckeretik for hunting fea-otters. One
was fitted out by Andrew Wievidoff, and carried forty-
fix men, befides eight Coffacs: the other belonged to
Feodor Cholodiloff, Andrew Tolftyk, and company ; and
had on board a crew, confifting of forty-one Ruffians and
Kamtchadals, with fix Coffacs.

The latter veffel failed the 2oth of Oétober, and was
forced, by ftrefs of weather and other accidents, to winter
at Beering’s Ifland. From thence they departed May the
—31ft,.1748, and touched at another fmall ifland, inorder
to provide themfelves with water and other neceffaries.
They then fteered S. E. for a.confiderable way without

* Tt may be neceflary to inform the reader, that, in this-and the two
following chapters, fome circumftances are occafionally omitted, which
are to be found in the original. Thefe omiffions relate chiefly to the
names of fome of the partners engaged in the equipments, and to a de-
tail of immaterial occurrences prior to the actual departure of the veffels.

difcovering

37

38

Voyage of
Emilian Yue
gotf.

ACCOUNT ‘OF THE

difcovering any new iflands; and, being in great want
of provifions, returned into Kamtchatka River, Auguft
14, with a cargo of 250 old fea-otter-{kins, above Ioo
young ones, 148 petfi or arctic fox-fkins, which were all
flain upon Beering’s Ifland.

We have no fufficient account of Wfevidoff’s voyage.
All that is known amounts only to this, that he returned
the 25th of July, 1749, after having probably touched
upon one of the neareft Aleutian Ifles which was unin-

habited: his cargo confifted of the fkins of 1040 fea-

otters, and 2000 arctic foxes.

Emilian Yugoff, a merchant of Yakutik, obtained from
the fenate of St. Peterfburg the permiffion of fitting out
four veffels for himfelf and his affociates. He procured, at
the fame time, the exclufive privilege of hunting fea-
otters upon Beering’s and Copper Ifland during thefe
expeditions ; and for this monopoly he agreed to deliver
to the cuftoms the tenth of the furs.

O&tober 6, 1750, he put to fea from Bolcherefk, in
the floop John, manned with twenty-five Ruffians and
Kamtchadals, and two Coffacs: he was foon overtaken
by a ftorm, and the veffel driven on fhore between the
mouths of the rivers Kronotfk and Tfchafminfk.

October 1751, he again fet fail. He had been com-
manded to take on board fome officers of the Ruffian
2 navy ;

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 39

navy; and, as he difobeyed this injunétion, the chancery
of Irkutfk iffued an order to confifcate his fhip and cargo
upon his return. The fhip returned on the 22d of July,
1754, to New Kamtchatkoi Oftrog, laden with the fkins
of 755 old fea-otters, of 35 cub fea-otters, of 447 cubs
of fea-bears, and of 7044 arétic fox-fkins: of the
latter 2000 were white, and 1765 black. Thefe furs
were procured upon Beering’s and Copper Ifland. Yu-
goft himfelf died upon the laft-mentioned ifland. The
cargo of the fhip was, according to the above-mentioned
order, fealed and properly fecured. But as it appeared
that certain perfons had depofited money in Yugoft’s
hand, for the purpofe of equipping a fecond veffel, the
crown delivered up the confifcated cargo, after referving
the third part according to the original ftipulation.

This kind of charter-company, if it may be fo called,
being foon diffolved for mifconduct and want of fufficient
ftock, other merchants were allowed the privilege of fit-
ting out veffels, even before the return of Yugoff’s fhip 5
and thefe perfons were more fortunate in making new
difcoveries than the above-mentioned monopolift.

Nikiphor Trapefnikoff, a merchant of Irkutfk, ob- Voyage of the
tained the permiffion of fending out a fhip, called the!
Boris and Glebb, upon the condition of paying, befides
the tribute which might be exacted, the tenth of all the
furs. The Coffac Sila Sheffyrin went on board this

veflel

49 ACCOUNT OF THE

veffel for the purpofe of colleting the tribute. They failed
in Auguft, 1749, from the Kamtchatka river; and re-
entered it the 16th of the fame month, 1753, with a
large cargo of furs. Inthe {pring of the fame year,
they had touched upon an unknown ifland, probably one
of the Aleutians, where feveral of the inhabitants were
prevailed upon to pay a tribute of fea-otter fkins. The
names of the iflanders who had been made tributary,
were Igya, Oeknu, Ogogoektack, Shabukiauck, Alak,
Tutun, Ononufhan, Rotogdi, Tichinitu, Vatfch, Afhagat,
Avyjanifhaga, Unafhayupu, Lak, Yanfhugalik, Umgali-
kan, Shati,; Kyipago, and Olofhkot *; another Aleutian
had contributed three fea-otters. They brought with
them 320 beft fea-otter fkins,- 480 of the fecond, and
400 of the third fort, 500 female and middle aged, and
220 medwedki or young ones.

VovageofAnr- Andrew Tolityk, a merchant of Selenginfk, having

drew Polfivk
to the Aleiitian

Iles, 1745. Obtained permiffion from the chancery of Bolfheretik,
refitted the fame {hip which had made a former voyage;
he failed. from Kamtchatka Auguit the rgth, 1749, and
returned July the 3d, 1752.

Accordins to the commandei’s account, the fhip la
>)

at anchor from the oth of September, 1749, to the 2oth

* The author here remarks in a note, that the proper names of the
iflanders mentioned in this place, and in other parts, bear a furprifing
refemblance, both in their found and termination, to thofe of the Green-
Janders.

of

RUS STAN DISCOV ERIE S.

of May, 1750, before Beering’s Ifland, where they caught
only 47 fea-otters. From thence they made to thofe
Aleutian Iflands, which were * firft difcovered by Ne-
vodfikoff, and flew there 1662 old and middle-aged fea-
otters, and 119 cubs; befides which, their cargo confitt-
ed of the fkins of 720 blue foxes, and of 840 young

fea-bears.

The inhabitants of thefe iflands appeared to have ne-
ver before paid tribute; and feemed to be a-kin to the
Tichuktfki tribe, their women being ornamented with
different figures fewed into the fkin in the manner of that
people, and of the Tungufians of Siberia. They differed
however from them, by having two {mall holes cut
through the bottom of their under-lips, through each of
which they pafs a bit of the fea-horfe tufh, worked into
the form of a tooth, with a fmall button at one end to
keep it within the mouth when it is placed in the
hole. They had killed, without being provoked, two of
the Kamtchadals who belonged to the fhip. Upon the
third Hland fome inhabitants had payed tribute; their
names were reported to be Anitin, Altakukor, and Alefh-
kut, with his fon Atfchelap. The weapons of the whole
ifland confifted of no more than twelve {pears pointed
with flint, and one dart of bone pointed with the fame ;
and the Ruffians obferved in the pofleffion of the:na-
tives two figures, carved out of wood, refembling fea-lions.

* See Chap. IL

™

Augutt

41

Voy age of
Vo obiet,

3759,

Voyage of
Novikoff and
Bacchoff frum
Anadyrik.

An C05U-N: T 40 & iT RE

Augutt 3, 1750, the veffel Simeon and John, fitted
out by the above-mentioned Wievidoff, agent for the
Ruffian merchant A. Rybenfkoi, and manned with four-
teen Rufiians (who were partly merchants and_ partly
hunters) and thirty: Kamtchadals, failed out for the
difcovery of new iflands, under the command of the
Coifac Vorobieff. They were driven by a violent current
and tempeftuous weather to a fmall defert ifland, whofe
pofition is not determined; but which was probably one
of thofe that lie near Beering’s Ifland. The fhip being
fo fhattered by the ftorm, that it was no longer ina
condition to keep the fea, Vorobieff built another {mall
veffel with drift-wood, which he called Jeremiah; in
which he arrived at Kamtchatka in Autumn, 1752.

Upon the above-mentioned ifland were caught 700
old and 120 cub fea-otters, 1g00 blue foxes, 5700 black
fea-bears, and 1310 Kotiki, or cub fea-bears.

A voyage made about this time from Anadyrik de-
ferves to be mentioned.

Auguft 24, 1749, Simeon Novikoff of Yakutfk, and
Ivan Bacchoff of Uftyug, agents for Ivan Shilkin, failed
from Anadyrfk into the mouth of the Kamtchatka river.
They affigned the infecurity of the roads as their reafon
for coming from Anadyrfk to Kamtchatka by fea; on

this account, having determined to rifk all the dangers
of

RUSSTAN DISCOVER EES.

of a fea voyage, they built a veffel one hundred and
thirty verfts above Anadyr, after having employed two
years and five months in its conftruction.

The narrative of their expedition is as follows. In
1748, they failed down the river Anadyr, and through
two bays, called Kopeikina and Onemenfkaya, where they
found many fand banks, but paffed round them without
difficulty. From thence they fteered into the exterior
gulph, and waited fora favourable wind. Here they faw
feveral T{chutfki, who appeared upon the heights fingly
and not in bodies, as if to reconnoitre; which made
them cautious. They had defcended the river and its
bays in nine days. In paffing the large opening of the
exterior bay, they fteered between the beach, that lies to
the left, and a rock near it; where, at about an hundred
and twenty yards from the rock, the depth of water is
from three to four fathoms. From the opening they
fteered E.S.E. about fifty verfts, in about four fathom
water ; then doubled a fandy point, which runs out di-
rectly againft the Tfhuktfhi coaft, and thus reached the
open fea.

From the roth of July to the 30th, they were driven
about by tempeftuous winds, at no great diftance from
the mouth of the Anadyr; and ran up the fmall river
Katirka, upon whofe banks dwell the Koriacs, a people

Gre tributary

Narrative of
te Voyage.

44 AGC OO AT kak SOT eis,

tributary to Ruffia. The mouth of the river is from
fixty to eighty yards broad, from three to four fathoms
deep, and abounds in fifh. From thence they put again
to fea, and after having beat about for fome time, they

ee ae at length reached Beering’s Ifland.. Here they lay at

Ifland, anchor from the 15th of September tothe 30th of Oc-
tober, when a violent ftorm blowing right from the fea,
drove the veffel upon the rocks, and dafhed her to pieces.
The crew however were faved: and now they looked
out for the remains of Beering’s wreck, in order to em-
ploy the materials for the conftructing of a boat. They
found indeed fome remaining materials, but almoft en-
tirely rotten, and the iron-work corroded with ruft.
Having felected however the beft cables, and what iron-
work was immediately neceffary, and _ collected
drift-wood during the winter, they built with great dif-
ficulty a fmall boat, whofe keel was only feventeen Ruf-
fian ells and an half long, and which they named Capiton.
In this they put to fea, and failed in fearch of an un-
known ifland, which they thought they faw lying
North-eaft; but finding themfelves miftaken, they
tacked about, and ftood far Copper Ifland: from
thence they failed to Kamtchatka, where they arrived at
the time above-mentioned.

The new conftruéted veffel was granted in property to
Ivan Shilkin as fome compenfation for his loffes, and
with the privilege of employing it in a future expedition

to

RUSSHhAN DIS COVERLE'S: 45

to the New Difcovered Iflands. Accordingly he failed
therein on the 7th of October, 1757, with a crew of
twenty Ruffians, and the fame number of Kamtchadals :
he was accompanied by Studentzoff a Coffac, who was
fent to collect the tribute for the crown. An account of
this expedition will be given hereafter *.

Auguft, 1754, Nikiphor Trapefnikoff fitted out the Joveeof

Durneff, in the
St. Nicholas,

Shitik St. Nicholas, which failed from Kamtchatka under {,;,,.
the command of the Coffac Kodion Durneff. He firft
touched at two of the Aleutian Ifles, and afterwards upon

a third, which had not been yet difcovered. He returned

to Kamtchatka in 1747. His cargo confifted of the
fkins of 1220 fea-otters, of 410 female, and 665 cubs;
befides which, the crew had obtained in barter from the
iflanders the fkins of 652 fea-otters, of 30 female ditto,
and 50 cubs.

Narrative of

From an account delivered in the 3d of* May, 1758, av...
by Durneff and Sheffyrin, who was fent as collector of im
the tributes, it appears that they failed in ten days as far
as Ataku, one of the Aleutian Iflands ; that they remained
there until the year 1757, and lived upon amicable terms
with the natives, |

The fecond ifland, which is neareft to Ataku, and D<tiption of

the Aleiitan

which contains the greateft number of inhabitants, is ’"*

* See Chap. V.

called

AS

Ws.
Account of
Anhabirants.

ACE ONIN a b's ae er Oe

called Agataku; and the third Shemya: they lie from
forty to fifty verfts afunder. Upon all the three iflands
there are (exclufive of children) but fixty males, whom they
made tributary. The inhabitants live upon roots which
crow wild, and fea animals: they do not employ themfelves
in catching fifth, although the rivers abound with all kinds
of falmon, and the fea with turbot. Their cloaths are
made of the fkins of birds and of fea-otters. ‘The Totgon
or chief of the firft ifland informed them by means of a
boy, who underftood the Ruffian language, that Eaft-
ward there are three large and well peopled iflands,
Thbiya, Rickfa, and Olas, whofe inhabitants fpeak a dif-
ferent language. Sheffyrin and Durneff found uponthe
ifland three round copper plates, with fome letters en-
graved upon them, and ornamented with foliage, which
the waves had caft upon the fhore: they brought them,
together with other trifling curiofities, which they had
procured frora the natives, to New Kamtchatkoi Oftrog.

Another fhip built ef larchwood by the fame Trapef-
nikoff, which failed in 1752 under the conduct of Alexei
Drufinin a merchant of Kurfk, had been wrecked at Beer-
ing’s Ifland, where the crew conftructed another veflel
out of the wreck, which they named Abraham. In this
veffel they bore away for the more diftant iflands 5; but
being forced back by comtrary winds to the fame ifland,
and meeting with the St. Nicholas upon the point of failing |
for the Aleutian Iles, they embarked on that fhip, after

having left the new conftructed veffel under the care of
I four

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

four of their own failors. The crew had {lain upon Beer-
ing’s Ifland five fea-otters, 1222 arétic foxes, and 2500
fea-bears : their fhare of the furs, during their expedition
in the St. Nicholas, amountéd to the fkins of 500 fea-
otters, and of 300 cubs, exclufive of 200 fea-otter-fkins,
which they procured by barter.

CHAP,

beta

47

43 ACCOUNT “0 Fi TE is

Gots Anh Pt IV.

Voyages from 1753 t0 1756.

Some of the further Aleutian or Fox Ilands touched at by
Serebranikoff’s vef/e/.—Some account of the Natives.

HREE veffels were fitted out for the iflands in

1753, one by Cholodiloff, a fecond by Serebrani-
koff agent for the merchant Rybenfkoy, and the third by
Ivan Kraffilnikoff a merchant of Kamtchatka.

Choloililoff’s Cholodiloff’s fhip failed from Kamtchatka, the roth of
Kanechatha Auguft, manned with thirty-four men; and anchored
ia the 28th before Beering’s Ifland, where they propofed to
winter, in order to lay-in a ftock of provifions: as they
were attempting to land, the boat overfet, and nine of

the crew were drowned.

June 30, 1754, they ftood out to fea in queft of new
difcoveries: the weather however proving ftormy and
foggy, and the fhip fpringing a leak, they were all in
danger of perifhing: in this fituation they unexpectedly
reached one of the Aleutian iflands, were they lay -from
the 15th of September until the gth of July, 1755. In

Pa the

RUSSTAN DISCOVERIES. 49

the autumn of 1754 they were joined by a Kamtchadal,
and a Koriac: thefe perfons, together with four others,
had deferted from Trapefnikoff’s crew; and had remain-~
ed upon the ifland in order to catch fea-otters for their
own profit. Four of thefe deferters were killed by the
iflanders for having debauched their wives: but as the
two perfons above-mentioned were not guilty of the fame
diforderly conduct, the inhabitants fupplied them with
women, and lived with them upon the beftterms. The
crew flew upon this ifland above 1600 fea-otters, and
came back fafe to Kamtchatka in autumn 1755.

Serebranikoff’s veffel failed in July 1753, manned
alfo with thirty-four Ruflians and Kamtchadals: they
difcovered feveral new iflands, which were probably
fome of the more diftant ones; but were not fo fortunate Departure of
in hunting fea-otters as Cholodiloff’s crew. -They fteered Veil.
S. E. and on the 17th of Augwit anchored under an un-
known ifland ; whofe imhabitants fpoke a language they
did not underftand. Here they propofed looking out for
afafe harbour; but were prevented by the coming on of
a fudden ftorm, which carried away their anchor. The
fhip being toft about for feveral. days towards the Eaft,
they difcovered not far from the firftifland four others:
ftill more to the Eaft three other iflands appeared in fight;
but on neither of thefe were they able to land. The
veffel continued driving until the 2d of September, arid
was confiderably fhattered, when they fortunately came_

H near

54 AGGO ON 7) O Fate &

“ near an ifland and caft anchor before it; they were how-
Shipwrecked €ver again forced from this ftation, the veffel wrecked

upon one of

the more dif 4ypHon the coaft, and the crew with difficulty reached the

tant Iflands.

fhore.

This ifland feemed to be right oppofite to Katyrfkoi
Nofs in the peninfula of Kamtchatka, and near it they
faw three others. ‘Towards the end of September De-
mitri Trophin, accompanied with nine men, went out
in the boat upon an hunting and reconnoitring party :
they were attacked by a large body of inhabitants, who
hurled darts from a {mall wooden engine, and wounded
one of the company. The firft fire however drove them
back ; and although they returned feveral times to the
attack in numerous bodies, yet they were always re-
pulfed without difficulty. -

Account of the
Inhabitants.

Thefe favages mark and colour their faces like the
Iflanders above-mentioned; and alfo thruft pieces of
bone through holes made in their under-lips.

Soon afterwards the Ruffians were joined in a friendly
manner by ten iflanders, who brought the flefh of fea-
animals and of fea-otters; this prefent was the more
welcome, as they had lived for fome time upon nothing
but {mall fhell-fifh and roots; and had fuffered greatly
from hunger. Several toys were in return diftribut-

ed

RUSSIAN DISGOVERIE S. 5t

ed among the favages. The Ruffians remained until TheCrewcon-

ftruét another

June, 1754, upon this ifland: at that time they de- Y%)ed

return to
£ Kamtchatka.

parted in a fmall veffel, conftructed from the remains o
the wreck, and called the St. Peter and Paul: in this they
landed at Katyrikoi Nofs; where having collected 140
fea-horfe teeth, they got fafe to the mouth of the Kamt-
chatka river.

During this voyage twelve Kamtchadals deferted ;
of whom fix were flain, together with a female in-
habitant, upon one of the moft diftant iflands. The
remainder, upon their return to Kamtchatka, were
examined ; and from them the following circumftances
came to light... The ifland, where the fhip was wrecked,
is about 70 verits long, and 20 broad. Around it lie
twelve other iflands of different fizes, from five to ten
verfts diftant from each other. Eight of them appear
to be no more than five verfts long. All thefe iflands
contain about a thoufand fouls. The dwellings of the
inhabitants are provided with no other furniture than
benches, and mats of platted grafs*. Their drefs confifts
of a kind of fhirt made of bird-fkins, and of an upper
_garment of inteftines ftitched together; they wear wood-
en caps, ornamented with a fmail piece of board pro-
jecting forwards, as it feemed, for a defence againt{t the
arrows. They are all provided with ftone knives, and a

* Matten aus einem geviffen Krautgeflochten.

say, few

52
Departure of
Krathlnikoff's

Veilel.

Shipwrecked
upon Copper
Uland.

ACCOUNT OF THE

few of them poffefs iron ones: their only weapons are
arrows with points of bone or flint, which they fhoot
from a wooden inftrument. There are no trees upon
the ifland: it produces however the cow-par{nip*, which
erows at Kamtchatka. The climate is by no means
fevere, for the {now does not lie upon the ground above

a month in the year.

Kraffilnikoff’s veffel failed in 1754, and anchored on
the 18th of October before Beering’s Hland; where all
the fhips which make to the New Difcovered Iflands are
accuftomed to winter, in order to procure a {tock of falted
provifions from the fea-cows and other amphibious ani-
mals, that are found in great abundance. Here they
refitted the veffel, which had been damaged by driving:
upon her anchor; and having laid in a fufficient ftore
of all neceffaries, weighed the 1it of Auguft, 1754.
The roth they were in fight of an ifland, whofe coait
was lined with fuch a number of inhabitants, that they
durft not venture afhore. Accordingly they ftood out
to fea, and being overtaken by a ftorm, they were reduced
to great dittrefs for want of water; at length they were
driven upon Copper land, where they landed; and
having taken in wood and water, they again fet fail.
They were beat back however by contrary winds, and
dropped both their anchors near the fhore; but the
{torm increafing at night, both the cables were, broken, |
and the fhip dafhed to pieces upon the coaft. All the

* Heracleum.

4 crew

RUSSTAN), DISCOVERIES. Be

crew were fortunately faved ; and means were found to
get afhore the fhip’s tackle, ammunition, guns, and the
remains of the wreck; the provifions, however, were
moftly fpoiled. Here they were expofed to a variety of
misfortunes; three of them were drowned on the 15th
of Odtober, as they were going to hunt; others almoft
perifhed with hunger, having no nourifhment but fmall
fhell-fifh and roots, On the 29th of December great part
of the fhip’s tackle, and all the wood, which they had
collected from the wreck, was wafhed away during an
high fea. Notwithftanding their diftrefles, they conti-
nued their hunting parties, and caught 103 fea-otters,
together with 1390 blue foxes.

In {pring they put to fea for Beering’s ‘Ifland in two 7%...

baidars, carrying with them all the ammunition, fire- vidi
arms, and remaining tackle. Having reached that ifland,
they found the fmall veffel Abraham, under the care of
the four failors who had been left afhore by the crew of
Trapefnikoff’s fhip: but as that vetlel was not large
enough tocontain the whole number, together with their
cargo of furs, they ftaid until Serebranikoff’s and Tolftyk’s
veflels arrived. Thefe took in eleven of the crew, with
their part of the furs. Twelve remained at Beering’s
Hland, where they killed great numbers of arétic foxes,
and returned to. Kamtchatka in the Abraham, excepting

two, who joined Shilkin’s crew.

* See the. preceding chapter.

54

Voyage of
Andrean Tol-
ftyk in 1756 to
the Aleiitian
Tfles.

AE CO UN “Ts OM ROT

Gy Es Poss Vi

Voyages from 1756 to 1758.

EPTEMBER 17, 1756, the veffel Andrean and

Natalia, fitted out by Andrean Tolftyk, merchant
of Selenginfk, and manned with thirty-eight Ruffians
and Kamtchadals, failed from the mouth of the Kamt-
chatka river. The autumnal ftorms coming on, and a
fcarcity of provifions enfuing, they made to Beering’s
Ifland, where they continued until the r4th of June
1757. Asno fea-otters came on fhore that winter, they
killed nothing but feals, fea-lions, and fea-cows; whofe
flefh ferved them for provifion, and their {kins for the

coverings of baidars.

June 13, -1757, they weighed anchor, and after
eleven days failing came to Ataku, one of the Aleutian
ifles difcovered by Nevodfikoff. Here they found the
inhabitants, as well of that, as of the other two iflands,
affembled ; thefe iflanders had juft taken leave of the
crew of Trapefnikofi’s veffel, which had failed for
Kamtchatka. The Ruffians feized this opportunity of
perfuading them to pay tribute; with this view they

2 beckoned

RUSS ALANYD ELS COV ER LES.

beckoned the Toigon, whofe name was Tunulgafen : the
latter recollected one of the crew, a Koriac, who had
formerly been left upon thefe iflands, and who knew
fomething of their language. A copper kettle, a fur
and cloth coat, a pair of breeches, ftockings and boots,
were beftowed upon this chief, who was prevailed upon
by thefe prefents to pay tribute. Upon his departure
for his own ifland, he left behind him three women and
a boy, inorder to be taught the Ruffian language, which
the latter very foon learned.

The Ruffians wintered upon this ifland, and divided
themfelves, as ufual, into different hunting parties: they
were compelled, by ftormy weather, to remain there

Gr

until the 17th of June, 1758: before they went away,.

the above-mentioned chief returned with his family, and
paid a year’s tribute..

This veffel brought. to Kamtchatka the moft circum-

ftantial account of the Aleutian ifles which had been yet
received.

The two largeft contained at that time about fifty

males, with whom the Ruffians had lived in great har-

mony. They heard of a fourth ifland, lying at fome
diftance from the third, called by the natives Iviya, but
which they did not reach on account of the tempeftuous
weather.

The

Account of”
thofe Iflands.

Gr

ACCOUNT ORV hmnE

The firft ifland is about an hundred verfts long and
from five totwenty broad. They efteemed the diftarice
from the firft to the fecond, which lies Eaft by South, to
be about thirty verfts, and about forty from the latter fo
the third, which ftands South Eaft. The original drefs
of the iflanders was made of the fkins of birds, fea-otters
and feals, which were tanned; but the greateft part had
procured from the Ruffians dog-fkin coats, and under-
garments of fheep-fkin, which they were very fond of.
They are reprefented as naturally talkative, quick of ap-
prehenfion, and much attached to the Ruffians. Their
dwellings are hollowed in the ground, and covered with
wooden roofs refenibling the huts in the peninfula of
Kamtchatka. Their principal food is the flefh of fea
animals, which they harpoon with their bone lances ;
they alfo feed upon feveral {pecies of roots and berries :
namely *cloud-berries, crake-berries, bilberries, and fer-
vices. The rivulets abound with falmon, and other
fifth of the trout kind fimilar to thofe of Kamtchatka;
and the fea with turbot, which are caught with bone
hooks.

Thefe iflands produce quantities of fmall ofiers and
underwood, but no large trees: the fea however drives
afhore fir and Jarch, fufficient for the conftruction of

* Rubus Chamemorus—Empetrum—Myrtillus—Sorbus.
their

R. USL SITIA. N-CD.F SICLOCVTECRAL E. S,

their huts. There are a great number of arctic foxes
upon the firft ifland, as well as fea-otters; and the fhores,
during ftormy weather, are covered with wild geefe and
ducks.

The Ruffians, according to the order of the chancery
of Bolcheretfk, endeavoured to perfuade the Toigon of
thefe iflands to accompany them to Kamtchatka, but with-
out fuccefs : upon their departure they diftributed among
the iflanders fome linen, and thirteen nets for the pur-
pofe of catching fea-otters, which were very thankfully
received. This veffel brought to Kamtchatka the fkins
of 5030 old and young fea-otters, of 1040 old and
young arctic foxes, and of 330 Medwedki or cubs of
fea-otters.

Inthe year 1757, Ivan Nikiphoroff, a merchant of
Mofcow, fent out a veffel: but we have no further ac-
count of this voyage, than that fhe failed to the Fox
Iflands, at leaft as far as Umnak.

The fmall veffel Capiton, the fame that was built Voyag: o:

57

Ivan Shi kinin

upon Beering’s Ifland, and which was given to the mer- Lae
chant *Ivan Shilkin, put to fea September 26, 1757,
carrying on board the Coflac Ignatius Studentfoff, who

has given an account of the voyage.
oO Pht

* See chap. III.

I They

58

Shipwrecked
upon one of
the Fox
Mlands.

ATC OUNT 0 F TIME

They had not long failed, before they were driven back
to the fhore of Kamtchatka by ftrefs of weather, and the
veffel ftranded; by which accident they loft the rudder
and one of the crew. This misfortune prevented them
from putting to fea again until the following year, with
thirty-nine of the original crew, feveral perfons being
left behind on account of ficknefs. They made directly
to Beering’s Ifland, where they took up two of Krafilni-
koff’s crew*, who had been fhipwrecked. They again
fet fail in Auguft of the fame year, and touched at the
neareft Aleutian Ifles, after fuffering greatly from itorms.
They then continued their courfe to the remoter iflands
lying between Eaft and South Eaft; and having paffed
by the firft, they anchored before the fecond. A boat
being immediately fent out towards the fhore, the crew
was attacked by a numerous body of iflanders in fo fud-
den a manner, that they had fcarcely time to fecure them-
felves by returning to the veffel. They had no fooner
got aboard, than a violent gale of wind blowing from the
fhore broke the cable, and drove them out to fea. The
weather became fuddenly thick and foggy; and under
thefe circumftances the veffel was forced upon a {mall
ifland at no great diftance from the other, and fhip-
wrecked. The crew got to fhore with difficulty, and
were able to fave nothing but the fire-arms and ammu-

nition.

# See chap. IV.
They

J

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

They had fcarcely got to land, before they were befet
by a number of favages, rowing in baidars from the
Weftern point of the ifland. This attack was the more
to be dreaded, becaufe feveral of the Ruffians were dif-
abled by cold and wet; and there remained only fifteen
capable of defending themfelves. They advanced how-
ever without hefitation to the iflanders; and one Ni-
cholas Tfiuproff (who had a flight knowledge of their
language) accofted and endeavoured to footh them, but
without fuccefs. For upon their approach the favages
gave a fudden fhout, and faluting them at the fame time
with a volley of darts, wounded one perfon in the hand.
Upon this the Ruffians fired, killed two of ,the affailants,
and forced the remainder to retire: and although a frefh
body appeared in fight, as if they were coming to the
affiftance of their companions, yet no new attack was
made. Soon afterwards the favages left the ifland, and
rowed acrofs the ftrait.

From the 6th of September to the 23d of April, they
underwent all the extremities of famine: during that pe-
riod their beft fare was fhell-fifh and roots; and they
Were even at times reduced to {till the cravings of their
appetite with the leather, which the waves wafhed afhore
from the wreck. Seventeen died of hunger, and the reft
would foon have followed their companions, if they had
not fortunately difcovered a dead whale, which the fea
had caft afhore. They remained upon this ifland another

I 2 winter,

59

60 ng GAN CVONUINE T OO PAPE E

The Creweon- winter, where they flew 230 fea-otters; and having
ftruét a fall . &

/
Velle!, and are Built a {mall veffel out of the remains of the wreck, they

again fhip-
wrecked.

put to fea in the beginning of fummer 1760. They
had fcarcely reached one of the Aleutian iflands, where
Serebranikoff’s veffel lay at anchor, when they were again
fhipwrecked, and loft all the remaining tackle and furs.
Only thirteen of the crew now remained, who returned
on board the above-mentioned veffel to Kamtchatka July.
1751.

Cain P,

RUSSEAN DISCOVERIES. 61

Gh Ele A.” Be VI.

Voyages it 1758, 1759, 4nd 1760—/0 the Fox Iflands—
in the St. Vladimir, fried out by Trapefnikoff—and in the
Gabriel, dy Betfhevin—The latter under the command of
Pufhkareff /ai/s to Alakfu or Alachfkak, one of the re-
mote Eaftern lands hitherto vtfited.
its inbabitants, and productions, which latter are dij-
ferent from thofe of the more IF cflern Iflands.

Some account of

CEPTEMBER 1758, the merchant Simeon Krafif- Vovaeeof the

St. Vladimir,
commanded by:

nikoff and Nikiphor Trapefnikoff fitted out two veffels pert -.s.
for the purpofe of catching fea-otters. One of thefe vef-
fels, called the St. Vladimir, failed the 28th under the com-
mand of Demetri Paikoff, carrying on board the Coffac Sila
Shaffyrin as collector of the tribute, and a crew of fortv-
five men. In twenty-four hours they reached Beering’s
Ifland, where they wintered. July 16, 1759, they
fteered towards the South in order to difcover land, but
being difappointed, they bore away to the North for the
Aleutian Ifles: being prevented however by contrary
winds from reaching them, they failed ftreight towards
the diftant iflands, which are known at prefent under

the name of Lyffie Oftrova or the Fox Iflands. Septem - Arrival athe
ber 1, they reached the firft of thefe, called by the natives
Atchu, and by the Ruffians Goreloi or the Burnt Ifland’:
I but

62

ACH OCU NIT AF VeVi:

but as the coafts were very fteep and craggy, they made
to Amlach, lying at a fmall diftance, where they deter-
mined to pafs the winter. They divided themfelves ac-
cordingly into three parties; the firft, at the head of
which was Alexey Drufinin, went over to a fmall ifland
called in the journal Sitkin; the Coffac Shaffyrin led the
fecond, confifting of ten perfons, to the ifland Atach; and
Simeon Polevoi remained aboard with the reft of the
crew. All thefe iflands were well peopled; the men had
bones thruft through their ears, under lips, and griitle
of their nofes; and the faces of the women were marked
with blackifh {treaks made with a needle and thread in
the {kin, in the fame manner as a Coffac one of the crew
had obferved before upon fome of the Tichutfki. The
inhabitants had no iron; the points of their darts and

lances were tipped with bone and flint.

They at firft imagined, that Amlach was uninhabited ;
but in one of their hunting parties they found a boy of
eight years old, whom they brought with them: they
gave him the name of Hermolai, and taught him the
Ruffian language, that he might ferve as an interpreter.
After penetrating further they difcovered an hut, where-
in were two women, four men, and as many boys, whom
they treated kindly, and employed in hunting, fifhing,
and in digging of roots. This kind behaviour encou-
raged others to pay frequent vifits, and to exchange fifth
and flefh for goat’s hair, horfes manes, and glafs beads.

They

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

They procured alfo four other iflanders with their wives,
who dug roots for them: and thus the winter pafled
away without any difturbance.

In the fpring the hunting parties returned; during
thefe excurfions one man alone was killed upon the ifland
Atach, and his fire-arms taken away by the natives.
June 1760, the fame parties were fent again to the fame
iflands. Shaffyrin, who headed one of the parties, was
foon afterwards killed, with eleven men, by the inha-
bitants of Atach, but for what reafon is not known.—
Drufinin received the firft information of this maffacre
from fome inhabitants of Sitkin, where he then was;
and immediately fet out with the remaining hunters to
join their companions, who were left on board. AlI-
though he fucceeded in regaining the veffel, their num-
ber was by this time fo confiderably reduced that their
fituation appeared very dangerous: he was foon however
relieved from his apprehenfions by the arrival of the
merchant Betfhevin’s veffel at the ifland of Atchu *.
The two crews entered into partnerfhip: the St. Vla-
dimir- received twenty-two men, and transferred eleven
of her own to the other veffel. The former wintered
at Amlach, and the latter continued at anchor before
Atchu.

* Atach and Atchu are two names for the fame ifland, called alfo by
the Ruffians Goreloi or Burnt Ifland.

4. This

63

64

Vovage of
Puthkareff,
4769.

Reaches At-
chu, one of the
Fox Iflands.

ASC OWOINGT © KR THE

This veffel, fitted out at the expence of Betfhevin, 2
merchant of Irkutfk, was called Gabriel; and put to fea
from the mouth of the Bolfhaia Reka July 31f, 1760.
She was maiined with forty Ruffians and twenty Kamt-
chadals, and carried on board Gabricl Pufhkareff, of the
garrifon of Ochotfk, Andrew Shdanoff, Jacob Sharypoff,
Prokopei Lobafhkoff, together with Nikiphor Golodoff,
and Aphanafféi Ofkoloff, Betfhevin’s agents.

Having failed through the fecond ftrait of the Kuril
Ifles, they reached the Aleutian Ifles on the 24th of Au-
guft. They ftood out from thence in order to make
new difcoveries among thofe more remote iflands, which
lie in one continued chain to the extent of 15 degrees
of longitude.

September 25 they reached Atchu, or Burnt Ifland, and
found the above-mentioned fhip the St. Vladimir, lying
twenty verifts from that ifland, befcre Amlach, in danger
of being attacked by the iflanders. They immediately
joined crews in order to enable the enfeebled company
of the St. Vladimir to continue hunting; and as it is ufual
in fuch cafes, entered into a contract for the divifion of
the profit. During that winter. the two crews killed
partly upon Siguyam, about 800 fea otters of different
fizes, about 100 medwedki or cubs, fome river otters,

above

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 65

above. 400 red, greyifh, and black foxes, and collected
twelve pood. of fea-horfe teeth.

In June, of the following year, the ‘two crews were
diftributed equally on board the two veffels: Kraffilni-
koff’s remained at Amlach, with an intention of return-
ing to Kamtchatka, and Belfhevin’s put to fea from Atchu
in queft of other iflands. Fhey touched firft at Umnak Departs from
where they met Nikiphoroff’s veflel. Here they took
in wood and water, and repaired their fails: they then
failed to the moft remote ifland Alakfu*, or Alachfhak, Svs °""
where, haying laid up the fhip in a bay, they built huts,
and made preparations for wintering. This ifland was
very well inhabited, and the natives behaved at firft in a
very friendly manner, for they trafficked with the Ruf- .
fians, and even delivered up nine of their children as
hoftages ; but fuch was the lawlefs and irregular beha-
viour of the crew, that the iflanders were foon irritated
and provoked to hoftilities.

In January 1762, Golodoff and Pufhkareff went with
a party of twenty men along the fhore; and, as they were
attempting to violate fome girls upon the ifland Uny-
umga, were furprifed by a numerous body of the na-
tives: Golodoff and another Ruffian were killed, and
three were wounded. Not long afterwards the watch of

* This is probably the fame ifland which is laid down in Krenitzin’s
ehart under the name of Alaxa.

K the

66

A'C’C'O"UIN TO F WHE

the crew was fuddenly attacked by the iflanders; four
men were flain upon the fpot, as many wounded, and
the huts reduced to afhes.

May 3, Lobafchkoff and another Ruffian were killed,
as they were going to bathe in the warm fprings, which
lie about five verfts from the haven: upon which feven
of the hoftages were put to death. The fame month the
natives attempted to furprife the Ruffians in their huts ;
but being fortunately difcovered in time were repulfed by
means of the firearms. At length the Ruffians, finding
themfelves in continual danger from thefe attempts,
weighed anchor, and failed for Umnak, where they took
up two inhabitants with their wives and children, in
order to fhew them other iflands. They were prevented
however by tempeftuous weather from reaching them ;
and were driven out to fea Weftward with fuch violence,
that all their fails were carried away: at length on the
23d of September they ftruck againft land, wHhich they
took for the peninfula of Kamtchatka; and they found
it to be the diftri€t of Stobolfkoi Oftrog. Six men were
immediately difpatched in the fmall boat and two baidars
to land: they carried with them feveral girls (who had
been brought from the new difcovered iflands) in order
to gather berries. Mean while the crew endeavoured to
ply the fhip to the windward. When the boat returned,
thofe on board were fcarcely able, on account of the
ftorm, to row to the fhip, and to catch hold of a rope,

3 which

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

which was flung out to them. Two men remained with
the baidars, and were afterwards carried by fome Kamt-
chadals to New Kamtchatkoi Oftrog. The fhip without
one fail remaining was driven along the coaft of Kamt-

chatka towards Avatcha, and about feventy verfts from.

_that harbour ran into the bay of Kalatzoff on the 25th
of September. Their cargo confifted of the fkins of
goo oldand young fea-otters, and of 350 foxes.

Pufhkareff and his crew had during this voyage be-
haved with fuch inhumanity towards the iflanders, that
they were brought to trial in the year 1764; and the
above-mentioned account is taken from the concurring
evidence of feveral witneffes. It appears alfo, that they
brought away from Atchu and Amleg two Aleutian men
and three boys, Ivanan Aleutian interpreter, and above
twenty women and girls whom they debauched. Ivan,
and one of the boys whom they called Mofes, were the
only perfons who arrived at Kamtchatka. Upon their
firft approach to that coaft, fourteen women were fent
afhore to dig roots and to gather berries. Of thefe, two
ran away, and a third was killed, as they were returning
to the fhip by one Gorelin : upon this the others in a fit
of defpair leaped into the fea and were drowned. All
the remaing Aleutians, excepting the two perfons above-
mentioned, were immediately thrown overboard by Pufh-
kareff’s order. The account which follows, although it
is found in the depofitions, deferves not to be entirely

credited in all particulars,
K 2 The

67

68

Account of
the Inhabitants
of Alackfu.

Animals.

ACCOUNT OF THE

The natives of the above-mentioned iflands are very
tall and ftrongly made. They make their cloaths of
the fkins of birds; and thruft bones through their un-
der-lips by way of ornament. They were faid.to ftrike
their nofes until they bled, in order to fuck the blood;
but we are informed from fubfequent accounts, that the
blood thus drawn from themfelves was intended for other
purpofes *. They were accufed even of murdering
their own children in order to drink their blood; but
this is undoubtedly an invention of the criminals, who
reprefented the iflanders in the moft hideous colours, in
order to excufe their own cruelties. Their dwellings
under-ground are fimilar to thofe of the Kamtchadals ;
and have feveral openings on the fides, through which
they make their efcape when the principal entrance is
befet by an enemy. ‘Their weapons confift of arrows
and lances pointed with bone, which they dart at a con-
fiderable diftance. |

The ifland Alakfu is faid to contain rein-deer, bears,
wild boars, wolves, otters, and a fpecies of dogs with
long ears, which are very fierce and wild. And as the
greateft part of thefe animals are not found upon thofe
Fox Iflands which lie nearer to the weft, this circum-

* Tt appears in the laft chapter of this tranflation, that the iflanders
are accuftomed to glue on the point of their darts with blood ; and
that this was the real motive to the practice mentioned in the text.

{tance

RU Si A NieD WSpCiOWV ERE S:.

ftance feems to prove that Alakfu is fituated at no great
diftance from the Continent of America. As to red,
black, and grey foxes, there is fo large a quantity, that
they are feen in herds of ten or twenty at atime. Wood
is driven. upon the coaft in great abundance. The
ifland produces no large trees, having only fome under-
wood, and a great variety of bulbs, roots, and berries.
The coafts are frequented by large flocks of fea-birds,
the fame which are obferved upon the fhore of the
fea of Penfhinfk.

Auguft 4, 1759, the Peter and Paul, fitted out at the
expence of the merchant Rybenfkoi by his agent An-
drew Serebranikoff, and manned with thirty-three per-
fons, fet fail from the mouth of the Kamtchatka river.
They fteered fouthwards until the 20th of September
without feeing any land, when they ftood for the Aleu-
tian Ifles, one of which they reached the 27th of Sep-

tember. They remained there until the 24th of June,.
1761; during which time they killed upon this and.
the two other iflands 1900 old and young fea-otters, ,
and obtained 450 more by bartering with the iflanders..
The Coflac Minyachin, who was on board as collector:
of the tribute, calls in his account the firft ifland by the:

Ruffian name of Krugloi, or Round Ifland, which he
fuppofes to be about fixty verfts in circumference: the
largeft ifland lies thirty verfts from thence, and is about
an hundred and fifty round: the fmalleft is about thirty

verits

69

Voyage of the
Peter and Paul
to the Aleu-
tian Iflands,
1759»

7oO

ACCOUNT OF THE

verfts from the latter, and is forty in circumference.
Thefe three iflands contain feveral high rocky moun-
tains. The number of inhabitants were computed to
be about forty-two men, without reckoning women
and children.

Ca.

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. . 71

Gi vA Poo OVE.

Voyage of Andrean Tolftyk im the St. Andrean and Nata-
lia—Di/covery of fome New Ifands called Andreanoft-
fkye Oftrova—De/cription of fix of thofe Ifands.

° . .
HE moft remarkable voyage hitherto made is that Voyage of Ar
drean Tolftyk

in the St. An-

of the St. Andrean and Natalia, of which the fol- thes A»
lowing extract is drawn from the Journals of the two a abe
Coffacs, Peter Wafyutinfkoi and Maxim Lafaroff. This
veffel, fitted out by the above-mentioned merchant An-
drean Tolftyk, weighed from the mouth of the Kamt-
chatka river September 27, 17603; fhe ftood out to fea
right Eaftwards, and on the 2gth reached Beering’s
Ifland. ‘There fhe lay at anchor in a bay, from whence.
the crew brought all the tackle and lading afhore. Soon
afterwards they were driven upon the fhore by a violent
autumnal {torm, without any other damage than the lofs
of an anchor. Here they paffed the winter; and having
refitted their veffel, put to fea June 24, 1761: they
pafied by Copper Ifland, which lies about an hundred
and fifty verfts from the former, and fteered S. E. to-
wards the Ale itian Iles, which they did not reach before
the 6th of Auguft. They cat anchor in an open bay
near Attak, inorder to procure an interpreter from the

Toigon

~~
ww

Reaches

ACCOUR TIO 'TAE
Toigon Tunulgafen ; but the latter being dead, they fent
prefents to the Toigon Bakutun. As there were already
three fhips lying at anchor before this Ifland, on the roth
they again ftood out to fea in queft of the more diftant
iflands, for the purpofe of exacting a tribute. They
carried on board a relation of the Toigon Bakutun, who
had a flight knowledge of the Ruffian language. They
fteered N. E. and N.E. ‘by E. and were driven, on the
28th, by a high gale of wind towards an ifland, before
which they immediately caft anchor. The following
morning the two Coffacs with a party of eight perfons
went afhore to reconnoitre the ifland; they faw no inha-
bitants. Auguft 30, the veffel was brought into a fafe
bay. The next day fome of the crew were fent afhore
fo procure wood, that the fhip might be refitted; but
there were no large trees to be met with upon the whole
ifland. Lafaroff, who was one of the party, had been

Ayazh, one of there before in Serebranikoft’s veffel: he called the ifland

the Andrea-
noffikye
Tflands,

Ayagh or Kayachu ; and another, which lay about the
diftance of twenty verfts, Kanaga. As they were re-
turning to the fhip, they faw two iflanders rowing in
fmall canoes towards Kanaga, one of whom had ferved
as an interpreter, and was known to Lafaroff. The lat-
ter accordingly made them a prefent of fome frefh pro-
vifion, which the others gratefully accepted, and then
continued their courfe acrofs the ftrait to Kanaga. Soon
afterwards Lafaroff and eight men rowed over to that
ifland, and having invited the Toigon, who was a rela-

2 tion

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

tion of the above-mentioned interpreter, to pay them a
vifit at Kayachu, they immediately returned to the fhip.

Near the place where they lay at anchor, a rivulet
falls into the bay; it flows from a lake that is about
two or three verfts in circumference, and which is form-
ed froma number of {mall fprings. Its courfe is about
eight verfts long; and in fummer feveral fpecies of fal-
mon and other fifh, fimilar to thofe which are found at
Kamtchatka, afcend the ffream as far as the lake.

Lafaroff was employed in fifhing in this rivulet, when
the Toigon of Kanaga, accompanied with a confiderable
number of the natives in fifteen baidars, arrived at the
fhip: he was hofpitably entertained, and received feveral
prefents. The Ruffians feized this opportunity of per-
fuading the iflanders to acknowledge themfelves fubjec&t
to the Emprefs, and to pay a regular tribute; to which
they made no great objection. By means of the inter-
preter, the following information was obtained from the
Toigon. The natives chiefly fubfift upon dried fifh and
other fea animals. They catch *turbot of a very large
fize, and take feals by means of harpoons, to which they
faften bladders.. They fith for cod with bone hooks,
and lines made of a long and tough fpecies of fea-weed,

* The author adds, that thefe turbot [paltus] weigh occafionally feven
or eight pood.

L f which

74 ACCOUNT(OF TPH

which they dip in frefh water and draw out to the fize of
a fine packthread.

As foon as the veffel was laid up in a fecure place,
Tolftyk, Vaffyutin and Lafaroff, with feveral others,
went in four baidars to Kanaga. The firft remained
upon that ifland, but the two others rowed in two bai-
dars to Tfetchina, which is feparated from Kanaga by a
{trait about feven verfts in breadth: the iflanders receiv-
ed them amicably, and promifed to pay tribute. The
feveral parties returned all fafe to Kayachu, without
having procured any furs. Soon afterwards Tolftyk dif-
patched fome hunters in four baidars to Tagalak, Atchu,
and Amlach, which lay to the Eaft of Kayachu: none of
thefe party met with any oppofition from the natives:
they accordingly remained with great tranquillity upon
thefe feveral iflands until the year 1764. Their fucce(fs.
in hunting was not however very great; for they caught
no more than 1880 full grown fea-otters, 778 middle-
aged, and 372 cubs.

Defcriptionof The following is Lafaroff’s defcription of the above-

the Andrea-
sone mentioned fix iflands* which lie in a chain fomewhat

to the North Weft of the Fox Iflands, and muft not be
blended with them. The firft certain account was
brought by this veffel, the St. Andrean and- Natalia,

* Thefe are the fix Iflands defcribed by Mr. Stehlin in his defcription

ef the New Archipelago. See Appendix I. N°. V.
I from.

R USSILAN DISiIC\OVERALE S.

from whence they are called the Andreanoffikie Oftrova
or the Iflands of St. Andrean.

Ayagh is about an hundred and fifty verfts in circum-
ference : it contains feveral high and rocky mountains,
the intervals of which are bare heath and moor ground:
not one foreft tree is to be found upon the whole ifland.
The vegetables feem for the moft part like thofe which
grow in Kamtchatka. Of berries there are found *crow
or crake-berries and the larger fort of bilberries, but in
{mall quantities. Of the roots of burnet and all kinds of
fnake weed, there is fuch abundance as to afford, in cafe
of neceflity, a plentiful provifion for the inhabitants.
The above-mentioned rivulet is the only one upon the
ifland. The number of inhabitants cannot fufficiently
be afcertained, becaufe the natives pafs continually from
ifland to ifland in their baidars.

Kanaga ftands Weft from Ayagh, and is two hundred
verfts in circumference. It contains an high volcano
where the natives find fulphur in fummer. At the foot
of this mountain are hot fprings, wherein they occafion-
ally boil their provifion. There is no rivulet upon this
ifland; and the low grounds are fimilar to thofe of
Ayagh. The inhabitants are reckoned about two hun-
dred fouls. |

* Empetrum, Vaccin. Uliginofum, Sanguiforba, & Biftorta.

2 Tfetchina

Ayagh,

Kanaga.

76

Tfetchina.

Tagalak.

Atchu.

Amlach.

AZCICLOLUIN. TGF Vinee

Tfetchina lies Eaftward about forty verfts from Kanaga,
and is about eighty in circumference. It is full of rocky
mountains, of which the Bielaia Sopka, or the White
Peak, is the higheft. In the valley there are alfo fome
warm fprings, but no rivulet abounding in fifh: the
ifland contains only four families.

_ Tagalak is forty verfts in circumference, ten Eaft from
Tfetchina: it contains a few rocks, but neither rivulets
with fifh, nor any vegetable production fit for nourifh-
ment. The coafts are rocky, and dangerous to approach
in baidars: This ifland is alfo inhabited by no more
than four families.

Atchu lies in the fame pofition forty verfts diftant
from Tagalak, and is about three hundred in circumfe-
rence: near it is an harbour, where fhips may ride fe-
curely at anchor. It contains many rocky mountains ;
and feveral {mall rivulets that fall into the fea, and of
which one running Eaftwards abounds in fifh. The
roots which have juit before been mentioned, and bulbs
of white lilies, are found there in plenty. Its inhabitants

amount to about fixty fouls.

Amlach is a mountainous ifland ftanding to the Eaft
more than feven verfts from Atchu, and is alfo three
hundred in circumference. It contains the fame num-

2 ber

RUSSTAN*DISCOVERIES,

ber of inhabitants as. Atchu, has a commodious
haven, and produces roots in abundance. Of feveral
fmall rivulets there is one only which flows towards the
North, that contains any fifh. Befides thefe a clufter of
other iflands were obferved ftretching farther to the

Eaft, which were not touched upon..

Account of

The inhabitants of thefe fix iflands are tributary to icTat.
Ruffia. They live in holes dug inthe earth, in which “"”
they make no fires even in winter. Their clothes are
made like fhirts, of the {kins of the *guillinot and puffin,
which they catch with fpringes. Over thefe in rainy
weather they wear an upper garment, made of the blad-
ders and other dried inteftines of feals and fea-lions oiled
and ftitched together. They catch cod and turbot with
bone hooks, and eat themraw. As they never lay in a
ftore of provifion, they fuffer greatly from hunger in.
ftormy weather, when they cannot go out to fifh; at
which time they are reduced to live upon {mall fhell-fith
and fea-wrack, which they pick up upon the beach and
eat raw. In May and June they kill fea-otters in the fol—
lowing manner: When the weather is calm, they row
out to fea in feveral baidars: having found the animal,,
they ftrike him with harpoons, and follow him {fo clofely,,
that he cannot eafily efcape. They take fea dogs.in the
fame manner. In the fevereft weather they make no:
addition to their ufual cloathing. In order to warm:

* Colymbus. Troile, Alca Arctica..
themfelves.

77

AGGGOUN TIQFATHSs

themfelves in winter, whenever it freezes very hard,
they burn a heap of dry grafs, over which they ftand
and catch the heat under their clothes. The clothes of
the women and children are made ot fea-otter flins, ‘in
the fame form as thofe belonging to the men. When-
ever they pafs the night at adiftance from home, they
dig a hole in the earth, and lay themfelves down in it,
covered only with their clothes and mats of platted grafs.
Regardlefs of every thing but the prefent moment, defti-
tute of religion, and without the leaft appearance of de-

cency, they feem but few degrees removed from brutes.

As foon as the feveral baidars fent out upon hunting
parties were returned, and the veffel got ready for their
departure, the Toigons of thefe iflands (excepting Ka-
naga) came in baidars to Tolftyk, accompanied with a
confiderable number of the natives; their names were
Tfarkulini, Tfhunila, Kayugotfk and Mayatok. They
brought with them ‘a voluntary tribute, making prefents
of pieces of dried falmon, and unanimoufly exprefling
their fatisfaétion upon the good conduct of the Ruffians.
Tolftyk gave them in return fome toys and other trifles,
and defired them to recommend to the inhabitants of the
other iflands the like friendly behaviour towards the Rui-
fian merchants who fhould come amongit them, if they
had a mind to be treated in the fame manner.

June 14, 1764, they failed for Kamtchatka, and an-
chored on the rgth before Shemiya, one of the Aleutian
Iflands.

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 79

Iflands. The 21ft they were forced from their anchor
by tempeftuous winds, and driven upon a rocky fhore.
This accident obliged them to fend the lading afhore, and
to draw the fhip upon land in order to repair the damage,
which was done not without great difficulty. On the
18thof Auguft they ftood out to fea and made towards
Atchu, which they reached on the 20th. Having
fprung a leak they again refitted the veffel; and, after
taking on board the crew of a fhip which had been lately
caft away, they failed for Kamtchatka. On the 4th of
September they came in fight of that peninfula near 7h cl

wrecked upon
the Coaft of

Tzafchminikoi Oftrog ; and on the 18th, as they were €n= Kamtchatk:».
deavouring to run into the mouth of the Kamtchatka
river, they were forced by aftorm upon the coaft. The

veffel was deftroyed, and the greateft part of the cargo:
loft,

GHA PR.

80 ACCOUNT OF) THE

Cir 3f, SAgS Vill.

Voyage of the Zacharias and Elizabeth, fitted out by Kul-
koff, and commanded by Drufinin—They /ail-to Umnak
ond Unalafhka, and winter upon the latter ifland—The
velfel defiroyed, and all the crew, except four, murdered

. by the iflanders—The adventures of thefe four Ruffians,
and their wonderful efcape.

SHALL here barely mention that a veffel was fitted

out in Auguft, 1760, at the expence of Terrenti
Tfebaéffkoi: but I fhall have occafion to be very cir-
cumftantial in my accounts concerning feveral others,
which failed during the following years : more copious
information concerning the Fox Iflands having been
procured from thefe voyages, although for the moft
part unfortunate, than from all the preceding ones.

In 1762 four veffels failed for the Fox Iflands: of
thefe only one returned fafe to Kamtchatka.

Vovage of & os 5 ‘
Novaeeof | The firft was the Zacharias and Elizabeth, fitted out
Zachatia ad

Elzabeh, by Kulkoff, a merchant of Vologda and Company, under

1762.

the command of Drufinin, and manned by thirty-four
Ruffians, and three Kamtchadals.

September

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

September the 6th, they weighed anchor from Ochotfk,
and arrived October the 11th in the haven of St. Peter
and Paul, where they wintered. June the 24th, 1763,
they again put to fea, and having reached, after eleven
days failing, the neareft Aleutian Iflands, they anchored
before Atach. They ftaid here about fourteen days,
and took up feven Ruffians who had been fhipwrecked
on this coait. Among thefe was Korelin, who returned
to Kamtchatka, and brought back the following account
of the voyage. :

July the 17th, they failed from Atach towards the
more. diftant iflands. In the fame month they landed
upon an ifland, where the crew of. the Andrean and
Natalia was engaged in hunting; and, having laid in a

provifion of water, continued their voyage.

In the beginning of September they arrived at Um-
nak, one of the Fox Iflands, and caft anchor about a
verit from the fhore. They found there Glottoff’s veffel,
whofe voyage will be mentioned in a fucceeding chapter*.
Drufinin immediately difpatched his firft mate Maefnifk
and Korelin, with thirty-four of the crew, to land. They
paffed-over to the Eaitern extremity of the ifland, which
was diftant about feventy verfts from the veffel; and re-
turned fafe on the 12th of September. During this ex-

* Chap. X.
M pedition,

Arrival at
Umnak.

81

82

Winters at
Unalafhka.

AG Dep NOEAO EF; DAE

pedition, they faw feveral remains of fox-traps which
had been fet by the Ruffians; and met with feveral
natives who fhewed fome tribute-quittances. The
fame day letters were brought by the iflanders from
Medvedeff and Korovin *, who were juft arrived at
Uminak and Unalafhka in two veffels fitted out by the
merchants Protafloff and Trapefnikoff, Anfwers were
returned. by the fame meffengers.

On the 22d, Drufinin failed to the Northern point of
Unalathka, which lies about fifteen verfts from Umnak:
the crew, having laid up the veffel in a fafe harbour,
and brought the lading afhore, made preparation to con-
ftruct an hut. Soon after their arrival, two Toigons
of the neareft village brought hoftages of their own ac-
cord; their example was immediately followed by feveral
of the more: diftant villages. Here they received infor-
mation of an hunting party fent from Trapefnikoff’s
fhip. Upon which Maefnyk alfo difpatched three com-
panies upon the fame errand, one confifting of eleven
men, among whom was Korelin, under the command of
Peter Tfekalei¥; a fecond of the fame number, under
Michael Kudyakoff; and a third of nine men, under
Yephim Kafkitfyn. Of thefe three parties, Tfekaleff’s
was the only one of which we have received any cir-
cumftantial account: for not a fingle perfon of the
other two parties, or of the crew remaining on board,
ever returned to Kamtchatka.

* See the following Chapter.

Kafkitfvn

RUSSIAN DISCOVERTES.

Kaikitfyn remained near the haven, and the two
other companies were difpatched to the Northern point
of the ifland. Kudyakoff ftopped at a place called
Kalaktak, which contained about forty inhabitants ; Tfe-
kalefF went on to Inalok, which hes about thirty- ver{ts
from Kalaktak. He found there a dwelling with about
feventy inhabitants, whom he behaved to with kindnefS:
he built an hut for himfelf and his companions, and
kept a conftant watch.

December the 4th, fix of the party being difpatched
to look after the pit-falls, there remained only five Ruf-
fians :: namely, Peter Tfekaleff, Stephen Korelin, Dmitri
Bragin, Gregory Shaffyrin, and Ivan Kokovin: the
iflanders took this opportunity of giving the firft proofs
of their hoftile intentions, which they had_ hitherto
concealed. As Tfekaleff and Shaffyrin were upon a
vifit to the iflanders, the latter fuddenly, and without
any provocation, {truck Tfekaleff upon the head with
a club, and afterwards itabbed him with knives. hey
next fell upon Shaffyrin, who defended himfelf with an
hatchet, and, though defperately wounded, forced his
way back to his companions. Bragin and Korelin, who
remained in the hut, had immediate recourfe to their
fire-arms ; but Kokovin, who was at a fmall diftance,
was furrounded by the favages, and thrown down.
They continued ftabbing him with knives and darts,
until Korelin came to his affiftance; the latter having

M 2 wounded

co
we

All the Crew,
except four
Ruithians, de-
ftroved by ths
Natives.

84

The Adven-
tures of the
four Ruffians
upon Unalafk-

ka,

2S OU NT Ol TBE

wounded two iflanders, and driven away the others,.
brought Kokovin half-dead to the hut.

Soon afterwards the natives furrounded the hut, which
the Ruffians had taken the precaution to provide with
fhooting-holes.. The fiege laited four days without in-
termiffion.. The iflanders were prevented indeed by the
fire-arms from ftorming the hut; but whenever ‘the
Ruffians made their appearance, darts were immediately
fhot at them from all fides; fo that they could not
venture to go out for water... At length when Shaffyrin:
and Kokovin were a little recovered,. they all fallied out
upon the iflanders with their guns and lances; three
perfons were killed upon the {pot, and feveral wounded 3:
upon which the others fied away and difperfed. Dur-
ing the fiege the favages were feen at a little diftance
bearing fome arms and caps, and holding them up in
triumph : thefe things belonged to the fix Ruffians, who
had been fent to the pit-falls, and had fallen a facrifice
to the refentment of the natives.

The latter no fooner difappeared, than the Ruffians
dragged the baidar into the fea, and rowed without mo--
leftation out of the bay, which is about ten verfts broad,
They next landed near a {mall habitation: finding it
empty they drew the baidar afhore, and went with their
fire-arms and lances acrofs the mountains towards Ka-

Jaktak, where they had left Kudyakofi’s party. As they
approached

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

approached that place towards evening, they fired from
the heights; but no fignal being returned, they con-
eluded, as was really the cafe, that this company had:
likewife been mafiacred by the inhabitants. They them--
felves narrowly efcaped the fame fate; for, immediately
upon the report of the fire-arms, numerous bodies of the:
iflanders made their appearance,. and clofely purfued the
Ruffians: darknefs however coming on, the latter found
means to efcape over the fandy fhore of a bay to a rock,
where they were fheltered, and could defend themfelves.
They here made fo good. a ule of their arms, that the
iflanders thought proper to retire :. the fugitives, as foon
as their purfuers were withdrawn, feized: the op-
portunity of proceeding towards the haven, where their
veffel lay at anchor: they ran without interruption during
the whole night, andat break of day, when they were about
three verfts from the haven, they efpied a locker of the
veffel lying on the fhore.. Struck with aftonifhment at
this alarming difcovery, they retreated with precipitation
to the mountains, from. whence they defcried feveral
iflanders rowing in canoes, but no appearance of their
own veffel.. During that day they kept themfelves clofely
concealed,. and durft not venture again towards the haven:
before the evening. Upon their arrival they found the:
veffel broken to pieces, and the dead bodies of their com-
panions lying mangled along the beach.. Having col-
lected all the provifion which had been untouched by:
the favages, they returned to the mountains.

The:

&6

ACC OCINGT, £0 Fa vee

The following day they fcooped out a cavity at the -
foot of a mountain fituated about three verits from the
haven, and covered it with a piece of a fail. In the
evening they returned to the haven, and found there an
image of a faint and a prayer book; all the tackle and

lading were taken away, excepting the facks for provifion.

Thefe facks were made of leather: the natives had
ript them up probably to fee if they contained any iron,
and had left them, together with the provilion, behind
as ufelefs. The Ruffians collected all that remained, and
dragged as much as they were able to carry into the
mountains to their retreat, where they lived in a very
wretched ftate from the goth of December to the 2d of

February, 1764.

Mean while they employed themfelves in making a
little baidar, which they covered with the leather of the
facks. Having drawn it at night from the mountains to
the fea, they rowed without waiting for break of day
along the Northern coaft of Unalafchka, in order to reach
Trapefnikoff’s veflel, which, as they had reafon to think,
lay at anchor fomewhere upon the ccatt. They rowed
at fome diftance from the fhore, and by that means paff-
ed three ‘habitations unperceived. The following day
they obferved at fome diftance five iflanders in a baidar,
who upon feeing them made to Makufhinfk, before

which

R U § Si brA Neo Dd 8S: CxO) VE, RI E S.

which place the fugitives were obliged to pafs. Darknefs

-coming on, the Ruffians landed on a rock, and paffled the
night afhore. Early inthe morning they difcovered the
iflanders advancing towards them from the bay of Ma-
kufhinfk. Upon this they placed themfelves in an ad-
vantageous poft, and prepared for defence.

The favages rowed clofe to the beach: part landing,
and part remaining in their baidars, they commenced
the aifault by a volley of darts ; and notwithftanding the
Ruffians did great execution with their fire-arms, the
fkirmifh continued the whole day. Towards evening the
enemy retired, and the fugitives betook themfelves with
their canoe to an adjoining cavern. The attack was again
renewed during the night; but the Ruffians were fo ad-
vantageoufly pofted, that they repulfed the affailants
without much difficulty. In this encounter Bragen
was flightly wounded. They remained in this place
three days; but the fea rifing at a {pring-tide into the
rock, forced them to fally out towards a neighbouring

cavern, which they reached without lofs, notwithftand-

ing the oppofition of the iflanders.

They were imprifoned in this cave five weeks, and kept
vatch by turns. During that time they feldom ven-
tured twenty yards from the entrance; and were obliged
to quench their thirft with {now-water, and with the
moifture dripping from the rock. They fuffered alfo

3 greatly

87

83 ACC OWN T 40 8 ee Ee

greatly from hunger, having no. fuftenance but fmal
fhell-fifh, which they occafionally found means to-col-
lect upon the beach. -Compelled at iength by extreme
want, they one night ventured to draw their baidar inte
the fea, and were fortunate enough te get off unper-

ceived.

Their Efcape i d rowin? ig 1 7
Thee Elcape ; eure men continued rowing at night, but in the day they

ka ce. fare hid themfelves on the fhore ; by this means they efcaped
unobferved from the bay of Makufhinfk, and reached
Trapefnikoff’s veffel the 30th of March, 1764. What
happened to them afterwards in company with the
crew of this veffel will be mentioned in the fucceeding
chapter. ‘Shaffyrin alone of all the four died of
ficknefs during the voyage; but Korelin, Kohovin, and
Bragin* returned fafe to Kamtchatka. The names of
thefe brave men deferve our admiration, for the courage
and perfeverance with which they fupported and over-

came fuch imminent dangers.

* Thefe Ruffians were well known to feveral perfons of credit, who
have confirmed the authenticity of this relation. Among the reft the
celebrated naturalift Mr. Pallas, whofe name is well known in the lite-
rary world, faw Bragin at Irkutfk: from him he had a narrative of their
adventures and efcape; which, as he aflured me, perfectly tallied with
the above account, which is drawn from the journal of Korelin.

GH Age:

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 89

Sg fe via aml 2a usa a

Voyage of the veffel called the Trinity, under the command
of Korovin—Sails to the Fox Wlands—Winters at Una-
lafhka—Puts to fea the /pring following—The veffel is
Stranded in a bay of the tfand Umnak, and the crew
attacked by the natives—Many of them killed—Others
carried off by fickne/s—They are reduced to great fireights
—Relieved by Glottoff, twelve of the whole company only
remaininge—Defcription of Umnak and Unalathka.

HE fecond veffel which failed from erayrgeela ep in Hoyage of ify
‘the year 1762, was the Trinity, fitted out by the
trading company of Nikiphor Trapefnikoff, merchant of
Irkutfk, under the command of Ivan Korovin, and

manned with thirty-eight Ruffians and fix Kamtchadals.

September 15, they failed down the Kamtchatka river, Departs from,

and ‘ftood out to fea the 29th, when they were driven
at large for ten days by contrary winds. At laft upon
the 8th of October they came in fight of Beering’s and
Copper Ifland, where they caft anchor before the South
fide of the: former... Here they were. refolved. to winter
on. account of the-late feafon of the year. Accordingly
they laid up the veffel in a fecure harbour, and brought

N all

90 ACCOUNT OF THE

Bee all the lading afhore. They ftaid here until the firft of
sais Auguft, 1763: during that time they kitted about 500
arctic foxes and 20 fea-otters; the latter animals re-
forted lefs frequently to this ifland, in confequence of

the difturbance given them by the Ruffian hunters.

Korovin, having colleéted a fufficient ftore of provi-
fion, feveral fkins of fea-cows for the coverings of bai-
dars, and fome iron which remained from the wreck of
Beering’s fhip, prepared for his departure. Upon his
arrival at Beering’s Ifland the preceding autumn, he
found there a veffel fitted out by Jacob Protaffoff, mer-
chant of 'Tiumen, under the command of Dennis Med-
vedeff *. Korovin had entered into a formal contract
with Medvedeff for the divifion of the furs. Here he
took on board ten of Medvedeff’s crew, and gave him
feven in return.

Augutt 1, Korovin put to fea from Beering’s Ifland with
thirty-feven men, and Medvedeff with forty-nine. They
failed without coming in fight of the Aleutian Ifles: on

Sdn the rsth, Korovin made Unalafhka, where Glottoff lay
at anchor, and Medvedeff reached Umnak. Korovin
received the news of the latter’s fafe arrival, firft by

fome iflanders, and afterwards by letters; both veffels

# This is the fourth veffel which failed in 1762. As the whole crew
was maflacred by the favages, we have no account of the voyage.
Short mention of this maffacre is occafionally made in this and the fol-
lowing chapters.

lay

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

lay at no greater diftance from each other than about
an hundred and fifty verfts, taking a ftreight line from
point to point acrofs the firth,

Korovin caft anchor in a convenient bay at the diftance
of fixty yards from the fhore. On the 16th he landed
with fourteen men, and having found nothing but an
empty fhed, he returned to the veffel. After having
taken a reinforcement, he again went afhore in order to
look for fome inhabitants. About feven verfts from
the haven, he came to two habitations, and faw three
hundred perfons affembled together. Among them
were three Toigons, who recollected and accofted in a
friendly manner one Barnafheff, a native of Tobolfk,
who had been there before with Glottoff; they fhewed
fome tribute-quittances, which they had lately received
from the Coffac Sabin Ponomareff. Two of thefe Toi-
gons gave each a boy of twelve years of age as an
hoftage, whom they paffed for their children; and the
third delivered his fon of about fifteen years of age,
the fame who had been Glottoff’s hoftage, and whom
Korovin called Alexey. With thefe hoftages he returned

Ot

to the fhip, which he laid up in the mouth of a river, canes
nip.

after having brought all the provifion and ladng afhore.
Soon afterwards the three Toigons came to fee the
hoftages ; and informed Korovin, that Medvedefi’s veffel
rode fecurely at anchor before Umnak.

N 2 September

92

”

ROC ORNIT 1 Ferre

September 315, when every thing was prepared for.
wintering, Korovin and Barnafheff fet out in.two baidars,
each with nine men and one of the hoftages, who had
a flight knowledge of the Ruffian language. They
went along the Northern coaft of the ifland, towards
its Weftern extremity, in order to hunt, and to enquire
after a certain interpreter called Kafhmak, who had been
employed by Glottoff on a former occafion. Having
rowed about twenty verits, they paffed by a village,
and landed at another which lay about five verf{ts fur-
ther. But as the number of inhabitants feemed to
amount to two hundred, they durft not venture to the
dwellings, but ftayed by the baidar. Upon this the
Toigon of the place came to them, with his wife and
fon: he fhewed a tribute-quittance, and delivered his
fon,-a boy of thirteen years of age and whom Korovin.
called Stepanka, as an hoftage, for which he received a
prefent of corals.

They rowed now further to a third village, about
fifteen verfts from the former, where they found the
interpreter Kafhmak; the latter accompanied them to
the two Toigons, who gave them a friendly reception,
and fhewed their tribute-quittances. A few natives only
made their appearance ; the others, as the Toigons pre-
tended, were gone out to fifh. The next morning each.
Toigon gave a boy as an hoftage; one of the boys Ko-
rovin called Gregory, and the other Alexey. The Ruf

fians

RUSSEFAN DISCOVERIES. 93

fians were detained there two days by a violent ftorm ;
‘during which time a letter from Medvedeff was brought
by an Aleutian, and an anfwer was returned by the fame
perfon. ‘The ftorm at length fomewhat abating, they
rowed back to the next village, where they continued
two nights.without any apprehenfions from the favages.

At length Korovin returned in fafety with the hoftages

to the crew.

In the beginning of October they built a winter-hut, Buil’s2 Fes

and makes
Preparations

partly of wood and partly of feal-fkins, and made all forWinctiss
the neceflary preparations for hunting. On the rath,

two companies, each confifting of eleven men, were fent

out upon an hunting party to the Eaftern point of the

ifland; they returned in four days with hoitages.

About fixty verfts from the haven, they had met a

party of twenty-five Ruffians, commanded by Drufinin.

About the fame time fome Toigons brought a prefent of
fturgeon and whale’s blubber, and received in return

fome beads and provifion.

Korovin and his company now thought themfelves
fecure ; for which reafon twenty-three men, under the
command of the above-mentioned Barnafheff, were dif-
patched in two baidars upon an hunting party towards
the Weftern point of the ifland. Eight mufkets were
diftributed to each boat, a piftol and a lance to each

man,

94

AC € OWN: T+O.F - THE

man, and alfo a fufficient {tore of ammunition and pro-
vifion. The following day two accounts were fent from
Barnafheff; and letters were alfo received from the crew
of Protafloff’s veffel. From the 2d of November to the
Sth of December, the Ruffians, who remained with Ko-
rovin, killed forty-eight dark-coloured foxes, together
with an hundred and feventeen of the common fort:
during this expedition one man was loft. Some of the
natives came occafionally in baidars, and exchanged fea-
otters and fox fkins for corals. On the 8th of Decem-
ber letters were again brought from Barnatheff and alfo
from the crew of Protaffoff’s fhip. Anfwers were return-
ed by the fame meffengers.

After the departure of thefe meffengers, the mother
of Alexéy came with a meflage from the Toigon her huf-
band importing, that a large number of iflanders were
making towards the fhip. Upon this Korovin ordered
the men to arms, and foon after feventy natives approach-
ed and held up fome fea-otter fkins. The Ruffians cried
out that no more than ten at atime fhould come over the |
brook towards their hut: upon which the iflanders left
their {kins with Korovin, and returned without attempt-
ing any hoftilities. Their apprehenfions were now fome-
what quieted, but they were again raifed by the arrival
of three Kamtchadals belonging to Kulkoff’s fhip, who
flew for protection to Korovin: they brought the ac-
count that the crew had been killed by the favages, and

4 the

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 95

the veffel deftroyed. It was now certain that the feventy
iflanders above-mentioned had come with hoftile inten-
tions. This information fpread fuch a fudden panic
among the Ruffians, that it was even propofed to burn
the veffel, and to endeavour to find their companions,
who were gone upon hunting parties.

The Ruffians
attacked by the
Natives.

That day however paffed without any attack : but towards
the evening of the roth of December, the favages af-
fembled in large bodies, and invefted the hut on all
fides. Four days and nights they never ceafed annoying
the Ruffians with their darts; two of the latter were
killed, and the furvivors were nearly exhaufted by con-
tinual fatigue. Upon the fifth day the iflanders took poft
in a neighbouring cavern, where they continued watch-
ing the Ruffians fo clofely during a whole month, that
none of the latter durft venture fifty paces from:
their dwelling. Korovin, finding himfelf thus annoyed
by the natives, ordered the hut to be deftroyed: he
then retired to his veffel, which was brought for greater
fecurity out of the mouth of the rivulet to the diftance of
an hundred yards from the beach. There they lay at
anchor from the 5th of March to the 26th of April,
during which time they fuffered greatly from want of
provifion, and {till more frum the fcurvy.

During

96.

Korovin puts
to Sea. The

AGASUNTIQFAREHE

During this period they were attacked by a large body
of the natives, who advanced in forty baidars with the
hopes of furprifing the veffel. _ Korovin had been warned
of their approach by two of the inhabitants, one of whom
was a relation of the interpreter Kafhmak : accordingly
he was prepared for their reception. As foon as
the favages came near the veffel, they brandifhed
their darts and got ready for the attack. Korovin how-
ever had no fooner fired and killed one perfon, than they
were ftruck with a panic and rowed away. They were fo
incenfed at this failure of fuccefs, that they immediately
put to death the two good-natured natives, who had be-
trayed their defign tothe Ruffians. Soon afterwards the
father of Alexey came and demanded -his fon, who was
re{tored to him: and on the 3oth of March Korovin-and
his three companions arrived as-it is mentioned in the
preceding chapter. By this reinforcement the number

of the crew amounted to eighteen perfons.

April 26 Korovin put to fea from Unalafhka with the

Vettel ranted Creyy and eleven hoftages. The veffel was driven until

upon Umnak.

the 28th by contrary winds, and then ftranded ina bay
of the ifland Umnak. The ammunition and fails, to-
gether with the kins for the conftru€tion of baidars,
were brought afhore with great difficulty. During the
difembarkation one fick man was drowned, another died
as foon as he came to land, and eight hoftages ran away

I amidit

RU SSA HUD TY SiClO VUIOR TI E 5.

amidft the general confufion. There ftill remained the
faithful interpreter Kafhmak and three hoftages. The
whole number of the Ruffians amounted to only fix-
teen perfons; and of thefe three were fick of the fcurvy.
Under thefe circumftances they fecured themfelves be-
tween their baidar and fome empty barrels, which they
covered with feal-fkins, while the fails were {pread over
them in form of a tent. Two Ruffians kept watch ;
and there being no appearance of any iflanders, the
others retired to fleep.

Before break of day, about an hundred favages ad-
vancing fecretly from the fea-fide, threw their darts at
the diftance of twenty yards-with fuch force, that many
of them pierced through the baidar and the {kins ;
others fell from above through the fails. By this dif-
charge, the two perfons who kept watch, together with
the three hoftages, were killed upon the fpot; and all
the Ruffians were wounded. The latter indeed were fo
effectually furprifed, as to be prevented from having
recourfe to their fire-arms. In this diftrefs Korovin
fallied out, in company. with four Ruffians, and at-
tacked the enemy with lances: two of the favages were
killed, and the cthers driven to flight. Korovin and
his party were fo feverely wounded, that they had
{carcely ftrength fufficient to return to their tent.

O During

97

The RuMfians

in Dangcr of

being deftroy -
ed by the Na<
tives.

The fatter
repulfed,

98

4

ANC ICVORUN T OF THE

During the night the ftorm increafed to fuch a de-
gree, that the veffel was entirely dafhed to pieces. The
greateft part of the wreck, which was caft on fhore
by the fea, was carried away by the iflanders. They
alfo broke to pieces the barrels of fat, emptied the facks
of provifion, and deftroyed moft of the furs: having
thus fatisfied their refentment, they went away; and
did not again make their appearance until the 30th of
April. Upon their retiring, the Ruffians collected the
wretched remains which had been left untouched by
the favages, or which the waves had caft on fhore fince

their departure..

April 30, a body of an hundred and fifty natives
advanced from the Eaftern point of the ifland towards.
the tent; and, at the diftance of an hundred yards,
fhot at the Ruffians with fire arms, but luckily without -
execution. They alfo fet on fire the high grafs, and
the wind blew the flames towards the tent; but the
Ruffians firing forced the enemy to flight, and gained

time to extinguifh the flames.

This was the laft attack which was made upon Korovin ;
although ficknefs and mifery detained him and his com-
panions upon this fpot until the 21ft of July. They then
put to fea in a baidar eight yards long, which they
had conftructed in order to make to Protaffoff’s veffel,

with

“RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 99

with whofe fate they were as yet unacquainted. Their
number was now reduced to twelve perfoms, among
whom were fix Kamtchadals.

After having rowed ten days they landed upon the The Ruffians

difcover the

beach of the fame ifland Umnak; there they obferved 4:4 Poess

of their Coun-
trymen who

the remains of a veffel which had been burnt, and {aw had been mur
fome clothes, fails, and ropes, torn to pieces. Ata {mall Nanves,
diftance was an empty Ruffian dwelling, and near it a
bath-room, in which they found, to their inexpreffible

terror, twenty dead bodies in their clothes. Each of

them had a thong of leather, or his own girdle, faftened

about the neck, with which he had been dragged along.
Korovin and his companions recollected them to have

been fome of thofe who had failed in Protafloff’s veffel ;

and could diftinguifh among the reft the commander
Medvedeff. They difcovered no further traces of the
remaining crew; and as none ever appeared, we have

no account of the circumftances with which this cas
taftrophe was attended.

.

After having buried his dead countrymen, Korovin Relieved from

their Diftreffes
and his companions began to build an hut: they were by the Amal
-) : of Gloitot

prevented however from finifhing it, by the unexpected
arrival of Stephen Glottoff*, who came to them with
a {mall party by land. WKorovin and his: companions
accordingly joined Glottoff, and rowed the next day to
his vefiel.

® See the following Chapter.

9 O 2 soon

TQO0

AKC OWNeT OE T HSE

Soon afterwards Korovin was fent with a party of
twenty men to coaft the ifland of Umnak, in order to
difcover if any part of Medvedeft’s crew had made their
efcape fromthe general maflacre: but his enquiries.
were without fuccefs. In the courfe of this expedition,
as he lay at anchor, in September, before a {mall ifland
fituated between Umnak and Unalafhka, fome favages
rowed towards the Ruffians in two large baidars; and
having fhot at them with fire-arms, though without
effect, inftantly retired. The fame evening Korovin
entered a bay of the ifland Umnak, with an intention
of pafling the night on fhore: but as he came near
the coaft, a large number of favages in an hundred bai-
dars furrounded and faluted him with a volley of darts.
Korovin fired and foon difperfed them; and immedi-
ately made to a large baidar, which he faw at fome dif-
tance, in hopes of finding fome Ruffians. He. was
however miftaken ; the iflanders who were aboard land—
ed at his approach, and, after {hooting at him from their
fire-arms, retired to the mountains..

Korovin found there an empty baidar, which he knew-
to be the fame in which Barnafhef€ had failed, when he
was fent upon an hunting party. Within were nothing
but two hatchets and fome iron points for darts. Three
women were feized at the fame time; and two natives,
who refufed to furrender themfelves, were put to death.

They

HU; S75¢h. AND 1,5,.C.0.V E.R IES.

They then made to the dwelling, from which ail the
inhabitants had run away, and found therein pieces of
Ruffian leather, blades of {mall knives, fhirts, and other
things, which had belonged to the Ruffians. All the
information which they could procure from the women
whom they had taken prifoners, was, that the crew had
been killed, and this booty taken away by the inhabi-
tants, who had retired to the ifland Unalafhka.. Korovin
gave thefe women their liberty, and, being apprehenfive
of frefh attacks, returned to the haven.

Towards winter Korovin, with a party of twenty-two
men, was fent upon an hunting expedition to the Wetft-
ern point of Unalafhka: he was accompanied by an
Aleutian interpreter, called Ivan Glottoff. . Being in-
formed by fome iflanders, that a Ruffian fhip, under
the command of Ivan Solovioff*, was then Iying before
Unalafhka, he immediately rowed towards the haven
where fhe was at anchor. On the way he had a fharp
encounter with the natives, who endeavoured to pre-
vent him from Ianding: of thefe, ten were killed
upon the fpot; and the remainder fled away, leaving

oa
behind them fome women and children.

Korovin ftaid three days aboard Solovioff’s veffel,
and then returned to the place where he had been fo
lately attacked. The inhabitants however, for this

* Chap. Xk

time,

10!

A GC O OE wer wi) Fe aes ae

time, made no oppofition to his landing; on the con-
trary, they received him with kindnefs, and permitted
him to hunt: they even delivered hoftages; and entered
into a friendly traffic, exchanging furs for beads. They
were alfo prevailed upon to reftore feveral mufkets
and other things, taken from the Ruffians who had

been maffacred.

A fhort time before his departure, the inhabitants
again fhewed their hoftile intentions ; for three of them
came up to the Ruffian centinel, and fuddenly fell upon
him with their knives. The centinel however difen-
gaging himfelf, and retreating into the hut, they ran
away. The Toigons of the village protefted ignorance
of this treachery; and the offenders were foon after-
wards difcovered and punifhed. Korovin, as he was
returning to Glottoff, was forced to engage with the
ifJanders upon Unalafhka, and alfo upon Umnak, where
they endeavoured to prevent him from landing. Be-
fore the end of the year a ftorm drove the baidar upon
the beach of the latter ifland; and the tempeftuous
weather fetting in, they were detained there until the
6th of April, 1765. During this time they were re-
duced, from a {carcity of provifion, to live chiefly upon
fea-wrack and fmall fhell fifh. On the 22d they re-
turned to Glottoff; and as they had been unfuccefsful
in hunting, their cargo of furs was very inconfiderable.
Three days after his arrival, Korovin quitted Glottoff,

and went over with five other Ruffians to Solovieff, with
whom

~

RUSSTAN DISCOVERIES. 103

whom he returned the following year to Kamtchatka.
The fix Kamtchadals of Korovin’s party joined Glottoff..

According to Korovin’s account, the iflands Ummnak Kervin’s De

{cription of
Umnak and

and Unalafhka are fituated not much more Northwards pour.
than the mouth of the Kamtchatka river; and, accord-
ing to the fhip’s reckoning, about the diflance of 1700
verfts Eaftwards from the fame place. The circumfe-
rence of Umnak is about two hundred and fifty vertfts ;
Unalafhka is much larger. Both thefe iflands are wholly
deftitute of trees ; drift-wood is brought afhore in large
quantities. There were five lakes upon the Northern
coaft of Unalafhka, and but one upon Umnak,,. of. which
none were more than ten verfts in circumference. Thefe
lakes give rife to feveral {mall rivulets, which flow only
a few verfts before they empty themfelves into the fea:
the fith enter the rivulets in the middle of April,
they afcend the lakes in July, and continue there until
Auguit. Sea-otters and other fea-animals refort but
feldom. to thefe iflands ; but there is great abundance of -
red and black foxes. North Eaftwards from Unalathka
two iflands appeared in fight, at the diftance of five or.
ten verfts; but Korovin did not touch at them.

The inhabitants of thefe iflands row in their. fmal] Accum of
baidars from one ifland to the other. They! are: do“
numerous, and their manner of life fo unfettled, that
their number cannot exaétly be determined. Their

I dwelling

104

AG COUNT OF} 1H E

dwelling caves are made in the following manner. They
firft dig an hole in the earth proportioned to the fize of
their intended habitation, of twenty, thirty, or forty
yards in length, and from fix to ten broad. They
then fet up poles of larch, firs, and afh driven on the
coaft by the fea. Acrofs the top of thefe poles they
lay planks, which they cover with grafs and earth.
They enter through holes in the top by means of lad-
ders. Fifty, an hundred, and even an hundred and fifty

perfons dwell together in fuch a cave. They light little

or no fires within, for which reafon thefe dwellings are
much cleaner than thofe of the Kamtchadals. When
they want to warm themfelves in the winter, they make
a fire of dry herbs, of which they have collected a large
{tore in furhmer, and ftand over it until they are fuf-
ficiently warmed. A few of thefe iflanders wear fur-
ftockings in winter; but the greateft part go bare- footed,
and all are without breeches. The {kins of cormorants,
puffins, and fea-divers, ferve for the mens clothing ; and
the women wear the {kins of fea-bears, feals, and fea-otters.
They fleep upon thick mats, which they twift out of a
foft kind of grafs that grows upon the fhore, and have
no other covering but their ufual clothes. Many of the
men have five or fix wives; and he that is the beft
hunter or fifher has the greateft number. The women
make their needles of the bones of birds wings, and ufe
finews for thread.

Their

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

Their weapons are bows and arrows, lances and darts,
which they throw like the Greenlanders to the diftance of
fixty yards by means of a little hand-board. Both the darts
and arrows are feathered: the former are about an ell and
an half long; the fhaft, which is well made confidering
their want of inftruments, is often compofed of two pieces
that join into each other: the point is of flint, fharpened
by beating it between two ftones. . Thefe darts as well as
the lances were formerly tipped with bone, but at prefent
the points are commonly made of the iron which they
procure from the Ruffians, and out of which they
ingenioufly form little hatchets and two-edged knives,
They fhape the iron by rubbing it between two {ftones,
and whetting it frequently with fea-water. With thefe
inftruments and ftone hatchets they build their baidars.
They have a ftrange cuftom of cutting holes in the
under-lip and through the griftle of the nofe. They
place in the former two little bones, wrought in the
form of teeth, which project fome inches from the
face. In the nofe a piece of bone is placed crofsways.
The deceafed are buried with their boat, weapons, and
clothes *,

* The author repeats here feveral circumftances which have been .

mentioned before, and many of them will occur again: but my office
as a tranflator would not fuffer me to omit them.

P Gi AP.

105

106 ANCACAON NGF MOl ar rae

Cie bE As By X.

Voyage of Stephen Glottofi—He reaches the Fox Ilands—
Sails beyond Unalathka fo Kadyak—/Vinters upon that
Iland—Repeated attempts of the Natives to defiroy the
Crew—They are repulfed, reconciled, and prevailed upon
to trade with the Ruflians—Account of Kadyak—Its
inbabitants—animals—productions —Glottoft /ails back to
Umnak—/Winters there—Returns to Kamtchatka—-
Fournal of bis voyage.

ERE follows one of the moit memorable voyages.
yet made, which extended farther, and terminated
more fortunately, than.the laft mentioned expeditions.

Voyage of Terenty Tfebaeffikoi and company,. merchants of.

Glottoff in the
Andreanand JT al{k, fitted out the Andrean and Natalia under the com-

We mand of Stephen Glottof, an experienced. and fkilful
feaman of Yarenfk. This veffel failed from the bay of
the river Kamtchatka the rf{t of October, 1762, manned
with thirty-eight Ruffians and eight Kamtchadals. In.
eight days they reached Mednoi Oftroff, or Copper Ifland, .
where having fought out a convenient harbour, they

las ey unloaded and laid up the veffel for the winter.. Their

firft care was to fupply themfelves with provifions; and

I they

RUSSIAN DISCOVER LE S. TO?

they killed afterwards a quantity of ice-foxes, and a con-
fiderable number of fea-otters.

For the benefit of the crown and their own ufe in cafe
of need, they refolved to take on board all the remaining
tackle and iron work of Beering’s fhip, which had been
left behind on Commander’s Ifland, and was buried in
the beach. For this purpofe they difpatched, on the 27th
of May, Jacob Malevinfkoy (who died foon after) with
thirteen men in a baidar to that ifland, which was feventy
verfts diftant. They brought back with them twenty-
two pood of iron, ten of old cordage fit for caulker’s ufe,
fome lead and copper, and feveral thoufand beads.

Copper Ifland has its name from the native copper
found on the coaft, particularly at the Weftern point on
its South fide. Of this native copper Malevinikoy brought
with him two large pieces weighing together twelve
pounds, which were picked up between a rock and the
fea on a ftrand of about twelve yards in breadth. Amoneft
other floating bodies which the fea drives upon the fhores
of this Ifland, the true right camphor wood, and another
fort of wood very white, foft, and fweet-fcented, are
eccafionally found.

Every preparation for continuing the voyage being ‘il 10 the
fea @ Fox Hands,

made, they failed from Copper Ifland the 26th of July,

1703, and fteered for the Iflands Umnak and Aguna-

Px2 lafhka,

108

Arrive at
Kadyak,

ACCOUNT OF THE

lafhka, where Glottoff had formerly obferved great num-
bers of black foxes: On account of ftorms and contrary
winds, they were thirty days before they fetched Umnak.
Here they arrived the 24th of Auguft, and without drop-
ping anchor or lofing any time, they refolved to fail fur-
ther for the difcovery of new iflands: they pafled eight
contiguous to-each other and feparated by ftraits, which
were to the beft of their eftimation from twenty to an
hundred verits broad. Glottoff however did not land
till he reached the laft and moft Eaftward of thefe iflands,.
called: by the inhabitants Kadyak, from which the na--
tives faid it was not far to the coaft of a wide extended
woody. continent. No land however was to be feen from
a little ifland called by the natives Aktunak, which is fitu--
ated about thirty verfts more to the Eaft than Kadyak..

September 8th, the veffelran upacreek, lying South
Eaft of Aktunak, through which a rivulet empties itfelf.
into the fea; this rivulet comes from a lake fix vertts.
long, one broad, and about fifty fathoms deep. During
the ebb of the tide the veffel was left aground; but the
return of the water fet her again afloat.. Near the fhore
were four large huts, fo crouded with people, that their
number could {carcely be counted: however, foon after
Glottoff’s arrival, all thefe inhabitants quitted their dwel-
lings, and retired with precipitation. The next day fome
iflanders in baidars approached the veffel, and accofted

the

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

the people on board: and as Ivan Glottoff, the Aleutian
interpreter, did not well underftand the language of thefe
iflanders, they foon afterwards returned with a boy whom
they had formerly taken prifoner from Ifanak, one of
the iflands which lie to the Weft.of Kadyak. Him the
Aleutian interpreter perfectly underftood: and by his

means every neceffary explanation could be obtained.

from the iflanders..

In this manner they converfed with the favages, and
endeavoured to perfuade them to become tributary; they
ufed alfo every argument in their power to prevail upon
them to give up the boy for an interpreter; but all their
entreaties were for the prefent without effect. The fa-
vages-rowed back to the cliff called Aktalin, which lies
about three verfts. to the South of Kadyak, where they
feemed. to have habitations..

On the 6th of September Kaplin was fent with thir-

teen men to the cliff, to treat peaceably with the iflanders..
He found there ten huts, from which about an hundred.

of the natives came out. ‘They behaved feemingly in a
friendly manner, and anfwered the interpreter. by the

boy, that they had nobody proper for an hoftage; but:

that they would deliver up the boy to the Ruffians agree-
able to their defire.. Kaplin. received him very thank-

fully, and brought him on. board, where he was pro-

perly taken care of : he afterwards. accompanied Glottoff

to>

109

0 ACCOUNT’ OF THE

to Kamtchatka, and was baptized by the name of Alex-
ander Popoff, being then about thirteen years of age.
For fome days after this conference the iflanders came off
in companies of five, ten, twenty, and thirty: they
were admitted on board in fmall numbers, and kindly

received, but with a proper degree of circum{fpection.

On the 8th of September the veffel was brought fur
ther up the creek without unloading her cargo: and on
the oth Glottoff with ten men proceeded to a village on
the fhore about two hundred yards from the veffel,
where the natives had begun to refide: it confifted of
three fummer-huts covered only with long grafs: they
were from eight to ten yards broad, twelve long, and
about four high: they faw there about an hundred men,

but neither women nor children.

Finding it impoffible to perfuade the favages to give
hoftages, Glottoff refolved to let his people remain to-
ether, and to keep a ftrong guard.

The iflanders vifited them ftill in fmall bodies; it wag
however more and more vifible that their intentions were
The Natves Dad.’ At laft on the 1ft of.October, by day break, a

attack the

Ruffians, but great Number having affembled together in the remoté

are defeated, ?
parts of the-ifland, came unexpectedly acrofs the coun-
try. They approached very near without being difco-
wered by the watch, and feeing nobody on deck but thofe

on

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

on duty, fhot fuddenly into the veffel with arrows. The
watch found refuge behind the quarter boards, and gave
the alarm withont firing. Glottoff immediately ordered
a volley to be fired over their heads with {mall arms;
upon which they immediately returned with great expe-
dition.. As foon as it was day there was no enemy to be
feen: but they difcovered a number of ladders, feveral
bundles of hay in which the favages had put fulphur,

likewife a quantity of birch-tree bark, which had been:

left behind in their precipitate flight.

They now found it very neceffary to be on their guard
againft the attempts of thefe perfidious incendiaries.
Their fufpicions were {till further increafed by the fubfe-
quent conduct of the natives: for though the latter came
to the veffel in fmall bodies, yet it was obferved that they
examined every thing, and more particularly the watch,
with the. ftricteft attention; and they always. returned
without paying any regard to the friendly propofitions
of the Ruffians..

On the 4th of October about two hundred iflanders
made their appearance, carrying wooden fhields before
them, and preparing with bows-and arrows for an attack.
Glottoff endeavoured. at firft by perfuafion to. prevail
upen them to defift; but obferving that they {till conti-
nued advancing,. he refolyed to venture a fally. This in-

trepidity

I1l

112

The Natives

zre finally re-
-pulled by the
Ruflians.

ASCO\OCULNT «D FT HE

trepidity difconcerted the iflanders, and they immediately
retreated without making the Jleait refiitance.

The 26th of October they ventured a third attack,
and advanced towards the veffel for this purpofe by day-
break : the watch however gave the alarm in due time,
and the whole crew were immediately- under arms. :The
approach of day-lght difcovered to their view different
parties of the enemy advancing under the protection of
wooden fcreens. Of thefe moving breaft-works they
counted feven; and behind each from thirty to forty
men armed with bone lances. Befides titele a croud of
armed men advanced feparately to the attack, fome of
them bearing whale jaw-bones, and others wooden thiclds.
Diffuafion proving ineffectual, and the arrows beginning

to fall even aboard the fhip, Glottoff gave orders to fire.

The fhot from the {mall arms however not being of force
enough to pierce the fcreens, the iflanders advanced under
their protection with fteadinefs and intrepidity. Glottoff
neverthelefs determined to rifk .a fally of his whele crew
armed with mufkets and lances. The iflanders inftantly
threw down their fcreens, and fled with precipitation until

they gained their boats, into which they threw them{elves

and rowed off. They had about feventeen large baidars
and a number of {mall canoes. The {creens which they
left behind were made of three rows of ftakes placed per-
pendicularly, and bound together with fea-weed and ofiers ;
they were twelve feet broad, and above half a yard thick.

The

RUSSIAN DISCOVERTES.

The iflanders now appearing to be fufliciently intimi-
dated, the Ruffians began to build a winter hut of floated
wood, and waited in a body the appearance of {pring
without further annoyance. Although they faw nobody
before the 25th of December, yet Glottoff kept his peo-
ple together; fending out occafionally fmall hunting and
fifhing parties to the lake, which lay about five verifts
from the creek. During the whole winter they caught
in the lake feveral different fpecies of trout and falmon,
foles, and herrings of a {pan and a half long, and even
turbot and cod-fifh, which came up with the flood into
the lake.

. At laft, on the 25th of December, two iflanders came
to the fhip, and converfed at a diftance by means of
interpreters. Although propofals of peace, and trade
were held out to them in the moft friendly man-
ner, yet they went off without feeming to put much
confidence in thefe offers: nor did any of them
appear again. before the 4th of April, 1764. Want
of fufficient exercife in the mean time brought on a
violent fcurvy among the crew, by which diforder nine
perfons were carried off.

On the 4th of April four iflanders made their appear-
ance, and feemed to pay more attention to the propo-
fals: one of them at laft advanced, and offered to. barter
two fox-fkins for beads. They did not fet the leaft va-

Q lue

ti3

The Ruffians
winter at

Kadyak.

114

The Natives
are reconciled
to the Ruf-
fians.

AE€COUNT, OFYEHE

Jue upon other goods of various kinds, fuch as fhirts,
linen, and. nankeen, but demanded giafs beads of different
colours, for which they exchanged their {kins with
pleafure. his friendly traffic, together with Glottoff’s:
entreaties, operated fo powerfully, that, after holding a
confultation with their countrymen, they returned with:
a folemn declaration, that their brethren would in. future
commit no hoftilities againft the Ruffians.. From that:
time until their departure a daily intercourfe was carried:
on with the iflanders, who- brought all forts: of fox and:
fea-otter {kins, and. received in exchange a {tipulated:
number of beads.. Some.of them were even perfuaded:
to pay a tribute of {kins, for which receipts were. given..

Amongft other wares the Rufiians procured two {mall
carpets, worked or platted in a curious manner, and on
one fide fet’ clofe with beaver-wool like velvet: they
could not however learn whether thefe carpets were
wrought by the iflanders. The latter brought aifo for
fale weli-dreffed fea-otter fkins, the hair of which was
fhorn quite fhort with {harp itones, in fuch a‘manner,
that the remainder, which was of a yellowifh brown
colour, gliftened and appeared like velvet. Their caps
had furprifing and fometimes very ornamental decora-
tions : fome of them had on the forepart combs adorned
with manes like an helmet; others, feemingly peculiar
to the females, were made of inteftines ftitched toge-

ther with rein-deer hair and finews in a moft elegant
5 tafte,

RUSSIAN DISCOVERITES. !

tafte, and ornamented on the crown with long ftreamers
of hair died of a beautiful red. Of all thefe curiofities
Glottoff carried famples to Kamtchatka *.

The natives differ confiderably in drefs and language
from the inhabitants of the other Fox Iflands: and fe-
veral fpecies of animals were obierved upon Kadyak,
which are not to be found upon the other iflands, viz.
ermines, martens, beavers, river otters, wolves, wild boars,
and bears: the laft-mentioned animal was not indeed
actually feen by the Ruffians, but the prints of its feet
were traced. Some of the inhabitants had clothes made
of the fkins of rein-deer and jevras; the latter of which
is a fort of fmall marmofet. Both thefe fkins were pro-
bably procured from the continent of America ‘+. Black,
brown, and red foxes were feen in great numbers; and
the coaft abounds with fea-dogs, fea-bears, fea-lions, and
fea-otters. The birds are cranes, geefe, ducks, gulls,
ptarmigans, crows, and magpics; but no uncommon
fpecies was any where difcovered. “The vegetable pro-

* Thefe and feveral ether ornaments of a fimilar kind are preferved
in the cabinet of curiofities at the Academy of Sciences of St. . Peterf-
burg: a cabinet which well merits the attention of the curious tra-
veller; for it contains a large colle€tion of the drefles of the Eaftern
nations. Amongft the reft one compartment is entirely filled with the,
«lrefles, arms, and implements, brought from the new difcovered iflands.

++ Although this conjecture is probable, yet, when the reader recol-
lects that the ifland Alakfu is faid to contain rein-deer, he will perceive

115

Animals of

Kadyak.

that the inhabitants of Kadyak might have been fupplied with the fkins ~

ef that animal from thence. See p. 68.

Q'S duétions

116

Produdiions.

Account of the
Inhabitants.

‘ACE€EONNT OF, THE

ductions are bilberries, cranberries, wortleberries, and
wild lily-roots. Kadyak likewife yields willows and al-
ders, which circumftance affords the ftrongeft proof that
it lies at no great diftance from the continent of America.
The extent of Kadyak cannot be exactly afcertained,
as the Ruffians, through apprehenfion of the natives, did
not venture to explore the country.

The inhabitants, like thofe of the Aleutian and nearer
iflands, make holes in the under-lips and through the
griftle of the nofe, in which they infert the bones of
birds and animals worked into the form of teeth. Their
clothes are made of the fkins of birds, foxes, fea-otters,
young rein-deer, and marmofets; they few them together
with finews. They wear alfo fur-ftockings of rein-deer
{kins, but no breeches. Their arms are bows, arrows,
and lances, whofe points, as well as their {mall hatchets,
are of fharp flint: fome few make knives and lance
points of rein-deer bones. Their wooden fhields are
called kuyaky, which amongft the Greenlanders fignifies
a {mall canoe. Their manners are altogether rude.
They have not the leaft difpofition to give a courteous
reception to ftrangers: nor does there appear amongft
themfelves any kind of deference or fubmiffion from
one to another.

Their canoes are fome of them fo fmall as to contain
only one or two perfons ; others are large baidars fimilar
to

RUSSIAN DIUSCOW ERAE S.

to the women’s boats of the Greenlanders. Their food
confifts chiefly of raw and dried fith, partly caught at
fea with bone hooks, and partly in rivulets, in bagnets
made of finews platted together. They call them-
felves Kanagift, a name that has no {mall refemblance to
Karalit; by which appellation, the Greenlanders and Efqui-
maux on the coaft of Labradore diftinguifh themfelves :
the difference between thefe two denominations is occa-
fioned perhaps by a change of pronunciation, or by a
miftake of the Ruffian failors, who may have given it
this variation. Their numbers feem very confiderable
on that part of the ifland, where they had their fixed
habitations.

The ifland Kadyak* makes,with Aghunalafhka, Umnak,
and the fmall iflands lying between them, a continued
Archipelago, extending N. E. and E. N. E, towards Ame-
rica: it lies by the fhip’s reckoning in 230 degrees of
longitude; fo that it cannot be far diftant from that
part of the American coaft which Beering formerly
touched at,

The large ifland Alakfu, lying Northward from Ka-
dyak where Pufhkaref + wintered, muft be {till nearer the

* Kadyak ts not laid down upon any chart of the new difcovered
iflands : for we have no chart of Glottoff’s voyage ; and no other Ruf-
fian navigator touched at that ifland.

+ See Chap. VI.

continent :

117

118 ACCOUNT 40 FF Te

continent: andthe account propagated by its inhabitants
of a great promontory, called Atachtak, ftretching from
the continent N. E. of Alakfu, is not.at all imprebable;

Although the conduct of the iflanders appeared more
friendly, yet on account of their numbers Glottoff refolved
not to pafs another winter upon Kadyak, and accordingly
prepared for his departure. ‘He ‘wanted hoops for re-
pairing his water-cafks; and being told by the natives
that there were trees on the ifland at no. great diftance
from the bay, he difpatched ‘on the 25th of April Lukas
Ftorufkin with eleven men for the purpofe of felling
wood. Ftorufkin returned the fame day with the fol-
lowing intelligence: that after rowing. along the South
coaft of the ifland forty or fifty verfts from the haven,
he obferved, about half a verit from the fhore, a confider-
able number of alders, fimilar to thofe found in Kamt-
chatka, growing in vallies between the rocks. The largeft
trunks were from two to four verfhocks in diameter.
Of this wood he felled as much as he had occafion for;
and returned without having met with either ander

or habitation.

fron Kaiyek, Chey brought the veffel down the creek in May ; and,
tthe later taking in all the peltry and ftores, left.Kadyak on
the 24th. Contrary winds retarded their voyage, and

drove them near the ifland Alakfu, which they paffed ;

their water being nearly exhaufted, they afterwards

landed

RU SSI ANID ESCOYV ERA E S.

landed upon another ifland, called Saktunk, in order
to procure a frefh ftock. At laft on the 3d of July,
they arrived again at Umnak, and anchored in a bay
which Glottoff had. formerly vifited. He immediately
went afhore in a baidar, and foon found out his former
hut, which was in ruins: near it he obferved another
Ruffian dwelling, that had been built in his abfence,
in which lay a murdered Ruffian, but whofe face none
of them knew. Glottoff, refolving to procure further in-
formation, went acrofs the ifland the 5th of July, accom-
panied by fixteen.of his crew. He difcovered the remains
of a burnt veffel, fome prayer books, images, &c.; all the
iron work and cordage were.carried off. Near the {pot he
found likewife a bathing. room filled with murdered Ruf-
fians in.their clothes. From fome marks, he concluded
that this was the veffel fitted out by Protafloff;. nor was:
he. miftaken in his conjectures..

Adarmed’ at the fate of his countrymen, Glottoff re-
turned to the fhip,. and held a confultation upon the
meafures neceflary to:be taken; and it was unanimoufly
refolved that they. fhould endeavour to procure more
intelligence concerning the veffel. In the mean time
feven iflanders came rowing off in baidars, and pretend--
ed that they wanted to trade. They fhewed fea-otter
fkins at a. diftance, but would not venture on. board;

and

Arrival at
Umnak.

Tl9

ACCOUNT OF T HE

and deiired by the interpreter Glottoff and two of his
people to come on fhore and barter. Glottoff how-
ever, having fufficient caufe to diftruft the favages, refufed
to comply with their demands: upon this they immedi-
ately landed, and fhot from the fhore with fire-arms, but
without doing any execution. They were even bold enough
to get into their canoes a fecond time, and to row near the
veffel. In order if poffible to procure intelligence from
them, every method of perfuading them to peace was tried
by means of the interpreters ; and at laft one of them
approached the fhip and demanded victuals, which being
thrown to him, he came on board. He then related the
fate of the above-mentioned veffel, of which the iflanders
had made. themf{elves mafters ; and gave likewife fome in-
telligence concerning the remaining {mall body of fugitives
under the command of Korovin. He alfo confeffed,
that their defign was to entice Glottoff on fhore, and
then to kill him; for which purpofe more than thirty
iflanders were pofted in ambufh behind the neareft
rocks. After cutting off the leader, they imagined it
would be an eafy matter to feize upon the fhip. Up-
on this information Glottoff detained the iflander on
board, and landing with a ftrong party attacked the
favages; the latter fhot with arrows, as well as from
the mufkets which they had feized, but without effect,
and were foon.forced to retire to their canoes.

‘eo

July

RUSSTAN DISCOVERIES.

July the 14th a violent ftorm arofe, in which Glof-
toff’s veffel parted her cable, and was forced on {hore
without any other lofs than that of an anchor. The

=a 2b 5B &
2

crew likewife, through want of frefh provifions, began
to grow fo fickly, that they were almoft in a deicnccleis
ftate. Glottoff however, with ten men, fet out the 28th
of July for that part af the ifland, where according to
information they expected to find Korovin. They dif-
covered only parts of the wreck, but none of the crew,
fo that they now gave them up for loft. But on the
2d of Auguft, as Glottoff was on his way back, five
iflanders approached him in canoes, and afked why the
baidar had been out; to which a falfe anfwer being
given, they told him, that.on the other fide of the ifland
he would find Korovin with his people, who were
building an hut on the fide of the rivulet. Upon re-
ceiving this intelligence, Glottoff and his companions
went over land to the place pointed out by the iflanders,
and found every thing agreeable to their information :
in this Korovin had not the leaft fhare, not having
been made privy to the tranfaGiion. The circumftances
of his joining, and afterwards feparating from Glottoff,
have already been mentioned *,

* See the preceding Chapter.

R Glottoff

ef 2t

124

Glottoff wine
ters upon
Umnak.

AICICIOOUON T UO F 4H £

Glottoff now refolved to winter upon Umnak, and ac-
cordingly laid up lis veffel for that purpofe. On the 2d
ef September Korovin, as is before related, was at his
own defire fent out with a hunting party in two baidars.
On his return, in May 1765, they had the firft intelligence
ef the arrival of Solovioft’s veffel, which lay before
Unatlafhka, and of which an account fhall be given*.
None of the iflanders appeared near the harbour during
the winter, and there were none probably at that time
upon Umnak ; for Glottoff made excurfions on all fides,
and went once round the ifland. He likewife looked
into: the habitations of the ilanders, and found them.
empty > he examined the country and caufed a ftrict fearch
to be made after the remains of the plundered veffel..

According to: his account Umnak is about 300 verfts in
eircumference. It contains. feveral fmall rivulets, which.
take their rife from Iakes, and fall into the fea after a
very fhort courfe. No trees were obferved upon the
ifland, and the vegetables were the fame as thofe of
Kamchatka.

* Chap. XT.

The

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 123

The following fummer fimall parties of the inhabitants
were feen ; but they immediately fled upon the appreach
of the Ruffians. Some of them however were at laft
perfuaded to a friendly intercourfe and to pay a tribute:
by thefe means they got back part of the arms, anchors,
and iron work, of the plundered veffel. They continued
to barter with the natives during the f{ummer of 1765,
exchanging beads for the {kins of foxes and fea-otters.

The following winter hunting parties were fent out Deparace fom

in Umnak as well as to Unalafhka; and in July 1766
Glottoff, without meeting with any more difficulties
began his voyage homewards. We {hall here conclude
With giving a copy of the journal kept un board Glottoft’s
veffel, the Andrean and Natalia; from which infe-
rences with regard to the fituation of the Wlands may
be drawn.

~~

el RA ee ~* Journal

124.

ACCOUNT OF THE

Journal of Glottoff, omboard the Andrean and Natalia.

fournal of the +4
Wayace. a7 62

Ot. 1.

2.

Sailed from Kamtchatka Bay.
Wind Southerly, {fteered between E. and S.E.
three hours.

. Wind S. E. worked at N. E. courfe, 16 hours.

4. From midnight failed Eaft with a fair wind, 18

hours,

. At Six o’clock A.M. difcovered Beering’s Ifland

diftant about 18 verfts.

. At rt oclock came to anchor on the South Eaft

point of Copper Ifland.

. At 8 A.M. failed to. the South fide of the Ifland,.

anchored there at ro o’clock.

. Sailed from Copper Hland at 5 P. M..

. Sailed witha fair S.S,W. wind, 17 hours.

. Made little way.

. Drove—wind E.N. E.

. Ditto..

. Ditto.

. Ditto.

. At 11 A.M. wind N.E. fteered E.

. Wind W.S. W. failed 8 knots an hour, 250

verfts.
Wind South—failed 1 50 verits.

. Wind ditto——failed 126 vertfts.

6. Wind

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

6.

7:
8.

EO.

Els

1 2.
ee

i4.
ioe

16.

E te °

18.

19.

20.

Wind ditto, 3 oe 45 vertits.
Calm.
During the night gentle S. E. wind fteered, N.E.

at 2+ knots.

. Forenoon calm. At 2 o'clock P.M. gentle

N.E. wind, fteered between E. N.E. and S.E.
at the rate of three knots.
Morning, wind E.N.E. afterwards S.S.W. with
which fteered N.E.
At’ s o'clock the’,wind)S, S$) Ex fteered E..N. E.
at the rate of three knots.
Wind S. fteered E. at 2 + knots, failed 50 verits.
Wind S.S.E. fteered E. at 4 knots, failed 90
verits.
Wind W.N. W. at 2 Knots, failed 30 verfts.
The wind frefhened, at 4 knots, failed 60
vertts.
Wind N.N. E. fteered E.S. E. at 3 knots, fail-
ed 30 verits.
Wind E.S.E. and S. E. light breezes and
changeable.
Wind S.E. fteered N.E. at 34 knots, failed
in 12 hours 22 vertts.
Wind §, and light breezes, fteered E. at 3 knots,
failed in 8 hours 11 verits..
Before day-break calm ;. three, hours after fun-
rife a breeze fprung up at S.E. fteered E. N.E.
at 3 knots, and failed 20 verfts,

22. Calm

126

22

ACCOUNT OF THE

Calm,

. Wind S.S. E, during the night, the fhip failed

at the rate of 2 knots; the wind afterwards
came round tothe §.S. W. and the fhip failed
at 5 to 6 Knots thefe 24 hours 150 vertts.

. Saw land at day-break, at 3 knots failed 45

verits.

. Wind W.S. W. failed along the coaft thefe 24

hours 50 vertits.

. Wind N. W. fteered N.E. at 5+knots, 100

verits.

. Wind E.N.E. the fhip drove towards land,

on which difcovered a high mountain.

. Wind N-E., and ftormy, the fhip drove.
. Wind N.W. fteered E.N.E. at the rate of 3

knots.
Wind §.S.E. at 6 knots, fteering again to-
wards land.

. A violent ftorm, Wind weft.

Wind Weft, fteered N.E. at the rate of 3
knots towards land.
Wind S, W. fteered N. E. towards land at 5 knots.

. Wind S. W. drove N. N.E. along the coatt.
. Wind W.N. W. fteered N. E. at 4 knots, failed

roo verfts.

. Wind N. W. fteered E.N.E. at 3 knots, and to-

wards evening came to anchor off the Ifland
Kadyak.

1764.

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

1764.
May 24.

Uo

Sailed from Kadyak.

. Wind N. W. and made but little way W.S.W;
. Wind W. fhip drove towards S. E.
. Wind W.S. W. fhip drove E.S.E. The fame

day the wind came round to the S.. when fteer-
ed again towards Kadyak.

. Wind E.S.E. fellin with the ifland Alafka or

Alakfu.

. Wind S.W. fteered N. W.
. Wind W.N.W. the fhip drove’ under the

foretail.

Wind W. drove to. the Southward.

Wind W.S. W. landed on the Ifland Saktunak,
for a fupply of water.

. Wind S. E. fteered S. W. along the ifland at

3 knots.

. Wind N. E. iteered W. S. W. at the rate of 3

to 4 knots, failinginthefe 24 hours. 100 vertts.

ViG@alia.
. At 8 o’clock A. ‘M. a fmall breeze S. E.
. Wind E. afterwards calm. Towards evening

the wind S. E. fteered .S. W. at 3 knots, and
unexpectedly difcovered land ahead, which
kept clear of with difficulty.

From the 7th to the roth at anchor off a {mall

kO.

3

cliff,
A hard gale at S. the fhip drove foul of the
anchor,, ftood out to fea fteering E..

Tr. An-

127

128

AGG OwN T (Ow Ati Bek

11. Anchored again at a fmall diftance from land.

13. Wind S. S. W. ftood out to fea and fteered
E..S. E.

14. Wind W. S. W. ftcered S. S. E. at the rate of
1 knot.

15. Calm.

16. Wind S. fteered W. at 1 knot, the {hip drove
a little to the Northward.

17. Wind S.5S. E. fteered W.S. W. at 3 knots,

18. Calm.

Tg. Ditto.

20. Wind N. E. fteered S. W. and failed this day
about 87 vertts.

21. The Wind blowing right ahead, came to
anchor off an unknown ifland, where conti-
nued till the

256. When ftood out to fea early in the morning.

26. Wind W.N. W. afterwards W. fteered S. E.

27. Calm, in the night a {mall but favourable

breeze.

. Wind N. W. continued the courfe, at the

rate of 2 to 3 knots *.

. Wind N. E. fteered W. at 3 to 4 knots, and

faw land.

. Wind .N.E. fteered)S..Woeilati the rate of 9

knots.

* Lief man bey nordweft wind auf den curs zu 2 bis 3 knoten.

4

July

RUSS RANT DYSs'e OVER LES,

July 1.

Nv

1766.

With the fame wind and courfe, at the rate of
5 knots, failed 200 verits.

. Fell in with the ifland Umnak, and came to

an anchor under a {mall ifland until next
day; when brought the fhip into the har-
bour, and laid her up.

June 13. Brought the fhip into the barbour, and con-

July 3.

4.
. A South Weft wind drove the fhip about so

tinued at anchor there until the 3d of July.
Got under way.
Wind E.

verfts N. E.

. Wind S. failed about 60 verfts W.
. Wind W. S. W. the fhip drove to the North-

ward.

. Wind N. W. fteered S. ;at the rate of one knot.
. Wind N. W. fteered the whole day W.S. W.

Vind S.S, W. failed about 40 verfts W. N. W.

. Wind S. W. continued the fame courfe, failing
‘only 5. verits.

. Continued the fame courfe, and failed 5s verits,

. For the moft part calm.

- Wind W.N. W. and ftormy, the fhip drove

under the forefail.

. Wind S. failed on the proper courfe 100 verfts.

Vind EF. S. E. failed W.S. W. atthe rate of 6

knots, roo verfts.

. Wind N.N. W. failed S. W. at the rate of 2

knots, 30 verits.
Ss ‘ 18. Wind

130

30.

ACCOUNT OF TFHE

. Wind S, fteered W. at the rate of 5 knots, and’

failed 1 30 vertfts.

. Wind S. W. the fhip drove under the forefail..
. Wind E..N. E.. fteered W..N. W. at the: rate

of 3 knots.

. Wind E..N. E. at the rate of 4 to 5, knots, failed:

200 vertts.

. Wind. N..E. at 45 knots, 150 vertits..
. Wind E. N. E..fteered W. at 3 knots,1o0o verfts..
. Wind E.. fteered: W..at the rate of 3. knots, 50:

vertts.

. Wind. N. E. fteered W. at 5 Knots roo vertfts.
. The wind continued N.E. and frefhened,. fteered.

W..at the rate of 7 knots, 200 verfts..

. A {mall breeze N. N. W. with which however’

failed 150 verits.

. Wind being W. S..W. drove 24. hours under

bare-poles..

Wind South,. fteered' W. at the rate of 2. knots,.
48 verfts—this day faw land.

Wind S. S..E. failed,.at the rate of 4 knots, 96:
verfts, and approached the land, which found
to be the ifland Karaga—From the rift to the
13th of Auguft, continued our voyage towards
the mouth of Kamtchatka river, fometimes
plying to windward, fometimes driving, and at
Jaft arrived happily with a rich cargo.

Ch BaP:

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

CH A P. Xi.

Solovioff’s voyage—be reaches Unalathka, and paffes two
winters upon that iland—relation of what paffed there
—fruitlefs attempis of the natives to defiroy the crew—
Return of Solovioff to Kamtchatka—yournal of bis
voyage in returning—defcription of the ifands Umnak
and Unalathka—productions—inbabitants—their man-
ners—cufloms, Sc. Se.

WN the year 1764, Jacob Ulednikoff, merchant of Ir-
™ kutfk and company, fitted cut a fhip called the Holy
Apoftles Peter and Paul, under the command of Ivan
Solovioff: fhe failed from the mouth of Kamtchatka
river the 25th of Auguft. The crew confifted of fifty-
five men, amoneft whom were feme of the owners,
and thirteen Kamtchadals.

They fteered at firft S. E. with the wind at N. W. but
on its coming foutherly they afterwards fhaped their
courfe E. N. E. The 27th one of the Ruffian failors
died off Kamtchatka point; the 31ft they made Beering’s
Ifland, which they paffed leaving it on their left. The
_ rift and 2d of September they were becalmed, and after-
wards the wind {pringing up at W. S. W. they continued

52 their

131

Voyage of
Solovioff in
the St. Peter
and Paul,
1764.

Arrival at
Unalathka.

ALG?C/@ON T GOT ATIR E
their former courfe; until the sth they failed on with:
the wind at fouth; but on the sth and 6th, from
changeable breezes. and dead calms, made no progrefs ;
from the: 7th, to” the, 13th, they datled- ESE. wits
Southerly and Wefterly winds; and from that time to
the fifteenth Eaft, with the wind at. Weft.

September 16, they made.the ifland Umnak,. where
Solovioff had formerly been in Nikiphoroff’s veffel.. As
they failed along the Northern coaft, three iflanders came
to them in baidars; but, the crew having no interpreter,
they would not come on board. As they found no good
bay on that fhore, they proceeded through a ftrait of
about a verft broad, which feparates Umnak from Una-
lafhka. They lay-to during the night; and early on
the 17th dropped anchor at the diftance of about two
hundred yards from the fhore, in a bay on the North
fide of the laft mentioned ifland.

From thence the captain difpatched Gregory Korenoff

at the head of twenty men in a baidar, with orders to
land, reconnoitre the country, find out the neareft habi-
ations, and report the difpofition of the people. Kore-
noff returned the fame day, with an account that he had
difcovered one of the dwelling-caves of the favages, but
abandoned and demolifhed, in which he had found traces
of Ruffians, viz. a written legend, and a broken mufket-
tock. In confequence of this intelligence, they brought
the

RUS STA NDT SCOWE RI ES.

the fhip near the coat, and endeavoured to get into the
mouth.of a river called by the natives Tfikanok, and by
the Ruffians Ofernia, but were prevented by fhallow water.
They landed however their tackle and lading.. No na-
tives made their appearance until the 22d, when two of
them came of their own accord, and welcomed the Ruf-
fians on their arrival. They told their names, and were
recognized by Solovioff; he had known them on a
former expedition, when Agiak, one of the two, had
ferved' as an interpreter; the other, whofe name was
Kafhmak, had voluntarily continued fome time with the
crew on the fame occafion.

Thefe two perfons recounted the particular circum=
{tances which attended the lofs of Kulkoff’s, Protafloff’s,
and Trapefnikoff’s veffels ; from the laft of which Kafh-
mak had, with great hazard of his life, efcaped by flight.
Agiak had ferved as interpreter to Protafloff’s company,
and related that the iflanders, after murdering the hunt=
ing detachments of the Ruffians, came to the harbour,
and entered the fhip under the moft friendly appearances.
Finding the crew in perfect fecurity, they fuddenly at-
tacked and flew them, together with their commander.
He added, that he had. hid himfelf under a bench until
the murderers were gone: that fince that time, he, as
well as Kafhmak, had lived as fugitives; and in the
courfe of their wanderings had learned the following
intelligence from the girls who were gathering berries in

the

133

ACCOUNT (OF THE

the fields. The Toigons of Umnak, Akutan, and
Tofhko, with their relations of Unalaflika, had formed a
confederacy. They agreed not to difturb any Ruffians
on their firft landing, but to let them go out on different
hunting excurfions ; being thus feparated and weakened,

the intention of the Toigons were to attack and cut

them off at the fame time, fo that no one party fhould

have affiftance from any of the others. They acquainted
him .alfo with Glottoff’s arrival at Umnak.

‘Thefe unfavourable reports filled Solovioff with anx-
iety; he accordingly doubled his watch, and ufed every
precaution in his power againit attacks from the favages.
But wanting wood to repair his veffel, and wifhing for
more particular information concerning the fituation of
the ifland, he difpatched the 29th a party of thirty men,
with the above-mentioned interpreter, to its weftern ex-
tremity. In three or four hours they rowed to Anko-
nom, a point of land, where they faw a village, confifting
of two large caves, and over againft it a little ifland at no
great diftance. The moment.the inhabitants faw them
approaching, they got inte their baidars, and put out te
fea, leaving their dwellings empty. The Ruffians found
therein feveral fkeletons, which, in the interpreter’s
opinion, were the remains of ten murdered failors of
Trapefnikoff’s company. With much perfuafion the
interpreter prevailed on the iflanders to return to the place
which they had juft quitted: they kept however at a

wary

RUSSTAN DISCOVERIES. 135

wary diftance, and were armed for whatever might

cccur.

Solovioff attempting to cut off their retreat, in order Hollies be-
to fecure if pofiible fome hoftages, they took the alarm, hh
and began themfelves the attack. Upon this the Ruffians
fired upon. and purfued them; four were killed, and
feven taken prifoners, among whom was the Toigon of
the little ifland Sedak.. Thefe prifoners,. being bound:
and examined, confeffed that a number of Korovin’s crew
had been murdered in this place ;. and the Toigon fent
people to bring in a number of mufkets, fome kettles
and tackle, which the natives had taken upon that occa-
fion. They alfo brought intelligence that Korovin, with
a party in two baidars,. had taken fhelter at a place called
Inalga. Upon this information, letters were immediately:
fent to Korovin; upon the receipt of which he joined.
them. the 2d of Odctober..

At the time of Korovin’s arrival, the favages made
another attack on Solovioff’s watch with knives; which
obliged thre latter to fire, and fix of the affailants were
left dead: on the fpot. The captive Toigon excufed
this attempt of his people by afcribing it to their fears,
left Korovin out of revenge fhould put all the prifoners to
death ; on which account this effort was made to refcue
them. Solovioff, for the greater fecurity, fent the pri-
foners by land to the haven, while Korovin and _ his

party

136 ACOOOUN TORT BE

party went to the fame place by fea. The Toigon how-
ever was treated kindly, and even-permitted to return
home on condition of leaving his fon as an holtage. In
confequence of this kind behaviour the inhabitants of
three other villages, Agulak, Kutchlok, and Makufki pre-
fented hoftages of their own accord.

Scloviof lays From the remaining timber of the old dwelling the

up the Veifel,
and winters

tpn Una. ©. RUffians built a new hut; and on the fourteenth they
ae laid up the veffel. Koronoff was then fent upon a. re-
connoitring party to the Southern fide of the ifland, which
in that part was not more than five or fix verfts broad.:
he proceeded on with his companions, fometimes rowing
in canoes, fometimes travelling by land and dragging
them after.. He returned the twentieth, and reported
that he had found upon the coaft on the further fide af
the ifland an empty habitation. That he rowed from
thence Eaftward along the fhore, and behind the firft point
of land came to an ifland in the next bay; there he found
about forty iflanders of both fexes lodged under their
baidars, who by his friendly behaviour had been.induced
to give him three hoftages.. Thefe people afterwards
fettled in the above-mentioned empty hut, and. came fre-
quently to the harbour.

On the 28th of Ocober, Selovioff himfelf went alfo
upon a reconnoitring party along the North coaft, towards
the North-Eaft end of the ifland. He rowed from the

firft

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIMES.

firft promontory acrofs.a bay; and found on the oppofite
point of land a dwellking place called Agulok, which lies
about four hours row from the harbour. He found there
thirteen men and about forty women and children, who
delivered up feveral gun-barrels and fhip-ftores, and like-
wife informed him of two of Korovin’s crew who had
been murdered.

November 5, they proceeded farther; and after five or
fix hours rowing, they faw on a point of land another
dwelling called Ikutchlok, beyond which the interpreter
fhewed ‘them the haven, where Korovin’s fhip had been
at anchor. This was called Makufhinfhy Bay; and on
an ifland within it they found two Toigons, called Itch-
adak and Kagumaga, with about an hundred and eighty
people of both fexes employed in hunting fea-bears.
Thefe natives were not in the Teaft hoftile, and. Solovioff
endeavoured to eftablifh and confirm a-friendly intercourfe
between them and his people. He remained with them
until the roth, when the Toigons invited him to their
winter quarters, which lay about five hours fail farther
Eaft: there he found two dwelling caves, each of forty
yards {quare, near a rivulet abounding with fifh which
fell from a lake into a little bay. Inthe neighbourhood
of this village is a hot {pring below the fea mark, which
is Only to béfeen at ebb tide. From hence he departed

: T the

137

Renewal of
Hoftilities.

ACCOUNAY © hi T HE

the 25th, but was forced back by ftorms, and detained
there until the 6th of December.

Kagumaga then accompanied him to another village
called Totchikala ; both the Toigon and the interpreter
advifed him to be on his guard againft the natives, whom
they reprefented as very favage, {worn enemies to the
Ruffians, and the murderers of nine of Kulkoff’s crew.
Solovioff for thefe reafons paffed the night on the open:
coaft, and next morning fent the Toigon before to infpire
the natives with more friendly fentiments. Some of
them liftened to his reprefentations ; but the greateft part
fled upon Solovioff’s approach, fo that he found the place
confifting of four large dwelling caves almoft empty, in
which he fecured himfelf with fuitable precaution. Here
he found three hundred darts and ten. bows with arrows,
all which he deftroyed, only referving one bow and fe-
venteen arrows as {pecimens of their arms. By the moft
friendly arguments he urged the few natives who re-.
mained to lay afide their enmity, and to perfuade their
leaders and relations to return to their habitations and
live on terms of amity and friendfhip..

On the roth about an hundred men and a ftill greater
number of women. returned. But the faireft fpeeches
had no effect on thefe favages, who kept aloof and pre-
pared for hoftilities, which. they began on the 17th by
an open attack. Nineteen of them were killed, amongtt

2 whom

RUSS TAN DESC OYE RT E.S,

whom was Inlogufak one of their leaders, and the moft
inveterate fomenter of hoftilities againft the Ruffians.
The other leader Aguladock being alive confeffed,
that on receiving the firft news of Solovioff’s arrival
they had refolved to attack the crew and burn the
fhip. Notwithftanding this confeffion, no injury was
offered to him: in confequence of this kind ufage he was
prevailed upon to deliver up his fon as an hoftage, and
to order his people to live on friendly terms with the
Ruffians. During the month of January the natives de-
livered in three anchors, anda quantity of tackle which
had been faved from a veffel formerly wrecked on that
coaft; and at the fame time they brought three boys
and two young girls as hoftages and pledges of their
future fidelity.

January 25, Solovioff fet out for the haven where
his fhip lay : before his departure the Toigons of Maku-
fhinfk paid of their own accord a double tribute.

February 1, Kagumaga of Makufhink, Agidalok of
Totzikala, and Imaginak of Ugamitzi, Toigons of Una-
lafhka, with a great number of their relations, came to
Solovioff; they acquainted him withthe arrival of a Rut-
fian fhip at Unimak, the fixth ifland to the Eaft of
Agunalafhka, adding that they knew none of the crew
excepting a Kamtchadal named Kirilko, who had been
there on a former occafion. They likewife informed
him that the natives, after having cut off part of the

FE 2 crew

139

149

ACGOUNT OF THE

erew. who had. been fent. out in two baidars, had
found: means:to overpower the remainder and to deftroy:
the veflel. From the: name of the Kamtchadal they con-
cluded, that this muft have been-another veffel fitted out
by Nikiphor Trapefnikoff and, company, of which no;
farther intelligence was. ever received.. Willing.to pro--
cure farther intelligence, they endeavoured, to’ perfuade
the Toigons to fend. a. party of their people to the above-.
mentioned ifland;. but the latter excufed.themfelves, on:
account of the great diftance and. their dread. ef the:
iflanders.

February 16, Solovioff fet out a. fecond time for the
Weft end of theifland, where they had formerly taken
prifoner, and afterwards fet at liberty, the Toigon of
Sedak. From thence he proceeded to Ikolga, which
lies on the bay, and confifts of only one hut. On the
26th he came to Takamitka, where there is likewife
only one hut on a point of land by the fide of a rivulet,
which falls from the mountains into the fea. Here he
met with Korovin, in whofe company he cut the blubber
of a whale, which the waves had caft on fhore; after
this Korovin went acrofs the gulph to Umnak, and he
proceeded to Ikaltfhinfk, where on the 9th one of his
party was carried off by ficknefs.

March 15 he returned to the haven, having met with
no oppofition from the iflanders during this excurfion.
0

On

RUSS-LlA NM /-DLS,C,O,V.ERIE S.

On his return he found-one of the crew dead, and a
dreadful {curvy raging amongft the reft; of that diftem-
per five Ruffians died in March, eight and a Kamtchadal
in April, and fix more in May. About this time the iflan-
ders were obferved to pay frequent.vifits to the hoftages A
and upon enquiring privately into the reafon, fome of
the latter difcovered, that the inhabitants of Makufhin{k
had formed the defign of cutting off the crew, and of
making themfelves mafters of the veffel. Solovioff had

now: great reafons to be apprehenfive, for the crew were.

afflicted with the {curvy to {uch a violent degree, that out
of the whole: number: only twelve perfons were capable
of defending themfelves. Thefe circumftances did not
efcape the obfervation of the natives; and they were ac-

cordingly, infpired. with. frefh. courage to renew their.

hoftilities.

On the 27th of May the Ruffians perceived the Toigon:

of Itchadak, who had formerly paid a voiuntary. tribute,
near the fhore: he was. accompanied by feveral iflanders
in three baidars. Solovioff calling to him by the inter-

preter he came on fhore, but kept at a diftance defiring:

a conference with fome of his relations.. Solovioff gave
orders to feize him ; and they were lucky enough totake
him prifoner, together with two of his companions. He.
immediately confefled, that he had come with a view of

enquiring\of the hoftages how many Ruffians were ftill.
remaining : having procured the neceflary intelligence, .

hes

14!

ACCOUNT 'O.F DE

his intention was to furprife the watch at a convenient
feafon, and afterwards to fet fire to the fhip. As they
faw feveral iflanders row paft the harbour at the fame
time, and the Toigon likewife informed them, that they
were aflembling to execute the abovementioned defign ;
Soloviof refolved to be much upon his guard. They
feparated, however, without attempting any hoftilities.

June 5, Glottoff arrived at the harbour on a vifit, and
returned on the 8th to his fhip. The captive Toigon
was now fet at liberty, after being ferioufly exhorted to
defift from hoftilities. In the courfe of this month two
more of the crew died; fo that the arrival of Korovin,
who joined them about this time, with two of his own
and two of Kulkoff’s crew, was of courfe a very agree-
able circumftance. The fick likewife began to recover
by degrees,

July 22, Solovioff, with a party of his people, in two
baidars, made another excurfion Northwards; he paffed
by the places formerly mentioned as far as Igonok,
which ‘lies ten ver{ts beyond Totzikala. IJIgonok confitts
of one dwelling cave on the fide of a rivulet, which falls
from the mountains, and empties itfelf into the fea. The
inhabitants amounted to about thirty men, who dwelt
there with their wives and children. From thence
Solovioff proceeded along the fhore into a bay; five verits

further
.

RU SaS}T A Ne WSic OV ERLE S.

further he found another rivulet, which has its fource
among the hills and flows through a plain.

Upon. the fhore of the fame bay, oppofite to the
mouth of. this rivulet, lay two villages, one of which
only was inhabited; it was called Ukunadok, and con-
fitted of fix dwelling caves. About thirty-five of the
inhabitants were at that time employed in catching fal-
mon in the rivulet. Kulkoff’s fhip had lain at anchor
about two. miles from thence; but there were no re-
mains of her to be found... After coming out of the bay
he went forwards to the fummer village Umgaina diftant
about feven or eight leagues, and fituated on the fide
of a rivulet, which takes its rife in a lake abounding with
falmon.. Here he found the Toigon. Amaganak, with
about ten of the natives, employed in fifhing. Fifteen
verfts farther along the fhore they found another fum-
mer village called Kalaktak, where there was likewife
another. rivulet, which came from the hills. The inha-
bitants. were fixty men and an hundred and feventy
women and children : . they gave Solovioff a very friendly
reception ;.and delivered up two hoftages,. who were
brought from the neighbouring ifland Akutan ;: with
thefe he fet out on his return, and on the 6th of Auguft
joined his. crew...

On

ACCOUNT OF THE

On the r1th he went over to‘the.ifland Umnak, ac-
companied by Korovin, to bring off fome fhips ftores
left there by the latter; and:ireturned ‘to the haven on
the 27th. Onthe 31ft Shaffyrin died, the fame -perfon
whofe adventures have been already. related.

Sept. rg. Korenoff was fent northwards upon an
hunting party ; he returned the 30th of January, 1766.
Although the Ruffians who remained at the haven met
with no moleftation:from the natives during his abfence ;
yet he .and his companions were repeatedly attacked.

‘Having .diftributed to the inhabitants of the feveral vil-

lages through which ‘he paffed nets for the purpofe of

‘catching fea-otters, he went-to the Eaft part of the ifland

as far as Kalaktak, with.an intention of hunting. Upon
his arrival at that place, on the 3rft of October, the in-

habitants fied with precipitation; and as all his efforts to

conciliate their affeétions were ineffectual, he found it:re-
quifite to:'be upon his guard. Nor was this precaution un-

neceflary.; for on the following day they returned «in a
-confiderable body, armed with lances, made with the
iron of the plundered veffels. Korenoff, however, and
hhis companions, who were prepared ‘to receive them,
killed twenty-fix, and took feveral prifoners; upon
which the others became more tractable.

Nov.

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

Nov. 1g. Korenoff, upon his return to the haven, came
to Makufhinfk, where he was kindly received by a Toigon
named Kulumaga; but with regard toItchadak, it was plain
that his defigns were ftill hoftile. Inftead of giving an
account of the nets which had been left with him, he
withdrew privately: and on the 19th of January, ac-
companied by a numerous body of iflanders, made an at-
tempt to furprife the Ruffians. Victory, however, again
declared for Korenoff; and fifteen of the affailants,
amongft whom was Itchadak himfelf, remained dead
upon the fpot. Kulumaga affured them, in the ftrongeit
manner, that the defign had been carried on without his
knowledge ; and protefted, that he had often prevented

his friend from committing hoftilities againft the Ruf —

fians.

Korenoff returned to the haven on the 3eth of Janu«
ary ; and on the 4th of February he went upon another
hunting expedition toward the Weftern point of the ifland.
During this excurfion he met with a party fent out by
Glottoff, at a place called Takamitka; he then rowed
over to Umnak, where he collected a {mall tribute, and
returned on the 3d of March. During his abfence
Kyginik, Kulumaga’s fon, paid a vifit to the Ruffians, and
requefted that he might be baptized, and be permitted to
go aboard the veffel; his demand was immediately com-
plied with.

U May

146

Yournal of the
Woyage home-
wards.

A'S COUN T*-O F “Tee &

May 13th. Korovin went, with fourteen men, to
Umnak, to bring off an anchor, which was buried in the
fand. On his return preparations were made for their
departure. Before the arrival of Korovin the hunters
had killed 150 black and brown foxes; and. the fame
number of old and young. fea-ctters; fince his arrival
they had caught 350 black foxes, the fame number of
common foxes, and 150 fea-otters of different fizes.

This cargo being put on board, the interpreter Kafh-
mak fet at liberty, with a certificate of, and prefents for
his fidelity, and the hoftages.delivered up to the. Toigons
and their relations, who had: affembled: at: the haven,
Solovioff put to fea on the rft of June, with an Eafterly
wind. Before his departure he received a letter fron
Glottoff, informing him that he was likewife preparing
for his.return..

June. 2. The wind being contrary, they got but a {mall
way from land.

s. Steered again towards the fhore, came to an
anchor, and fent a boat for a fupply of water,
which returned without having feen any
body.

. Weighed and fteered W. with a S. E. wind.
Favourable wind at.N.E, and in the afternoon
at. N.

SG)

8.. Wind:

8.

g& Io.
EB.

12.
F/B»

RUS silyA MN. oD F SCiOnVaE Ral E S.

Wind at N.W. and ftormy, the fhip drove
under the forefail.

Sailed Northwards, with a Wefterly wind.
Calm till noon; afterwards breeze fprung up
at S. with which they fteered W. till next day
at noon ; when the wind coming round to the
Weit, they changed their courfe, and fteered
N. W.

Calm during the night.

A {mall breeze of Northerly wind, with which

they {teered W. in the afternoon it fell calm,

and continued {fo till the

16. at noon, when a breeze {pringing up at Eaft,

18.

they fteered W. on which courfe they con-
tinued during the
with aS. S. E. wind.

From the 19 to the 22. The wind was changeable

23.

from the S. W. to N. W. with which they
{till made a fhift to get to the Weftward.

The wind E. they fteered betwixt N. & W.
which courfe they continued the

24th, 25th, 26th, with a Northerly wind.

27%
28,

A. M. the wind changed to S. W.
29, 30. Wind at Weft.

July 1. The wind changed to E. with which they ftéered

between W. and S. W. with little variations, till

the 3d.

U2 4. They

149

242

Solovioff’s De~
fcription of the
¥ox Iflands.

ACCOUN TF OF TAE

4. They reached Kamtchatkoi Nofs, and on the
sth. Brought the fhip, in good condition, into Kamt-
chatka river.

Solovioft’s. defcription of thefe iflands and the inha-
bitants being more circumftantial, than the accounts
given by former navigators, deferves to be inferted at
full length. According to his. eftimation, the ifland
Wnalafhka lies between 1500 and 2000 veri{ts due Eaft
from the mouth of the Kamtchatka river: the other
iflands to the Eaftward. ftretch towards N.E. He rec-
kons the length of Akutan at eighty verfts ; Umnak at
an hundred and fifty, and Unalafhka at two hundred. No»
large trees were feen upon any of the iflands which he
touched at. They produce underwood, {mall fhrubs, and.
plants, for the moft part fimilar to the common {pecies.
found in Kamtchatka. The winter is much milder than
in the Eaftern parts of Siberia, and continues only from.
November to the end of March. ‘The {now feldom lies
upon the ground for any time..

Rein-deer; bears, wolves, ice-foxes, are not to be:
found on thefe iflands; but they abound in black, grey,.
brown, and red foxes; for which reafon they have got:
the name of Lyffie Oftrova, or Fox Iflands. Thefe foxes.
are ftronger than thofe of Yakutfk, and their hair is
much coarfer. During the day they lie in caves and

7 clifts

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 149

elifts of rocks; towards evening they come to the fhore
in fearch of food; they have long ago extirpated the
brood of mice, and other {mall animals. They are not
in the fmalleft degree afraid of the inhabitants, but dif-
tinguifh the Ruffians by the fcent; having experienced
the effeéts of their fire-arms. The number of fea-ani-
mals, fuch as fea-lions, fea-bears, and fea-otters, which
refort to thefe fhores, are very confiderable. Upon fome
of the iflands warm {prings and native fulphur are to be
found,

The Fox-iflands are in general very populous; Una- Saree

Cuftoms of the
Inhabitants.

Yafhka, which is the largeft ifland, is fuppofed to contain
feveral thoufand inhabitants. Thefe favages live together
in feparate communities, compofed of fifty, and fome-
times of two or even three hundred perfons ;| they dwell
in large caves from forty to eighty yards long, from fix.
to eight broad, and from four to five high. The roof of
thefe caves is a kind of wooden grate, which is firft {pread
over with a layer of grafs, and then covered with earth.
Several openings are made in the iop, through which:
the inhabitants go up and down by ladders : the fmalleft
dwellings have two or three entrances of this: fort, and
the largeft five or fix. Each cave is divided into a certain
number of partitions, which are appropriated to the feve-
ral families; and thefe partitions are marked by means
of ftakes driven into the earth. The men and women fit

on:

es

i

AX CDW Nei © Ei Tae

on the ground; and the children lie down, having their
legs bound together under them, in order to make them
learn to fit upon their hams.

Although no fire is ever made in thefe caves, they
are generally fo warm, that both fexes fit naked.
Thefe people obey the calls of nature openly, and with-
out efteeming it indecent. They wafh themfelves firft
with their own urine, and afterwards with water. In
winter they go always bare-footed; and when they
Want to warm themfelves, efpecially before they go to
fleep, they fet fire to dry grafs and walk over it. Their
habitations being almoft dark, they ufe particularly in
winter a fort of large lamps, made by hollowing out a
itone, into which they put a rufh-wick and burn train
oil. <A ftone fo hollowed is called Tfaaduck. The na-
tives * are whites with black hair; they have flat faces,
and are of a good ftature. The men fhave with a fharp
ftone or knife, the circumference and top of the head,
and let the hair which remains hang from the crown f.
The women cut their hair in a {treight line over the fore-
head ; behind they let it grow to a confiderable length, |

* Von geficht find fie platt undweiis durchgaengig mit fchwarzen
haaren.

++ The original in this paffage is fomewhat obfcure. Die maenner
fcheeren mit einem Scharfen Stein oder meffer den Umkreifs des haar-
kopfs und die platte, und laffen die haare um die krone des kopfs run-
dum ueberhangen.

and

RUSSIAN -DISC/OV-ERIE S.

and tie it in a bunch. Some of the men wear their
beards; others fhave or pull them out by the roots.

They mark various figures on their faces, the backs
of their hands, and lower parts of their arms, by prick-
ing them firft with a needle, and then rubbing the parts
with a fort of black clay. They make three incifions in
the under-lip ; they place in the middle one a flat bone,
or a {mall coloured ftone; and in each of the fide-
ones they fix a long pointed piece of bone, which
bends and reaches almoft to the ears. They likewife
make a hole through the griftle of the nofe, into which
‘they put a fmall piece of bone in fuch a manner as
to keep the noftrils extended. They alfo pierce holes
in their ears, and wear in them what little ornaments

they can procure.

Their drefs confifts of a cap and a fur-coat, which
reaches down to the knee. Some of them wear com-
mon caps of a party coloured bird-fkin, upon which
.they leave part of the wings and tail. On the fore-part
of their hunting and fifhing caps they. place a. {mall

board like a fereen, adorned with the jaw-bones of fea--

bears, and ornamented with glafs beads, which-they re-
ceive in barter from the Ruffians. At their feftivals and
. dancing parties they ufe amuch more fhowy fort.of caps.

Their fur-coats are made like fhirts, being clofe behind.

and. before, and. are put on over the head. The
mens

AGCOUNT OF THE

‘mens drefs is made of birds fkins, but the womens of

fea-otters and fea-bears. Thefe fkins are died with a
fort of red earth, and neatly fewed with finews, and
ornamented with various ftripes of fea-otter {kins and
leathern fringes. They have alfo upper garments made
of the inteftines of the largeft fea-calves and fea-lions.

Their veflels confift of two forts: the larger are lea-
thern boats or baidars, which have oars on both fides,
and are capable of holding thirty or forty people. The
fmaller veflels are rowed with a double paddle, and re-
femble the canoes of the Greenlanders, containing only
one or two perfons: they never weigh above thirty
pounds, being nothing but a thin fkeleton of a boat
covered with leather. In thefe however they pafs from
one ifland to another, and even venture out to fea to a
confiderable diftance. In calm weather they go out in
them to catch turbot and cod with bone-hooks and lines
made of finews or fea-weed. They ftrike fifh in the
rivulets with darts. Whales and other fea=animals
thrown afhore by the waves are carefully looked after,
and no part of them is loft. The quantity of provi-
fions which they procure by hunting and fifhing
being far too {mall for their wants, the greateft part of
their food confifts of fea-wrack and fhell-fith, which

they find on the fhore,

RUSSTVAN(DISCOVERIE S.

No ftranger is allowed to hunt or fifh near a village,
or to carry off any thing fit for food. When they are
on a journey, and their provifions are exhaufted, they
beg from village to village, or call upon their friends
and relations for affiftance.

They feed upon the flefh of all forts of fea-animals,
and generally eat it raw. But if at any time they
choofe to drefs their victuals, they make ufe of an hol-
low ftone; having placed the fifh or flefh therein, they
cover it with another, and clofe the interftices with
lime or clay. They then lay it horizontally upon two
ftones, and light a fire under it. The provifion which
is intended for keeping is dried without falt in the
open air. They gather berries of various forts, and
lily roots of the fame fpecies with thofe which grow
wild at Kamtchatka.. They are unacquainted with the
manner of dreffing the cow-parfnip, as practifed in that
Peninfula; and do not underftand the art of diftilling
brandy or any other {trong liquor from it. They are
at prefent very fond of fnuff, which the Ruffians have
introduced among them.

No traces were found of any worfhip, neither did
they feem to have any forcerers* among them. If a

* Tn the laft chapter it is faid that there are forcerers among them,

x whale

154

AC COUN T‘SO F TALE

whale happens to be caft on fhore, the inhabitants af-
femble with great marks of joy, and perform a number
of extraordinary ceremonies: They dance and_ beat
drums * of different fizes: they then cut up the fifh,
of which the greateft and beft part is confumed on
the fpot. On fuch occafions they wear fhowy caps 5
and fome of them dance naked in wooden mafks, which
reach down to their fhoulders, and reprefent various forts
of fea-animals. Their dances confift of fhort fteps for-
wards, accompanied with many ftrange geftures.

Marriage ceremonies are unknown among them,

and each man takes as many wives as he can maintain;

but the number feldom exceeds four. Thefe women
are occafionally allowed to cohabit with other men;
they and their children are alfo not unfrequently bar-
tered in exchange for commodities. When an iflander”
dies, the body is bound with thongs,. and afterwards ex-
pofed to the air in a fort of wooden cradle hung upon

* The expreffion in the original is ‘‘ Schlagen auf groffen platten
«© handpauken,” which, being literally tranflated, fignifies <‘ They beat
*< upon large flat hand-kettle drums of different founds.”

By the accounts which I procured at Peterfburg, concerning the
form of thefe drums, they feem to refemble in fhape thofe made ufe of
by the forcerers of Kamtchatka, and are of different fizes. I had an
opportunity of feeing one of the latter at the Cabinet of Curiofities. It
is of an oval form, about two feet long and one broad: it is covered
only at one end like the tambour de bafque, and is worn upon the arm
like a fhield.

a crofs-

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

a crofs-bar, fupported by forks. Upon thefe occafions
they cry and make bitter lamentations.

Their Toigons or Princes are thofe who have nume-
rous families, and are {kilful and fuccefsful in hunting

and fifhing.

Their weapons confift of bows, arrows, and darts :
they throw the latter very dexteroufly, and to a great
diftance from a hand-board. For defence they ufe
wooden fhields, called kuyakin. Thefe iflanders are,
notwithf{tanding their favagenefs, very docile; and the
boys, whom the Rufflians keep as hoftages, foon ac-
quire a knowledge of their language.

X 2 CH A‘P,

155

Voyage of
Otcheredin in
the St. Paul,
1765.

ACCOUNT OF THE

Go As P. XIi.

Voyage of Otcheredin—He winters upon Umnak—<Arrival
of Levafheff upon Unalafhka—Return of Otcheredin fo
Ochotik.

N the year 1765 three merchants, namely, Orechoff

of Yula, Lapin of Solikamfk, and Shiloff of Uf-
tyug, fitted out a new veffel called the St. Paul, under
the command of Aphanaffei Otcheredin. She was built
in the harbour of Ochotik : his crew confifted of fixty-
two Ruffians and Kamtchadals, and fhe carried on board
two inhabitants of the Fox Iflands named John and Ti-
mothy Surgeff, who had been brought to Kamtchatka
and baptifed.

September 10, they failed from Ochotfk, and arrived
the 22d in the bay of Bolcherefk where they wintered.
Auguit 1, 1776, they continued their voyage, and
having paffed the fecond of the Kuril Ifles, fteered on the
6th into the open fea; on the 24th they reached the
neareft of the Fox Iflands, which the interpreters called
* Atchak. A ftorm arifing they caft anchor in a bay,
but faw no inhabitants upon the fhore. On the 26th

* Called in a former journal Atchu, p. 63.

2 they

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES 157

they failed again, difcovered on the 27th Sagaugamak,
along which they fteered North Eaft, and on the grft
came within feven miles of the ifland Umnak; where, Lae
on account of the latenefs of the feafom and the want of
provifion and water, they determined to winter. Ac-
cordingly on the 1{t of September, by the advice of the
interpreters, they brought the veffel into a convenient

bay near a point of land lying N. W. where they faften-

ed it to the fhore with cables.

Upon their landing they difcovered feveral pieces of a
wreck; and two iflanders, who dwelled on the banks of
a rivulet which empties itfelf into the bay, informed
them, that thefe were the remains of a Ruffian veffel,
whofe commander’s name was Denys. From this intel-
ligence they concluded that this was Protaffloff’s vefiel,
fitted out at Ochotfk. The inhabitants of Umnak, Una-
lafhka, and of the Five Mountains, had affembled and
murdered the crew, when feparated into different hunt-
ing parties. The fame iflanders alfo mentioned the fate
of Kulkoff’s and Trapefnikoff’s fhips upon the ifland
Unalafhka. Although this information occafioned ge-
neral apprehenfions, yet they had no other refource than
to draw the veffel afhore, and to take every poffible pre-
caution againft a furprize. Accordingly they kept a con-
ftant watch, made prefents to the Toigons and the prin-
cipal inhabitants, and demanded fome children as hoftages.
For fome time the iflanders behaved very peaceably, un-
til the Ruffians endeavoured to perfuade them to become

tributary ;

158

AXC OU NST, © Fi TE

tributary : upon which they gave fuch repeated figns of
their hoftile intentions, that the crew lived under conti-
nual alarms. In the beginning of September informa-
tion was brought them of the arrival of a veffel, fitted
out by Ivan Popoff.merchant of Lalfk, at Unalafhka.

About the end of the faid month the Toigon of the

Five Mountains came to Otcheredin, and was fo well fa-

tisfied with his reception, that he brought hoftages, and
not only affured them of his own friendfhip, but pro-
mifed to ufe his influence with the other Toigons, and
to perfuade them to the fame peaceable behaviour. But
the other Toigons not-only paid no regard to his perfua-
fions, but even barbaroufly killed one of his children.

From thefe and other circumftances the crew pafied the

winter under continual apprehenfions, and dur{t not ven-

ture far from the harbour upon hunting parties. Hence
enfued a fcarcity of provifions; and hunger, joined to
the violent attacks of the fcurvy, made great havock

amongftthem, infomuch that fix of them died, and fe-
veral of the furvivors were reduced to fo weak a condition,
that they were icarce able to move.

The health of the crew being re-eftablifhed in the
{pring, twenty-three men were fent on the 25th of
June in two boats to the Five Mountains, in order to
perfuade the inhabitants to pay tribute. On the 26th
they landed on the ifland Ulaga, where they were at-

tacked

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

tacked with great fpirit by a large body of the inhabi-
tants ; and though three of the Ruffians were wounded,
yet the favages were repulfed with confiderable lofs: they
were {fo terrified by their defeat, that they fled before the
Ruffians during their continuance on that ifland. The
latter were detained there by tempeftuous weather until
the gth of July; during which time they found two
rufty firelocks belonging to Protafloff’s crew. On the
roth they returned.to the harbour; and it was imme-
diately refolved to difpatch fome companies upon hunt-
ing expeditions.

Accordingly on the 1ft of Auguft Matthew Polofkoff,
a native of Jlinfk, was fent with twenty-eight men in
two boats to Unalafhka with the following, orders ;
that if the weather and other circumftances. were fa-
vourable,. they. were to make to Akutan and. Akun, the
two neareft iflands to the Eaft, but to proceed no further.
In confequence of this, Polofkoff reached Akutan about
the end of the month; and being kindly received by
the inhabitants, he left fix of his party to hunt;. with
the remainder he went to Akun, which lies about two
verfts from Akutan. From thence he difpatched five
men to the neighbouring iflands, where he was informe:
by the interpreters there were great quantities of foxes..

Polofkoff and his companions continued the whole:
autumn upon Akun without being annoyed; but on the-
Taths

159

16

A€GECOUN TIO PAP ESE

12th of December the inhabitants of the different iflands
aflembled in great numbers, and attacked them by land
and fea. They informed Polofkoff, by means of the
interpreters, that the Ruffians whom he had fent to
the neighbouring iflands were killed; that the two
veflels at Umnak and Unalafhka were plundered, and
the crew put to death; and that they were now come
to make him and his party fhare the fame fate. The
Ruffian fire-arms however kept them in due refpect ;
and towards evening they difperfed. The fame night
the interpreter deferted, probably at the inftigation of
his countrymen, who neverthelefs killed him, as it was
faid, that winter.

January 16, the favages ventured to make a fecond
attack. Having furprifed the guard by night, they tore
off the roof of the Ruffian dwelling, and fhot down
into the hut, making at the fame time great outcries :
by this unexpected affault four Rufhlans were killed,
and three wounded; but the furvivors no fooner had
recourfe to their fire-arms, than the enemy was driven
to flight. Meanwhile another body of the natives at-
tempted to feize the two veffels, but without fuccefs ;
they however cut off the party of fix men left by Po-
lofkoff at Akutan, together with the five hunters dif-
patched to the contiguous iflands, and two of Popoft’s
crew who were at the Weftermoft part of Unalafhka.

Polofkoff

RUSSIAN DYPSeOv SRT E Ss. r6r

Polofkoff continued upon Akun in great danger until
the zoth of February ; when, the wounded being re-
covered, he failed over with a fair wind to Popoff’s vef-
fel at Unalafhka; and on the 1oth of May returned to
Otcheredin.

In April Popofi’s veffel being got ready for the voy-
age, all the hoftages, whofe number amounted to forty,
were delivered to Otcheredin. July the 30th a veffel
belonging to the fame Popoff arrived from Beering’s
Ifland, and caft anchor in the fame bay where Otchere-
din’s lay ; and both crews entered into an agreement
to {hare incommon the profits of hunting. Strength-
ened by this alliance, Otcheredin prevailed upon a num-
ber of the inhabitants to pay tribute. Aueuft the 22d
Otcheredin’s mate was fent with fix boats and fifty-
eight men to hunt upon Unalafhka and Akutan; and
there remained thirty men with the veffels in the har-

bour, who Kept conftant watch.

Soon afterwards Otcheredin and the other commander Otcheredin re.

celves an Ac-

received. a letter from Levafheff Captain Lieutenant of ©o2tsf Le

vafheff’s Ar-
rival at Una-

the Imperial fleet, who accompanied Captain Krenitzin jin.
in the fecret expedition to thofe iflands. The letter
was dated September 11, 1768: it informed them he
was arrived at Unalafhka in the St. Paul, and lay at
anchor in the fame bay in which Kulkoff’s veffel had

Y been

i62

‘Return of
“Otcheredin to
chouk.

ACC OWN 1s. 0) tT FE

been loft. He likewife required a circumftantial ac-
count of their voyages. By another order of the 24th
he fent for four of the principal hoftages, and demanded
the tribute of {kins which had been exacted from. the
iflanders. But as the weather was generally tempeftuous
at this feafon of the year, they deferred fending them
till the fpring. May the 31ft Levatheff fet fail for
Kamtchatka; and in 1771 returned fafely from his ex-
pedition at St. Peterfburg.

The two veffels remained at Umnak until the year
1770, during which time the crews met with no oppo-
fition from the iflanders.. They continued their hunt-
ing parties, in which they had fuch good fortune, that
the fhare of Otcheredin’s veffel (whofe voyage is here
chiefly related) confifted in 530 large fea-otter ikins,
40 young ones and 30 cubs, the fkins of 656 fine black
foxes, too ef an inferior fort, and about 1250 red fox
fkins.

With this large cargo of furs Otcheredin fet fail on the
22d of May, 1770, from Umnak, leaving Popoff’s crew
behind. A fhort time before their departure, the other
interpreter Ivan Surgeff, at the inftigation of his relations,

deferted.

After having touched at the neareft of the Aleutian
Iflands, Otcheredin and his crew arrived on the 24th of
July

RUSS PA NID Ps € OVER TES.

July at Ochotfk. They brought two iflanders with
them, whom they baptized. The one was named
Alexey Solovieff; the other Boris Otcheredin. Thefe
iflanders unfortunately died on their way to Peterfburg ;
the firft between Yakutfk and Irkutfk; and the latter
at Irkutfk, where he arrived on the 1ft of February,

BUTI:

Yio2 CHAP.

163

164

Pofition of
Beering’s and
‘Copper Iflands.

Of the Aleu-
tian Ifles.

ACCOUNT, OF. TAYE

CC te AP) Se.

Conclufion—General pofition and fituation of the Aleutian
and Fox Wlands—+their difiance from each other—Fur-
ther defcription of the dre/s, manners, and cufioms of
the inbabitants—their feafis and ceremonies, Sc.

CCORDING to the lateft informations brought

by Otcheredin’s and Popoft’s veffels, the North

Weft point of Commandorikoi Oftroff, or Beering’s
Ifland, hes due Eaft from the mouth of the Kamtchatka
river, at the diftance of 250 verfts. Jt is from 70 to
8o verfts long, and ftretches from North Weft to South
Eaft, in the fame direction as Copper land. The latter
is fituated about 60 or 70 verfts from the South Eaft
point of Beering’s Ifland, and is about 50 verfts in length.

About 300 verfts Eaft by South of Copper [land lie
the Aleutian Ifles, of which Attak is the neareft: it is
rather larger than Beering’s Ifland, of the fame
fhape, and ftretches from Weft to South Eaft. From
thence about 20 verits Eaftwards is fituated Semitfhi,
extending from Weft to Eaft, and near its Eaftern point
another {mall ifland. To the South of the ftrait, which

feparates the two latter iflands, and at the diftance of

40

RUS SANDS COVER I §.s. 165

40 verfts from both of them, lies Shemiya in a fimilar

_pofition, and not above 25 verits in length. | All thefe
iflands ftretch between 54 and 55 degrees of North
latitude.

The Fox Iflands are fituated E. N. E. from the Aleu- fri *™
tians :_ the neareft of thefe, Atchak, is about 800 verits
diftant; it lies in about 56 degrees North latitude, and ex-
tends from W.S. W. towards E. N.E. It greatly re-
fembles Copper Ifland, and is provided with a commo-
dious harbour on the Notrh. From thence all the

other iflands of this chain ftretch in a direction towards
N.E. by. Eaft.

The next to Atchak is Amlak, about 15 verfts diftant;
it is nearly of the fame fize; and has an harbour
on. its South fide. Next follows Sagaugamak, at about
the fame diftance, but fomewhat fmaller; from that it
is 50 verfts to Amuchta, a fmall rocky ifland; and the
fame diftance from the latter to Yunakfan, another fmall
ifland. About 20 verfts from Yunakfan there is a clufter
of five {mall iflands, or rather mountains, Kigalgift,
Kagamila, Tfigulak, Ulaga, and Tana-Unok, and which
are therefore called by the Ruflians Pat Sopki, or the
Five Mountains. Of thefe Tana-Unok lies moft to the
N. E. towards which the Weftern point of Umnak ad-
vances within the diftance of 20 vertits.

Umnak

ATE SCcOTO IN OrF radia

Umnak ftretches from S.W.toN. E.; it is 150 vertts
in length, and has a very confiderable bay on the Weft
end of the Northern coaft, in which there is a {mall
ifland or rock, called Adugak ; and on the South fide is
Shemalga, another rock. The Weftern point of Aghun-
alafhka, or Unalafhka, is feparated’ from the Eaft end of
Umnak by a ftrait near 20 verfts in breadth. The pofi-
tion of thefe two iflands is fimilar; but Aghunalafhka
is much the largeft, and is above 200 verifts long. It is
divided towards the N. E. into. three promontories, one
of which runs out in a Wefterly direction, forming one
fide of a large bay on the North coaft of the ifland :
the fecond ftretches out N. E. ends in three points, and
is conne€ted with the ifland by a fmall neck of land.
The third or moft Southerly one is feparated from the
laft mentioned promontory by a deep bay. Near Una-
lafhka towards the Eaft lies another {mall ifland called
Skirkin.

About 20 verfts from the North Eaft promontory of
Aghunalafhka lie four iflands: the firft, Akutan, is
about half as big as Umnak; a ver{t further is the {mall
ifland Akun ; a little beyond is Akunok ; and laftly Ki-
galga, which is the fmalleft of thefe four, and {tretches
with Akun and Akunok almoft from N. toS. Kaigalga
is fituated about the 61ft degree of latitude. About

100

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.

100 verfts from thence lies an ifland called Unimak *,
upon which Captain Krenitzin wintered; and beyond it
the inhabitants faid there was a large tract of country
called Alafhka, of which they did not know the boun-

daries.

The Fox Iflands are in general very rocky, without
containing any remarkable high mountains: they are
deftitute of wood, but abound in rivulets and lakes,
which are moftly without fifh, The winter is much
milder than in Siberia; the fnow feldom falls before
the beginning of January, and continues on the grcund
till the end of March.

There is a volcano in Amuchta; in Kagamila fulphur
flows from a mountain; in Taga-Unok there are warm
{prings hot enough to boil provifions; and flames of
fulphur are occafionally feen at night upon the moun-
tains of Unalafhka and Akutan.

The Fox Iflands are tolerably populous in proportion
to their fize. The inhabitants are entirely free, and pay
tribute to no one: they are of a middle ftature; and
live, both in fummer and winter, in holes dug in the
earth. No figns of religion.were found amongtt them.

* Krenitzin wintered at Alaxa, and not at Unimak. See Appendix I.

Nel,
6

Several

Account of rhe
Inhabitants of
the Fox Iflands.

168.

Their Food.

ACCOUNT OF THE

Several perfons indeed pafs for forcerers, pretending to
know things paft and to come, and are accordingly
held in high efteem, but without receiving any emo-~
lument. Filial duty and refpect towards the aged are
not held in eftimation by thefe iflanders. They are
not however deficient in fidelity to each other; they
are of lively and chearful tempers, though rather impe-
tuous, and naturally prone to anger. In general they
do not obferve any rules of decency, but follow all the
calls of nature publicly, and without the leaft referve.
They wath themfelves with their own urine.

Their principal food confifts in fifi and other
fea-animals, fmall fhell-fifh and fea-plants: their
greateft delicacies are wild lilies and other roots, toge-
ther with different kinds of berries. When they have
laid in a ftore of provifions, they eat at any time of the
day without diftinction; but in cafe of neceflity they
are capable of fafting feveral days together. They fel-
dom heat their dwellings; but when they are defirous
of warming themfelves, they light a bundle of hay, and
ftand over it; or elfe they fet fire to train oil, which

they pour into a hollow ftone.

They feed their children when very young with the
coarfeft flefh, and for the moft part raw. If an infant
cries, the mother immediately carries it to the fea-fide,
and be it fummer or winter holds it naked in the wa-

ter

RUSS TFAN DISCOVERIES.

ter until it is quiet. This cuftom is fo far from doing
the children any harm, that it hardens them againft
the cold; and they accordingly go bare-footed through
the winter without the leaft inconvenience. They ‘are
alfo trained to bathe frequently in the fea; and it is
an opinion generallly received among the iflanders, that
by that means they are rendered bold, and become for-
tunate in fifhing.

The men wear fhirts made of the fkins of cormo- Dees.

rants, fea-divers, and gulls; and, in order to keep out
the rain, they have upper garments of the bladders and
other inteftines of fea-lions, fea-calves, and whales,
blown up and dried, They cut their hair in a circular
form clofe to their ears; and fhave alfo a round place
upon the top. The women, on the contrary, let the
hair defcend over the forehead as low as the eye-brows,
and tie the remaining part in a knot upon the top of
the head. They pierce the ears, and hang therein
bits of coral which they get from the Ruffians. Both
fexes make holes in the griftle of the nofe, and in
the under-lips, in which they thruft pieces of bone,
and are very fond of fuch kind of ornaments. They
mark alfo and colour their faces with different figures.
They barter among one another fea-otters, fea-bears,
clothes made of bird-fkins and of dried inteftines, {kins
of fea-lions and fea-calves for the coverings of baidars,

Z wooden

170

Arms.

ANCE’ O-U- N. TO F “TH E

wooden mafks, darts, thread made of finews and reindeer:
hair, which they get from the country of Alafka..

Their houfhold utenfils are fquare pitchers and large
troughs, which they make out of the wood driven afhore
by the fea. Their weapons are bows and arrows pointed
with flints, and javelins of two yards in length, which
they throw froma {mall board. Inftead of hatchets they
ufe crooked knives of flint or bone. Some iron knives,,
hatchets, and lances, were obferved amongit them, which:
they had probably got by plundering the Ruffians..

According to the reports of the oideft inhabitants of
Umnak and Unalafhka, they have never been engaged
in any war either amongft themfelves or with their
neighbours, except once with the people of Alafhka, the
occafion of which was as follows: The Toigon of Um-
nak’s fon had a maimed hand; and fome inhabitants of
Alafhka, who came upon a vifit to that ifland, faftened
to his arm a drum, out of mockery, and invited him to
dance. The parents and relations of the boy were of-
fended at this infult: hence a quarrel enfued ; and from
that time the two people have lived in continual enmity,
attacking and plundering each other by turns. Accord-
ing to the reports of the iflanders, there are mountains
upon Alafhka, and woods of great extent at fome dif
tance from the coaft. The natives wear clothes made of

the

RUSSZAN DSC OV ER EE S:

the fkins of reindeer, wolves, and foxes, and are not
tributary to any of their neighbours. The inhabitants
of the Fox-iflands feem to have no knowledge of any
country beyond Alafhka.

Feafts are very common among thefe iflanders; and
more particularly when the inhabitants of one ifland are
vifited by thofe of the others. The men of the village
meet their guefts beating drums, and preceded by the
women, who fing and dance. At the conclufion of the
dance the hofts invite them to partake of the feafts ; after
which ceremony the former return firft to their dwell-
ings, place mats in order, and ferve up their beit pro-
vifion. The guefts next enter, take their places, and
after they are fatisfied the diverfions begin.

Firft, the children dance and caper, at the fame time
making a noife with their {mall drums, while the own-
ers of the hut of both fexes fing. Next, the men dance
almoft naked, tripping after one another, and beating
drums of a larger fize: when thefe are weary, they are
relieved by the women, who dance in their clothes, the
men continuing in the mean time to fing and beat their
drums. At laft the fire is put out, which had been kin-
dled forthe ceremony. The manner of obtaining fire is
by rubbing two pieces.of dry wood, or moft commonly by
ftriking two flints together, and letting the fparks fall

Z 2 upon

Featts,

171

1972

AGGouUuN GT Gi RAE

upon fome fea-otter’s hair mixed with fulphur. If any
forcerer is prefent, it is then his turn to play his tricks in
the dark; if not, the guefts immediately retire to their
huts, which are made on that occafion of their canoes
and mats. The natives, who have feveral wives, donot
withhold them from their guefts; but where the owner
of the hut has himfelf but one wife, he then makes the
offer of a female fervant.

Their hunting feafon is principally from the end of
Odtober to the beginning of December, during which
time they kill large quantities of young fea-bears for their
clothing. They pafs all December in feaftings and di-
verfions fimilar to that above mentioned: with this dif-
ference, however, that the men dance in wooden mafks,
reprefenting various fea-animals, and painted red, green,
or black, with coarfe coloured earths found upon thefe
iflands,

During thefe feftivals they vifit each other from vil-
lage to village, and from ifland to ifland. The feafts
concluded, mafks and drums are broken to pieces, or de-
pofited in caverns among the rocks, and never after-
wards made ufe of. In{fpring they go out to kill old fea-
bears, fea-lions, and whales. During fummer, and even
in winter when it is calm, they row out to fea, and catch
cod and other fifh. Their hooks are of bone; and for

2 lines

RUSSIAN BLS @OV BRAIES.

lines they make ufe of a ftring made of a long tenacious
fea-weed, which is fometimes found in thofe feas near one
hundred and fixty yards in length.

Whenever they are wounded in any encounter, or
bruifed by any accident, they apply a fort of yellow root
to the wound, and faft for fome time. When their
head achs, they open a vein in that part with a ftone
lancet. When they want to glue the points of their ar-
rows to the fhaft, they ftrike their nofe till it bleeds, and
ufe the blood as glue.

Murder is not punifhed amongft them, for they have
no judge. With refpect to their ceremonies of burying
the dead, they are as follow: The bodies of poor peopie
are wrapped up in their own clothes, or in mats; then

laid in a grave, and covered over with earth. The bodies.

of the rich are put, together with their clothes and arms,
in a {mall boat made of the wood driven afhore by the
fea: this boat is hung upon poles placed crofs-ways ;_ and
the body is thus left to rot in the open air.

The cuftoms and manners of the inhabitants of the
Aleutian Ifles are nearly fimilar to thofe of the inhabi-
tants of the Fox Iflands. The former indeed are ren-

i ’ dered

173

174 Arr CVO De NTP kee;

dered tributary, and entirely fubjec to Ruffia; and moft
of them have a flight acquaintance with the Ruffian
language, which they have learned from the crews of the
different veflels who have landed there.

PAd T

Pte yh Il.

CO NOE AE NE NG

THE CONQUEST OF SIBERTIA,

és ae BH BS Baie Re

TRANSACTIONS AND CGOMMERCE

BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.

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RAY AinPacilk

Firft irruption of the Ruffians zzto Siberia—Second inroad
—Yermac driven by the Tzar of Mufcovy from the
Volea, retires to Orel a Ruffian Sett/ement—Enters
Siberia with an army of Coflacks—His progre/s and
exploits—Defeats Kutchum Chan—conquers bis do-

minions—cedes them to the Tzar—receives a rein-
forcement of Ruffian troops—is furprized by Kutchum
Chan—dis defeat and death—Veneration paid to bis
memory—Ruflian troops evacuate Siberia—re-enter
and conquer the whole country—ther progre/s flopped by
the Chinefe.

IBERIA was fcarcely known to the araans Debone ae luption

the Ruffians
into Siberia
a the
Reign of {van

an expedition was made, under the reign of Ivan Vaffi- Vaiilievitch I.

the middle of the fixteenth century *, For alth ough’

lievitch I. into the North Weftern Parts of that country,
as far as. the river Oby, by which feveral Tartar tribes
were rendered tributary, and fome of their chiefs breught
prifoners to Mofcow ; yet this incurfion bore a greater
refemblance to the-defultory inroads of barbarians, than
to any permanent eftablifhment of empire by a civilized
nation. Indeed the effects of that expedition foon va-

* SR. G. VI. p.199—211. Fit. Sib. Gef. Tom. I.
Aa nifhed ;

178 CONQUEST OFISIBERTI A.

nifhed; nor does any trace of the leaft communication
with Siberia again appear in the Ruffian hiftory before
the reign of Ivan Vaffilievitch II. At that period Siberia
again became an object of attention, by means of one
Anika Strogonoff, a Ruffian merchant, who had eftab-
lifhed fome falt-works at Solvytfhegod{kaia, a town in the

government of Archangel.

Anika Strogo- © This perfon carried on a trade of barter with the in-

noff trades
with the Peo-

ple of Siberia, Habitants of the North-Weftern parts of Siberia, who
brought every year to the abovementioned town large
quantities of the choiceft furs. Upon their return to
their country Strogonoff was accuftomed to fend with them
fome Ruffian merchants, who croffed the mountains,
and traded with the natives. By thefe means a con-
fiderable number of very valuable furs were procured at
an eafy rate, in exchange for toys and other commodi-

ties of trifling value.

This traffic was continued for feveral years, without
any interruption; during which Strogonoff rapidly
amaffed a very confiderable fortune*. At length the
Tzar Ivan Vaffilievitch II. forefeeing the advantages
which would accrue to his fubjects, from eftablifhing a
more general and regular commerce with thefe people,

* S.R.G. VI. p.220—223. Fif. Sib. Gef. p. 182.
determined

CONQUEST OF SIBERIA. 179

determined to enlarge the communication already opened

Second Irrup-

with Siberia. Accordingly he fent a corps of troops into (ion cf the
Ruffians into

that country. They followed the fame route which had pe
been difcovered by the Ruflians in the former expedition, V#itievitchll-
and which was lately frequented by the merchants of
Solvytfhegodfkaia. It lay along the banks of the Petf-

chora, and from thence croffed the Yugorian mountains,

which form the North Eaftern boundary of Europe.

Thefe troops, however, do not feem to have paffed the

Irtifh, or to have penetrated further than the Weftern

branch of the river Oby. Some Tartar tribes were in-

deed laid under contribution ; and a chief, whofe name

was Yediger, confented to pay an annual tribute of a
thoufand fables. But this expedition was not produétive

of any lafting effects; for foon afterwards Yediger was
defeated, and taken prifoner by Kutchum Chan ; the latter

was a lineal defcendant of the celebrated Zinghis Chan ;

and had newly eftablifhed his empire in thofe parts.

This fecond inroad was probably made about the mid-
dle of the fixteenth century ; for the Tzar Ivan Vaffilie-
vitch affumed the title of Lord of all the Siberian lands
fo early as 1558, before the conquefts made by Yer-
mac in that kingdom*. But probably the name of
Siberia was at that time only confined to the diftria

# 5.R.G. VI. p, 2176

Leia 3 then

189

Strogonoff
forms Setrle-
ments Upon
the Kama and
Tchutlovaia.

CONQUEST) OFsSIBER EIA.

then rendered tributary ; and as the Ruffians extended
their conquefts, this appellation was afterwards applied
to the whole tract of country which now bears that

name.

For fome time after the above-mentioned expedition,
the Tzar does not appear to have made any attempts to-
wards recovering his loft authority in thofe diftant re-
gions. But his attentien was again turned to that quar-
ter by a concurrence of incidents ; which, though begun
without his immediate interpofition, terminated in a vatt

acceffion of territory.

Strogonoff, in recompence for having firft opened a
trade with the inhabitants of Siberia, obtained from the
Tzar large grants of land; accordingly he founded colo-
nies upon the banks of the rivers Kama and Tchuflovaia;
and thefe fettlements gave rife to the entire fubjection of
Siberia by the refuge which they not long afterwards af-

forded to Yermac 'Timofeeff.

This perfon was nothing more than a fugitive Coflac -
of the Don, and chief of a troop of banditti who infefted
the fhores of the Cafpian fea. But as he was the inftru-
ment by which fuch a vaft extent of dominion was added
to the Ruffian Empire, it will not be uninterefting to

develop the principal circumftances, which brought this
Coffac

CONQUEST OF SIBERIA.

€offac from the fhores of the Cafpian to the banks of the
Kama; and to trace the progrefs which he afterwards

made in the diftant regions of Siberia,

By the victories which the Tzar Ivan Vaffilievitch had

gained over the Tatars of Cafan and Aftracan, that mo-
narch.extended his dominions as far as the Cafpian Sea ;.

and thereby eftablifhed a commerce with the Perfians and
Bucharians. But as the merchants who traded to thofe
parts. were continually pillaged by the Coffacs of the

181

Yermac is
driven from
the-Shores of
a Cafpian

Don; and as the roads which lay by the fide of that © ‘De 1577

river, and of the Volga, were infefted with thofe ban-
ditti; the Tzar fent a confiderable force againft them.
Accordingly,. they were attacked and routed; part were
flain, part made prifoners, and the reft efcaped by flight.
Among the latter was a corps of fix thoufand Coffacs,
under the command ‘of the above-mentioned. Yermac
Timofeeff *.

That celebrated adventurer, being driven from his

part of the province of Cafan. Frum thence he direéted
his courfe along the banks of the Kama,. until he came
to Orel +. That place was one of the Ruffian fettlements
recently planted, and was governed by Maxim grandfon

* §.R.G.VI. p. 232. Fil. Sib..Gef. I, p. 185.
+ S.R. GG. VI. p. 233.

He retires to
Orel, one of
the RufMiar
ufual haunts, retired, with his followers, into the interior seclecienes

182

Determines to
invade Siberia.

Srate of
Siberia.

GON@UES T ODF GABE RRMA:

of Anika Strogonoff. Yermac, inftead of ftorming the
place, and pillaging the inhabitants, acted with a degree
of moderation unufual in a chief of banditti. Being
hofpitably received by Strogonoff, and fupplied with
every thing that was neceffary for the fubfiftence of his
troops, he fixed his winter quarters at that fettlement.
His reftlefs genius however did not fuffer him to continue
for any length of time in a ftate of inactivity ; and from
the intelligence he procured concerning the. fituation of
the neighbouring Tartars of Siberia, he turned his arms
toward that quarter.

Siberia was at that time partly divided among a num-
ber of feparate princes; and partly inhabited by the
various tribes of independent Tartars. Of the former
Kutchum Chan was the moft powerful Sovereign. His
dominions confifted of that tract of country which now
forms the South Weftern part of the province of Tobolfk;
and ftretched from the banks of the Irtifh and Oby to
thofe of the Tobol and Tura. His principal refidence
was at Sibir *, a fmall fortrefs upon the river Irifh, not

far

* Several authors have fuppofed the name of Siberia to derive its
origin from this fortrefs, foon after it was firft taken by the Ruffians
under Yermac. But this opinion is advanced without fufficient foun-
dation; for the name of Sibir was unknown to the Tartars, that fort being
by them called Ifker. Befides, the Southern part of the province of

Tobolfk, to which the name of Siberia was originally applied, was thus
deno-

COON OWES T CO'F S:1 BE) RICA,

far from the prefent town of Tobolfk; and of which
fome ruins: are {till to be feen. Although his power
was very confiderable, yet there were fome circum-
ftances which feemed to enfure fuccefs to an enterpriz-
ing invader. He had newly acquired a large part of
his territories by conqueft; and had, in a great meafure,
alienated the affections of his idolatrous fubjects by the
intolerant zeal, with which he introduced‘and diffeminated
the Mahometan religion *.

Strogonoff did not fail of difplaying to Yermac this
inviting pofture of affairs, as well with a view of remov-
ing him from his prefent ftation, as becaufe he himfelf
was perfonally exafperated againft Kutchum Chan: for
the latter had fecretly inftigated a large body of Tartars
to invade the Ruffian fettlements upon the river Tchuffo-

vaia; and had afterwards commenced open hoftilities.

againft them with a body of forces under the command
of his coufin Mehemet Kul.. And although both thefe

attempts had failed of fuccefs; yet the troops engaged in ~

them had left behind traces of havock and devatiation too
lafting to be eafily effaced f.
denominated by the Ruffians before the invafion of Yermac. This

denomination probably firft came from the Permians and Sirjanians,
who brought the firft accounts of Siberia to the Ruffians.

S.R. G. VI. p. 180..-

* §. R. G. VEE p. 180.
4 Fil. Sib. Gef. I. p, 187,

2 All

183

Marches to-
wards Siberia :

Returns to
Orel.

GOINGQUES FT OF S12 PRA

All thefe various confiderations were not loft upon
Yermac: having therefore employed the winter in pre-
parations for his intended expedition, he began his
march in the fummer of the following year, 1578, along
the banks of the Tchuflovaia. The ‘want of proper
guides, and a neglect of other necefflary precautions,
ereatly retarded his march, and he was overtaken by the
winter before he had made any confiderable ‘progrefs.
And at the appearance of {pring he found his ftock of
provifions fo nearly exhaufted, that he was reduced to the

neceflity of returning to Crel.

But this failure of fuccefs by no means extineuifhed
d oO

his ardour for the profecution of the enterprize 5 it only

ferved to miake him {till more folicitous in guarding

againit the poffibility of a future mifcarriage. By threats

oa

he extorted from Strogonoff every affiftance «which the

nature of the expedition feemed to require. Befides a
fuficient quantity of provifions, ali his followers, who
avere before unprovided with fire-arms, were fupplied
with muikets and ammunition; and, in order to give

the appearance of a regular army to his troops, colours

were diftributed to each company, which were orna-—
mented with the images of faints, after the manner of
the Ruffians.

Having.

GON QUES T CO F’STBE RDM 185

Having thus made all previous arrangements, he
thought himfelf in a condition to force his way into
Siberia. Accordingly, in the month of June, 1579, he
fet out upon’ this fecond expedition. His followers tee
amounted to five thoufand men; adventurers inured to
hardfhips, and regardlefs of danger: they placed im-
plicit confidence in their leader, and feemed to be all
animated: with one and the fame f{pirit. He continued
his route partly by land, and partly by water: ‘thé
navigation however of the rivers was fo tedious, and
the roads fo rugged and difficult, that eighteen months
elapfed befere he reached Tchingi, a {mall town upon Arve: upon
the banks of the Tura *. ee

Here he muttered his troops, and found his army con-
fiderably reduced: part had been exhaufted by fatigue,
part carried off by ficknefsS, and: part cut off in fkir-
mifhes: with the Tartars. The whole remaining nums-
ber amounted to about fifteen Iundred effective men ;
and yet with this handful of troops Yermac did not
hefitate: a‘moment in advancing againft Kutchum Chan.

That price was already in a pofture of defence; and
refolved to guard his crown to the laft extremity. Hav-
ing collected his forces, he difpatched feveral flying
parties againft Yernrac, himfelf remaining behind with

* SR. G. VI. p. 243 —248—262.

Bb the

186

Defeats

Kurtchum

Chan.
1581.

CONQUEST OF SIBERIA.

the flower of his troops: but all thefe detachments were
driven back with confiderable lofs ; and worfted in many
facceflive fkirmifhes. Yermac continued his march
without intermiffion, bearing down all refiftance until
he reached the center of his adverfary’s. dominions.

Thefe fucceffes however were dearly bought; for his
army was now reduced to five hundred men. Kutchum
Chan was encamped* at no great. diftance upon the
banks of the Irtifh, with a very fuperior force, and. de-
termined to give him battle. Yermac, who was not to
be daunted by the inequality of numbers, prepared for
the engagement with a confidence which never forfook
him; his troops were equally impatient for action, and -
knew no medium between conqueft and death. The
event of the combat correfponded with this magnanimity.
After an obftinate and well fought battle, victory declared
in favour of Yermac: the Tartars were entirely routed,
and the carnage was fo general, that Kutchum Chan
himfelf efcaped with difficulty.

This defeat proved decifive: Kutchum Chan was de-
ferted by his fubjeéts; and Yermac, who knew how to
improve as well as gain a victory, marched without

* The place where the Tartar army lay encamped was called Tfchu-
vatch : it is a neck of land wafhed by the Intifh, near che fpot where
the Tobob falls into that river. Fif. Sib. Gef. I. p. 203.

delay

CONQUEST OF SIBERIA.

delay to Sibir, the refidence of the Tartar princes. He
was well aware, that the only method to fecure his con-
queft was to get poffeffion of that important fortrefs.
He expected therefore to have found in that place a
confiderable garrifon, determined to facrifice their lives
in its defence. But the news of the late defeat had
diffufed univerfal confternation, and Sibir was entirely
deferted. A body of troops whom he fent before him,
to reduce the fortrefs, found it quite deferted: he him-

187

felf foon after made his triumphant entry, and feated Seats himfelé

himfelf upon the throne without the leaft oppofition, ?™"*

Here he fixed his refidence, and received the allegi-
ance of the neighbouring people, who poured in from
all quarters upon the news of this unexpected revolu-
tion. The Tartars were fo ftruck with his gallant in-
trepidity and brilliant exploits, that they fubmitted to
his authority without hefitation, and acquiefced in the
payment of the ufual tribute.

Thus this enterprifing Coffac was fuddenly exalted
from the ftation of a chief of banditti to the rank of
a fovereign prince. It does not appear from hiftory
whether it were at firft his defign to conquer Siberia,
or folely to amafs a confiderable booty. The latter
indeed feems the more probable conjecture. The ra-
pid tide of fuccefs with which he was carried on,
and the entire defeat of Kutchum Chan, afterwards
expanded his views, and opened a larger fcene to his

Bb 2 ambition,

188 CONQUEST OF SIBERTA.

ambition. But whatever were his original projects,
he feems worthy, fo far as intrepidity and prudence
form a bafis of merit, of the final fuccefs which
flowed in upon him. For he was neither elated with
unexpected profperity, nor dazzled with the fudder
glare of royalty: on the contrary, the dignity of his.
deportment was as confiftent and unaffected, as if he

had been born a fovereign.

And now Yermac and his followers feemed to enjoy

' thofe rewards which they had dearly~ purchafed by a

courfe of unremitted fatigue, and by victories which

almoft exceeded belief. Not only the tribes in the

neigbourhood of Sibir wore the appearance of the moft

unreferved fubmiffion; but even princes continued

flocking in’ from diftant parts, to acknowledge them-

felves tributary, and to claim his pretection. However,

Precarious | this calm was of fhort duration. Infurrections were

Yer. concerted by Kutchum Chan; who, though driven from

his dominions, yet ftill retained no fmall degree of
influence over his former fubjects.

Yermac faw and felt the precarioufnefs of his pre-
fent grandeur; the inconfiderable number of his followers
who had furvived the conqueft of Sibir, had been ftill
further diminifhed by an ambufcade of the enemy ;
and as he could not depend on the affection of his
new fubjeéts, he found himfelf under the neceflity either

of

CONQUEST OF SIBERIA. 18y

of calling in foreign affiftance, or of relinquifhing his
dominion. Under thefe circumftances he had recourfe
to the Tzar of Mufcovy ; and made a tender of his new
acquifitions to that monarch, upon condition of receiving
immediate and effectual fupport. The judicious manner
in which he conducted this meafure, fhews him no lefs
able in the arts of negotiation than of war.

One of his moft confidential followers was difpatched
to Mofcow at the head of fifty Coffacs. He had
orders to reprefent to the court the progrefs which
the Ruffian troops, under the command of Yermac,. had
made in Siberia‘: he was artfully to add, that an extenfive ee pe

onquefis to

empire was conquered in the name of. the Tzar; that pre"
the natives were reduced to {wear allegiance to that
monarch, and confented to pay an annual tribute.
This reprefentation was accompanied with a prefent of
the choiceft and moft valuable furs *. The embaffador
was received at Mofcow with the ftrongeft marks of fatis-
faction: a public thankfgiving was celebrated in the ca+
thedral; the Tzar acknowledged and extolled the good 1582.
fervices of Yermac; he granted him a pardon for all
former offences ; and, as a teftimony of his favour, dif-
tributed prefents for him and his followers. Amongtt
thofe which were fent to Yermac was a fur robe, which
the Tzar himfelf had worn, and which was the greateft

* §, B.G. VI..p.304-

5 mark

190

Receivesa Re-
inforcement of

Roffhian

troops.

CONQUEST.OF SIBERIA.

mark of diftinction that could be conferred upon a fubject.
To thefe was added a fum of money, and a promife of
fpeedy and effectual affiftance.

Meanwhile Yermac, notwithftanding the inferior num-
ber of his troops, did nor remain inactive within the
fortref$ of Sibir. He defeated all attempts of Kutchum.
Chan to recover his crown; and took his principal ge-
neral prifoner. He made occafional inroads into the ad-
jacent provinces, and extended his conquefts up to the
fource of the river Taffda on one fide, and on the other
as far as the diftrict which lies upon the river Oby above
its junction with the Irtifh.

At length the promifed fuccours arrived at Sibir. They
confifted of five hundred Ruffians, under the command
of prince Bolkofky, who was appointed wayvode or go-
vernor of Siberia. Strengthened by this reinforcement,
Yermac continued his excurfions on all fides with his
ufual activity; and gained feveral bloody victories over
different princes, who were imprudent enough to affert
their independence.

In one of thefe expeditions he laid fiege to Kullara,

a fmall fortrefs upon the banks of the Irtifh, which ftill
belonged to Kutchum Chan: but he found it fo bravely
defended by that monarch, that all his efforts to carry it
by ftorm proved ineffectual. Upon his return to Sibir
he

GONQUES TO OF SIBERTIA.,

he was followed at fome diftance by that prince, who
hung unperceived upon his rear; and was prepared to
feize any fortunate moment of attack which might occur;
nor was.it long before a favourable opportunity prefented
itfelf.. The Ruffians to the number of about three hun-
dred Jay negligently pofted in a {mall ifland, formed by
two branches of the Irtifh. The night was obfcure and
rainy ; and the troops, who were fatigued with a long
march, repofed themfelves without fufpicion of danger.
Kutchum Chan, apprifed of their fituation, filently advanced
at midnight with a felect body of troops; and having forded
the river, came with fuch rapidity upon the Ruffians, as to
preclude the ufe of their arms.. In the darknefs and
confufion of the night, the latter were cut to pieces
almoft without oppofition; and fell a refiftlefs prey to
thofe adverfaries, whom they had been accuftomed to con-
quer and defpife. The maffacre was fo univerfal, that
only one man is recorded to: have efcaped, and to have
brought the news of this cataftrophe to his countrymen
at Sibir.

Yermac himfelf perifhed in the rout, though he did
not fall by the {word of the enemy. In all the hurry
of furprife, he was not fo.much infected with the gene-
ral panic,.as to forget his ufual intrepidity, which feemed
to be encreafed rather than abated by the danger of his
prefent fituation. After many defperate ats of heroifm,

he

Surprifed by
Kutchum
Chan.

Death of
Yermac,

Lge

CONQUEST OF SIBERIA

he cut his way through the troops who’ furrounded
him, aud made to the banks of the Irtifh*, » Being
clofely _purfued by a detachment of the enemy, ‘he en-
deavoured to throw himfelf into a boat which lay near
the fhore; but fteppimg fhort, he fell into the water;
and being incumbered with the weight of his armour;
funk inftantly to the bottom f.

His body was not long afterwards taken out of the
{rtifh, and expofed, by order of Kutchum Chan, ‘to all
the infults which revenge ever fuggefted to barbarians
in the frenzy of fuccefs. But thefe firft tran{ports of
refentment had no fooner’ fubfided, than the: Tartars
teftified:the moit pointed indignation at the ungenerous

* Many difficulties have arifen concerning the branch of the Irtifh in
which Yermac was drowned; but it is now fufficiently afcertained that
it was a canal, which fome time before this cataftrophe had been cut by
order of that Coflac: Not far from the fpot, where the Vagai falls inte -
the Irtith, the latter river forms a bend of fix verfts; by cutting.a canal
in a ftreight line from the two extreme points of this fweep, he fhor tened
the length of the navigation. S.R.G. p. 365—366.

*+ Cyprian was appointed the firft archbithop of Siberia,in 1621. Upon
his arrival at Tobolfk, he enquired for feveral of the antient followers
of Yermac who were ftill alive; and from them he made‘himfelf ac-
quainted with the principal circumftances attending the expedition of
that Coffac, and the conqueft of Siberia, Thofe circumftances he tran
mitted to writing ; and thefe papers are the archives of the Siberian
hiftory.; from which the feveral hiftorians. of that country have drawn
their relations. Sava Yefimoff, who was himfelf one of Yermac’s follow-
ers, is one of the moft accurate hiftorians of thofe times. THe carries
down his hiftory to the year 1636. Fif. Sib. Gef. I. p. 430.

ferocity

OGWOeUESTCOF 2Ssth Ee RDA:

ferocity of their leader. The prowefs of Yermac, his
confummate valour and magnanimity, virtues which
barbarians know how to prize, rofe upon their recol-
lection. They made a fudden tranfition from one ex-
treme to the other: they reproached their leader for
ordering, themfelves for being the inftruments of indig-
nity to {uch venerable remains. At length their heated
imaginations proceeded even to confecrate his memory :
they interred his body with all the rites of Pagan fu-
perftition ; and offered up facrifices to his manes.

Many miraculous ftories were foon {pread abroad, and
met with implicit belief. The touch of his body was
fuppofed to have been an inftantaneous cure for all dif-
orders ; and even his clothes and arms were faid to be
endowed with the fame efficacy. A flame of fire was
reprefented as fometimes hovering about his tomb, and
fometimes as itretching in one luminous body from the
fame fpot towards the heavens, A prefiding influence
over the affairs of the chace and of war was attributed
to his departed {pirit-; and numbers reforted to his tomb
to invoke his tutelary aid in concerns fo interefting to
uncivilized nations. Thefe idle fables, though they
evince the fuperftitious credulity of the Tartars, convey
at the fame time the ftrongeft teftimony of their vene-
ration for the memory of Yermac; and this veneration

Co*G greatly

Veneration
paid to his
Memory.

So

194

quit Siberia.

CONQUEST OF SIBER DPA:

greatly contributed to the fubfequent progrefs of the
Ruffians in thofe regions *.

With Yermac expired for a time the Ruffian empire
in Siberia. The news of his defeat and death no fooner
reached the garrifon of Sibir, than an hundred and fifty
troops, the fad remains of that formidable army which

had gained fuch a feries of almoft incredible victories,

ns retired from the fortrefs, and evacuated Siberia. Not-

withftanding this difafter, the court of Mofcow did not
abandon its defign upon that country; which a variety
of favourable circumftances {till concurred to render a
flattering object of Ruffian ambition. Yermac’s fagacity
had difcovered new and commodious routes for the
march of troops acrofs thofe inhofpitable regions. The
rapidity with which he had overrun the territories of

-Kutchum Chan, taught the Rufflans to confider the

Tartars as an eafy prey. Many of the tribes who had
been rendered tributary by Yermac, had teftified a cheer-

* Even fo late as the middle of the next century, this veneration for
the memory of Yermac had not fubfided. Allai, a powerful prince of
the Calmucs, is faid to have been cured of a dangerous diforder, by
mixing fome earth taken from Yermac’s tomb in water, and drinking
the infufion. That prince is alfo reported to have carried with him a
{mall portion of the fame earth, whenever he-engaged in any important
enterprize. This earth he fuperftitioufly confidered as a kind of charm ;
and was perfuaded that he always fecured a profperous iffue to his affairs
by this precaution. S.R.G.V. VI. p. 391.

at ful

CONQUEST OF STI BE RIA, V9

ful acquiefcence under the fovereignty of the Tzar; and
were inclined to renew their allegiance upon the firft
opportunity. Others looked upon all refiftance as un-
availing, and had learned, from dear-bought experience,
to tremble at the very nameof aRuffian. The natural
ftrength of the country, proved not to be irrefiftible
when united, was confiderably weakened by its inteftine
commotions. Upon the retreat of the garrifon of Sibir,
that fortrefs, together with the adjacent diftrict, was
feized by Seyidyak, fon of the former fovereign, whom
Kutchum Chan had dethroned and put to death. Other
princes availed themfelves of the general confufion to
affert independency ; and Kutchum Chan was able to
regain only a {mall portion of thofe dominions, of which
he had been ftripped by Yermac.

Influenced by thefe motives, the court of Mofcow The Rufiins
fent a body of three hundred troops into Siberia, **"*
who penetrated to the banks of the Tura as far as
Tf{chingi almoft without oppofition. There they built
the fort of Tumen, and re-eftablifhed their authority
over the neighbouring diftrict. Being foon afterwards
reinforced by an additional number of troops, they were
enabled to extend their operations, and to erect the for-
trefles of Tobolfk, Sungur, and Tara. The ere¢tion abet: one

‘thefe and other fortreffes was foon attended with aT

Gi) o.2 {peedy

All Siberia
conquered an
colonized.

Progrefs of
the Ruffians
checked by
the Chinefe.

CON QUEST OF SIBERTIA;

fpeedy recovery of the whole territory, which Yermac
had reduced under the Ruffian yoke.

This fuccefs was only the fore-runner of {till greater:
acquifitions. ‘The Ruffians pufhed their conqueft far:
and wide: wherever they appeared, the Tartars were
either reduced or exterminated.. New towns were built:
and colonies were planted on all fides. Before a century.
had well elapfed, all that vaft tract of country now called
Siberia, which ftretches from the confines of Europe to-
the Eaftern Ocean,.and from the Frozen Sea to the pre-
fent frontiers of China, was annexed to the Ruffian do--

minions.

A ftill larger extent of territory had’ probably been
won ; and all the various tribes of independent artary.
which lie between the South-Eaftern extremity of the
Ruffian empire, and the Chinefe Wall, would have fol-
lowed the fate of the Siberian hordes,. if the power of
China had not fuddenly interpofed.

CHAP.

[rer a

Get A Poy ie

Commencement of hofiilties between the Ruffians. and
Chinefe—Di/putes concerning the limits of the two.
empires —Treaty of Ner/binsk—Embafies from the: court
of Ruffia 4o Pekin—Treaty of Kiachta—E/ablibment
of the commerce between. the. two nations.

“—f ‘OWARDS the middle of the feventeenth century,.
the Ruffians were rapidly extending themfelves.
Eaftward through that important. territory, which lies.
on each fide of the river*Amoor.. They. foon. reduced Ri of anime
feveral independent Tungufian hordes; and built a chain 240
of {mall fortreffes along the banks of the above-men-~
tioned river, of which the principal were Albafin, and
Kamarfkoi Oftrog. Not long afterwards, the Chinefe
under + Camhi conceived a fimilar defign of fubduing
the

* Amoor is the name given by the Ruffians to this river; it is called
Sakalin-Ula by the Manfhurs, and was formerly denominated Karamu-
ran, or the Black River, by the Mongols. S. R. G. IL p, 293.

+ Cambhi was the fecond emperor of the Manfhur race, who madé
themfelves mafters of China in 1624.

The Manfhurs were originally an obfcure tribe of the Tungufian Tar-
tars, whofe territories lay South of the Amoor, and bordered upon the

kingdom of Corea, and the province of Leaotong. They began to emerge-
from,

198 TRANSACTI OMS }IBETWEEN

the fame hordes. Accordingly the two great powers of
Ruffia and China, thus pointing their views to the fame
object, unavoidably clafhed ; and, after feveral jealoufies
-and intrigues, broke out into open hoftilities about the
year 1680, TheChinefe laid fiege to Kamarfkoi Oftrog,
and though repulfed in this attempt, found means to cut
off feveral ftragegling parties of Ruffians. Thefe animo-
fities induced the Tzar Alex¢y Michaelovitch to fend an
embafly to Pekin; but this meature did not produce the
Albafindes defired effet. The Chinefe attacked Albafin with a con-

itroyed by the
Chinefe.

fiderable force: having compelled the Ruffian garrifon
to capitulate, they demolifhed that and all the Ruffian
forts upon the Amoor ; and returned, with a large num-
ber of prifoners, to their own country.

Albafinrebuitt —_Not long after their departure, a body of fixteen hun-
by the Ruf-

aye is beies- dred Rufflians advanced along the Amoor; and conitructed
Chinefe.

a new fort, under the old name of Albafin. The Chi-
nefe were no fooner apprifed of their return, than they

from obfcurity at the beginning of the feventeenth century. About that
tume their chief Aifchin-Giord reduced feveral neighbouring hordes ;
and, having incorporated them with his own tribe, under the general
name of Manfhur, he became formidable even to the Chinefe. Shuntfchi
grand{fon of this chief, by an extraordinary concurrence of circumftances,
was raifed while an infant to the throne of China, of which his fucceffors
Tull continue in poffefion. Shuntfchi died in 1662, and was fucceeded
by Camhi, who is well known frem the accounts of the jefuit miffion-
aries,

For an account of the revolution of China, fee Duhalde, Defer. de la
Chine, Bell’s Journey to Pekin, and Fif, Sic. Gef. tom. I. p. 463.

marched

RUSSTA AND CHIN 4A.

marched initantly towards that river, and fat down be-
fore Albafin with an army of feven thoufand men, and
a large train of artillery. They battered the new for-
trefs for feveral weeks, without being able to make a
breach, and without attempting to take it by ftorm. The
befieged, though not much annoyed by the unfkilful
operations of the enemy, were exhauited with the com-
plicated miferies of ficknefs and famine; and notwith-
ftanding they continued to make a gallant refiftance,
they muft foon have funk under their diftreffes, if the
Chinefe had not voluntarily retired, in confequence of a
treaty being fet afoot between the two courts of Mofcow
and Pekin. For this purpofe the Ruffian embaffador
Golowin had left Mofcow fo early as the year 1685, ac-
companied by a large body of troops, in order to fecure
his perfon, and enforce refpect to his embafly. The
difficulty of procuring fubfiftence for any confiderable
number of men in thofe defolate regions, joined to the
ruggedne{s of the roads, and the length of the march,
prevented his arrival at Selengifk until the year 1687.
From thence meflengers were immediately difpatched

with overtures of peace to the Chinefe government at.

Pekin.

After feveral delays, occafioned partly by policy, and
partly by the pofture of affairs in the Tartar country
through which the Chinefe were to pafs, embafladors

left

199:

202

Treaty of
Nerfhinfk.

TRANS ACT DONS BETWEEN

‘left Pekin in the -beginning of June 1689. Golovin

had propofed receiving them at Albafin; but while he
was proceeding to that fortrefs, the Chinefe embaffadors
prefented themfelves at the gates of Nerihinik, efcorted
by fuch a numerous army, and fuch a formidable train
of artillery, that Golovin was conftrained, from motives
of fear, to conclude the negotiation almoft upon their

own terms.

The conferences were held under tents, in an open

plain, near the town of Nerfhinil; where the treaty

was figned and fealed by the plenipotentaries of the two
courts. When it was propofed to ratify it by oath, the

‘Chinefe embafladors offered to {wear upon a crucifix 5

but Golovin preferred their taking. an oath in the name

of their own gods.

This treaty firft checked the progrefs of the Ruffian

arms in thofe parts; and laid the foundations of an im-

portant and regular commerce between the two na-

tions.

By the firft and fecond articles, the South-Eaftern
boundaries of the Ruffian empire were formed by a
‘ridge of mountains, ftretching North of the Amoor
from the fea of Ochotfk to the fource of the {mall river

Gor-

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

Gorbitza *, then by that river to its influx into the
Amoor, and laftly by the Argoon, from its junction with
the Shilka up to its fource.

By the fifth article reciprocal liberty of trade was
granted to all the fubjects of the two empires, who were
provided with pafs-ports from their refpe&ive courts ft.

This treaty was figned on the 27th of Augutt, in the
year 1689, under the reign of Ivan and Peter Alexie-
witch, by which the Ruflians loft, exclufively of a large
territory, the navigation of the river Amoor. The im-
portance of this lofs was not at that time under{tood ;
and has only been felt fince the difcovery of Kamtchatka,
and of the iflands between Afia and America. The pro-
ducts of thefe new-difcovered countries might, by means
of the Amoor, have been conveyed by water into the
diftrict of Nerfhinik, from whence there is an eafy

* There are two Gorbitzas ; the firft falls into the Amoor, near the
conflux of the Argoon and Shilka; the fecond falls into the Shilka. The
former was meant by the Ruffians; but the Chinefe fixed upon the latter
for the boundary, and have carried their point. Accordingly the prefent
dimits are fomewhat different from thefe mentioned in the text. They
are carried from the point, where the Shilka and Argoon unite to form
the Amoor, Weftward along the Shilka, until they reach the mouth of
tha Weftern Gorbitza ; from thence they are continued to the fource of
the laft-mentioned river, and along the chain of mountains as before. By
this alteration the Ruffian limits are fomewhat abridged.

+ S.R.G. IL. p. 435.

Dd tran{port

Rife of the
Commerce
with China.

RN SAC YT TONS Boba Was & WN

tranfport. by land to.Kiachta: whereas the fame mer-
chandife, after being landed at Ochot{k,. is now carried
over a large tract of country, partly upon rivers of difficult
navigation, and partly along rugged and almott impatfia-
ble roads.

In return, the Ruffians obtained what they long and
repeatedly aimed at, a regular and permanent trade with
the Chinefe. The firft intercourfe between Ruffia and
China commenced in the beginning of the feventeenth
century *. At that period a fmall quamity of Chinefe _
merchandife was procured, by the merchants of Tomfk
and other adjacent towns, from the Calmucs. The ra-
pid and profitable fale of thefe commodities encouraged
certain Wayvodes of Siberia to attempt a direct and open
communication with China. For this purpofe feveral
deputations were fent at different times to Pekin from
Tobol{k, Tomfk, and other Ruffian fettlements: thefe
deputations, although they failed of obtaining the grant
of a regular commerce, were neverthelefs attended: with
fome important confequences. ‘The general good re-
ception, which the agents met witb, tempted the Ruf-
fian merchants to fend occafional traders to Pekin. By
thefe means a faint connection with that metropolis was

kept alive: the Chinefe learned the advantages of the

* §.R.G.VIIL p. 504, & feq.

Ruffian

RU S SilwA GACNSD CHA NGA,

Ruffian trade, and were gradually prepared for its fub-

fequent eftablifhment. ‘This commerce, carried on by
intervals, was entirely fufpended by the hoitilities upon
the river Amoor. But no fooner was the treaty of Ner-
fhinfk figned, than the Ruffians engaged with extraor-
dinary alacrity in this favourite branch of traffic. The
advantages of this trade were foon found to be fo con-
diderable, that Peter I. conceived an idea of {till farther

enlarging it. . Accordingly, in 1692, he fent Isbrand
Ives, a Dutchman in his fervice, to Pekin, who requetted
-and obtained, that the liberty of trading to China, w hich
by the late treaty was granted to individuals, fhould be

extended to Caravans.

In confequence of this arrangement, fucceflive cara-
vans went from Ruffia to Pekin, where a caravanfary
was allotted for their reception; and all their expences
during their continuance in that metropolis defrayed by
the Emperor of China. ‘The right of fending thefe cara-
vans, and the profits refulting from them, belonged to
the crown of Ruffia. In the mean time, private mer-
chants continued as before to carry on a feparate trade
with the Chinefe, not only at Pekin, but alfo at the head
quarters of the Mongols. The camp of thefe roving
Tartars was generally to be found near the conflux of the
Orchon and Tola, between the Southern frontiers of
Siberia and the Mongol defert. A kind of annual fair

Dd 2 was

aravans al-
wed to tra¢;
to Pekin.

we

204

Embifly of
T{mailoff to
Pekin,

TRANS A‘ICT PONS ‘BE TW BE N

was held at this fpot by the Ruffian and Chinefe mer-.
chants; where they brought their refpective goods for
fale ; and continued until they were difpofed of. This
rendezvous foon became a fcene of riot:and confufion ;
and repeated complaints were tranfmitted to the Chinefe
Emperor of the drunkennefs and mifconduct of the Ruf-
fians. Thefe complaints made a itill greater impreffion
from a coincidence of fimilar exceffes, for which the Ruf-

fians at Pekin had become notorious.

Exafperated by the frequent reprefentations of his
fabjects, Camhi threatened to expell the Ruffians from
his dominions, and to prohibit them from carrying on
any commerce, as well in China.as in the country of the
Mongols..

Thefe untoward circumftances occafioned another
embaffy to Pekin, in the year 1719. Leff Vaffilievitch’
Ifmailoff, a captain of the Ruffian guards, who was fent
embafflador upon this occafion, fucceeded in the nego=.
tiation, and adjufted every difficulty to the fatisfaction
of both parties. At his departure he was permitted to
leave behind Laurence Lange, who had accompanied him
to Pekin, in the character of agent forthe caravans; for
the purpofe of fuperintending the conduct of the Ruf-
fians. His refidence however in that metropolis was but
fhort; for he was foon afterwards compelled, by the

Chinefe,

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

Chinefe, to return. His difmiffion was owing, partly,
to a fudden caprice of that fufpicious people, and partly
to a. mifunder{tanding, which had recently broke out
between the two courts, in relation to fome Mongol tribes
who bordered upon Siberia. <A fmall number of thefe
Mongols had put themfelves under the protection of
Ruffia, and were immediately demanded: by the Chinefe ;
but the Ruflians refufed:compliance, under pretence that
no article in the treaty of Nerfhin{k could, with any ap-
pearance of probability, be conftrued as extending to the
Mongols. The Chinefe were incenfed at this refufal ;
and their refentment was ftill further inflamed by the
diforderly conduct of the Ruffian traders, who, freed’
from all. controul by the departure of their agent, had
indulged, without reftraint, their ufual propenfity to

excefs. This concurrence of unlucky incidents extorted,

205

in 1722, an order from Camhi for the total expulfion of Refiss ex-

pelled from

the Ruffians- from the Chinefe and Mongol: territories.
Thefe orders were regoroufly executed ; and all inter--

courfe between the two nations immediately ceafed.

Affairs continued in this ftate until the year 172
when the count Sava Vladiflavitch Ragufinfki, a Dalma-
tian in the fervice of Ruffia, was difpatched to Pekin:

His orders were at all events to compofe the differences

Between the two courts relating to the Mongol tribes ;- to.

fettle:

Pekin,

- Embaffy of
7 ? Ragufinfki.

Treaty of
Kiatchta,

TRANSACT POMS, BETWEEN

fettle the Southern frontiers of the Ruffian empire in
that quarter; and to obtain.the permiffion of renewing
the trade with China. Accordingly that embaffador
prefented a new plan for a treaty of limits and com-
merce ‘to Yundichin, fon -and fucceffor cf Camhi; by
which ‘the frontiers of the two empires were finally
traced as they exit at prefent, and the commerce efta-
blifhed upon a permanent bafis, calculated to prevent
as far as poffible all future fources of mifunder{tand-
ing. This plan being approved by the emperor, Chi-
nefe commiffioners were immediately appointed to ne-
gotiate with the Ruffian embaflador upon -the banks

of the Bura, a fmall river which ‘flows, South of the

-confines of Siberia, into the Orchon near its junction

with the Selenga.

At this conference, the old limits, which are mentioned

‘in the treaty of Nerfhinfk, were continued from the

fource of the Argoon Weftwards as far as the mountain
Sabyntaban, which is fituated at a {mall diftance from
the fpot where the conflux of the two rivers Uleken and
Kemtzak form the Yenisei: this boundary feparates the
Ruffian dominions from the territory of the Mongols,
who are under the protection of China.

It was likewife ftipulated, that for the future all ne-
gotiations fhould be tranfacted between the tribunal of
5 foreign

RUSS LE AY AN.D+CA-DN A;

foreign affairs at Pekin, and the board of foreign affairs
at St. Peterfburg; or in matters of inferior moment
between the commanders of the frontiers *.

The moft important articles relating to commerce,

were as follow:

207

A caravan was allowed to go to Pekin every three Account of

years, on condition of its not confifting of more than
two hundred perfons; during their refidence in that
metropolis, their expences were no longer to be defrayed
by the emperor of China. Notice was to be fent to the

Chinefe court immediately upon their arrival at the:

frontiers ; where an officer was to meet: and accompany

them to Pekin.

The privilege before enjoyed by individuals of car=-

rying on a promifcuous traffic in the Chinefe and Mongol
territories was taken away, and no merchandize belong-
ing to private perfons was permitted to be brought for
fale beyond the frontiers. For the purpofe of pre-
ferving, confiftently with this regulation, the privilege
of commerce to individuals, two places of refort were

* This article was inferted, becaufe the Chinefe emperor, from a
ridiculous idea of fuperiority, had contemptuoufly refufed to hold any
correfpondence with the court of Ruffia.

appointed

Commerce.

TR ANS: A‘) Td.0O.N S, BED W)EL.E N

appointed on the confines of Siberia: one called Ki-
atchta, from a rivulet of that name near which it
itands; and the other Zuruchaitu: at thefe places a
free trade was reciprocally indulged to the fubjects of
the two. nations.

A permiffion was at the fame time obtained for
building a Ruffian church within the precinés of their
caravanfary ; and for the celebration of divine fervice, .
four priefts were allowed to refide at Pekin*. The
fame favour was alfo extended to fome Ruffian Scholars ¢,

* ‘The firft Ruffian church at Pekin was built for the accommodation
of the Ruffians taken prifoners at Albafin. Thefe perfons were carried
to Pekin, and the place appointed for their habitation in that city was
called the Ruffian Street, a name it {till xetains. ‘They were fo well re-
ceived by the Chinefe, that, upon the conchifen of the treaty of Ner-
fhinfk, they refufed to return to their native country. And as they
intermarried with the Chinefe women, thew defcendants are quite na-
turalized; and have for the moft part adopted not only the language,
but even the religion of the Chinefe. Hence, the above-mentioned
church, though it ftill exifts, is no longer applied to the purpofe of
divine worthip : its prieft was transferred to the church, which was built
within the walls of the caravanfary.

+- The good effects of this inftitution have already been perceived.
A Ruffian, whofe name is Leontieff, after having refided ten years at
Pekin, is returned to Peterfburg. He has given feveral tranflations and
extracts of fome interefting Chinefe publications, viz. Part of the Hiftory
of China; the Code of the Chinefe Laws; Account of the Towns and
Revenues, &c. of the Chinefe Empire, extracted from a Treatife of
Geography, lately printed at Pekin. A fhort account of this Extract is
given in the Journal of St. Peterfburg for April, 1779.

7 for

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

for the purpofe of learning the Chinefe tongue; in or-
der to qualify themfelves for interpreters between the
two nations.

This treaty, called the treaty of Kiachta, was, on the
fourteenth of June, 1728, concluded and ratified by the
count Ragufinfki and three Chinefe plenipotentaries upon
the fpot, where Kiachta was afterwards built: it is the
bafis of all tranfactions fince carried on between Ruffia
and China *.

One innovation. in the mode of carrying on the trade
to China, which has been introduced fince the acceffion
of the prefent emprefs Catherine II. deferves to be men-
tioned in this place. Since the year 1755 no caravans

209

have been fent to Pekin. Their firft difcontinuance was Caravans dif-

owing to a mifunderftanding between the two courts of
Peterfburg and Pekin in 1759. Their difufe after
the reconciliation had taken place, arofe from the fol-
lowing circumftances. The exportation and importation
of many principal commodities, particularly the moft
valuable furs, were formerly prohibited to individuals,
and folely appropriated to caravans belonging to the
crown. By thefe reftrictions the Ruffian trade to China
was greatly fhackled and circumfcribed. The prefent

* §,R.G. VIIL p. 513.

Ee emprefs

continued.

ZIOQ

Monopoly of
Trad

oor
the Fur

abolihek

TRANSACTIONS. BETWEEN, &ce.

emprefs (who, amidft many excellent regulations which
characterife her reign, has fhewn herfeif invariably at-
tentive to the improvement of the Ruffian commerce)
abolifhed, in 1762, the monopoly of the fur trade, and
renounced in favour of her fubjects the exclufive pri-
vilece which the crown enjoyed of fending caravans to
Pekin*. By thefe conceffions. the profits of the trade
have been, confiderably encreafed: the great expence,
hazard, and delay, of tranfporting the merchandife occa-
fionally from the frontiers of Siberia to Pekin, has been
retrenched ; and Kiachta is now rendered the center
of the Ruffian and Chinefe commerce.

* §.R.G. VIII p. 520.

ELAS:

VIEW of the Chinese

"Sa a

—o eee

“aD
Ss

. Aca Ari

a —
Arontier Sonn MAIMATS- CHIN wi He BROOK KIACHTA, taken from the Nest)

eee

CH Ay PY Ine

Account of the Ruffian and Chinefe /ettlements upon the
confines of Siberia—de/cription of the Ruffian frontier
town Kiachta—of the Chinefe /froxtier town Maimatf-
chin—+#ts buildings, pagodas, &c.

Y the laft mentioned treaty it was ftipulated, that

the commerce between Ruffia and China fhould be
tranfacted at the frontiers. Accordingly two {pots were
marked out for that purpofe upon the confines of Siberia,
where they border upon the Mongol defert; one near Ruffian and
the brook Kiachta, and the other at Zuruchaitu. The mene upon tie
defcription of the former of thefe places forms the fub- ***

ject of this chapter.

This fettlement confiits of a Ruffian and Chinefe
town, both fituated in a romantic valley, furrounded
by high, rocky, and for the moft part well-wooded, moun-
tains. This valley is interfected by the brook Kiachta,
which rifes in Siberia, and, after wafhing both the Ruffian
and Chinefe town, falls into the Bura, at a fmall diftance
from the frontiers.

The Ruffian fettlement is called Kiachta from the See
ullle i! 1-
tier Town

abovementioned brook: it lies in 124 degrees 18 mi- (S40
E. 6.2 nutes

The Fortrefs. «

Suburb.

COMMERCE* BETWEEN

nutes longitude from the ifle of Fero, and 35 degrees
N. latitude, at the diftance of 5514 verits from Mofcow,,.
and 1532 from Pekin.

It confifts of a fortrefs and a fmall fuburb. The
fortrefs, which is built upon a gentle rife, is a fquare
enclofed with palifadoes, and ftrengthened with wooden
baftions at the feveral angles. There are three gates,
at which guards are conftantly ftationed: one of the
gates. faces the North, a fecond the South towards the
Chinefe frontiers, and a third the Eaft clofe to the brook
Kiachta. The principal public buildings in the fortrefs
are a wooden church, the governors houfe, the cuftom
houfe, the magazine for provifions, and the guard-houfe.
It contains alfo a range of fhops and warehoufes, bar-
racks for the garrifon, and feveral houfes belonging to
the crown; the latter are generally inhabited by the
principal merchants. Thefe buildings are moftly of
wood.

The fuburb, which is furrounded with a wooden wall
covered at the top with chevaux de frize, contains no
more than an hundred and twenty houfes very irregu-
larly built; it has the fame number of gates as the
fortrefs, which are alfo guarded. Without this fuburb,
upon the high road leading to Selenginfk, ftand a few
houfes, and the magazine for rhubarb.

This

RUSSIA AND CHINA

This fettlement is but indifferently provided with
water both in quality and quantity; for although the
brook Kiachta is dammed up as it flows by the fortrefs,
yet it is fo fhallow in fummer, that, unlefs after heavy
rains, it is fcarcely fufficient to fupply the inhabitants.
Its ftream is troubled and unwholefome, and the fprings
which rife in the neighbourhood are either foul or
brackifh: from thefe circumftances, the principal inha-
bitants are obliged to fend for water from a {pring in
the Chinefe diftrict. The foil of the adjacent country
is moftly fand or rock, and extremely barren. If the
frontiers of Ruffia were extended about nine ver{ts more
South to the rivulet of Bura; the inhabitants of Kiachta
would then enjoy good water, a fruitful foil, and plenty
of fith, all which advantages are at prefent confined ta
the Chinefe.

The garrifon of Kiachta confifts of a company of
regular foldiers, and a certain number of Coflacs; the
former are occafionally changed, but the latter are fixed
inhabitants of the place. It is the province of the
commander to in{pect the frontiers, and, in conjundtion
with the prefident of the Chinefe merchants, to fettle
all affairs of an inferior nature ; but in matters of im-
portance recourfe muft be had to the chancery of Selen-
ginfk, and to the governor of Jrkutfk. The Ruffian

4 merchants,,

213

Maimatfehin,
the Chinete
Frontier-
Town.

COMMERCE BETWEEN

merchants, and the agents of the Ruffian trading com-
pany, are the principal inhabitants of Kiachta.

The limits Weftwards from this fettlement to the
river Selenga, and Eaftwards as far as Tchikoi, are
bounded with chevaux de frize, placed there to pre-
vent a contraband trade in cattle, for the exportation of
which a confiderable duty is paid to the crown. All
the outpofts along the frontiers Weftwards as far as the
government of Tobol{k, and Eaftwards to the mountains
of fnow, are under the command of the governor of

Kiachta.

The moit elevated of the mountains that furround
the valley of Kiachta, and which is called by the Mon-
gols Burgultel, commands the Ruffian as well as the
Chinefe town; for this reafon, the Chinefe, at the con-
clufion of the laft frontier treaty, demanded the ceffion
of this mountain under the pretext, that fome of their
deified anceftors were buried upon its fummit. The
Ruffians gave way to their requeft, and fuffered the
boundary to be brought back to the North fide of the

mountain.

The Chinefe town is called, by the Chinefe and Mon-
gols, Maimatfchin, which fignifies fortrefs of commerce.
The Ruffians term it the Chinefe Village (Kitaifkaia

I Slo boda)

RUSSTA AND CHIN A.

Sloboda) and alfo Naimatfchin, which is a corruption of
Maimatfchin. It is fituated about an hundred and forty
yards South of the fortrefs of Kiachta, and nearly pa-
rallel to it. Midway between this place and the Ruffian
fortrefs, two pofts about ten feet high are planted in
order to mark the frontiers of the two empires: one is
infcribed with Ruffian, the other with Mantfhur cha-
racters *.

Mainatfchin has no other fortification than a wooden
wall, and a fmall ditch of about three feet broad; the
latter was dug in the year 1756, during the war be-
tween the Chinefe and the Calmucs. The town is of
an oblong form: its length is feven hundred yards,.
and its breadth tour hundred. On each of the four
fides a large gate faces the principal ftreets; over each
of thefe gates there is a wooden guard-houfe for the
Chinefe garrifon, which confifts of Mongols. in tattered
clothes, and armed with clubs. Without the gate, which
looks to the Ruffian frontiers, and about the diftance of
eight yards from the entrance, the Chinefe have raifed
a wooden fcreen, fo conftruéted as to intercept all view
of the ftreets from without.

* Upon the mountain to the Weft of Kiachta, the limit is agaitr
marked, on the Ruffian fide by an heap of ftones and: earth, ornamented
on the top: with a crofs ; and om the Chinefe by a pile of ftones. in the
fhape of a pyramid. Pallas. Reife, P. IIL p. 110.

This

216

Houles.

‘COMMERCE BETWEEN

This town contains two hundred houfes and about
twelve hundred inhabitants, It has two principal ftreets
of about eight yards broad, crofling each other in the
middle at right angles, with two by-{treets running from
North to South. They are not paved, but are laid with
gravel, and kept remarkably clean.

The houfes are fpacious, uniformly built of wood, of
only one ftory, not more than fourteen feet high, plaif-
tered and white-wafhed; they are conftructed round a
court yard of about feventy feet {quare, which is ftrewed
with gravel, and has an appearance of neatnefs. Each
houfe confifts of a fitting room, fome warehoufes
and akitchen. In the houfes of the wealthier fort
the roof is made of plank; but in meaner habi-
tations of lath covered over with turf. Towards the
ftreets moft of the houfes have arcades of wood pro-
jecting forwards from the roof like a penthoufe, and
fupported by ftrong pillars. The windows are large
after the European manner, but on account of the dear-
nefs of glafs and Ruffian talk are generally of paper,
excepting a few panes of glafs in the fitting room.

The fitting room looks feldom towards the ftreets :
it is a kind of fhop, where the feveral patterns of
merchandize are placed in receffes, fitted up with fhelves,

and

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

and fecured with paper doors for the purpofe of keeping
out the duft. The windows are generally ornamented
with little paintings, and the walls are hung with
Chinefe paper. Half the floor is of hard beaten
clay; the other half is covered with boards, and _rifes
about two feet in height. Here the family fit
in the day-time and fleep at night. By the fide of this
raifed part, and nearly upon the fame level, there is a
fquare brick {tove, with a ftreight perpendicular cylin-
drical excavation, which is heated with fmall pieces of
wood. From the bottom of this ftove a tube defcends,
and is carried zigzag under the boarded floor above-
mentioned, and from thence to a chimney which opens
into the ftreet. By this contrivance, although the ftove
is always open and the flame vifible, yet the room is
never troubled in the leaft degree with f{moke. There is
fcarcely any furniture in the room, excepting one large
dining table in the lower part, and two {fmall lac-
kered ones upon the raifed floor: one of thefe tables
is always provided with a chaffing difh, which ferves
to light their pipes when the ftove is not heated.

In this room there afte feveral {mall niches covered
with filken curtains, before which are placed lamps
that are lighted upon feftivals; thefe niches con-
tain painted paper idols, a {tone or metal veffel, wherein
the afhes of incenfe are collefted, feveral fmall orna-

eae ments

217

ae COMMERGE BETWEEN

ments and artificial flowers: the Chinefe readily allow
ftrangers to draw afide the curtains, and look at the
idols.

The Bucharian * merchants inhabit the South Weft
quarter of Maimatfchin. Their houfes are not fo large
‘nor commodious as thofe of the Chinefe, although the

greateft part of them carry on a very confiderable
commerce.

The Governor The Surgutfchei, or governor of Maimatfchin, has the
of Maimatf-

care care of the police, as well as the direction of all affairs
relating to commerce: he is generally a perfon of
rank, oftentimes a Mandarin, who has mifbehaved
himfelf in another ftation, and is fent here as a kind
of punifhment. He is diftinguifhed from the reft by
the cryftal button of his cap, and by a peacock’s+ fea-

* “© ‘The chief merchandizes which the Bucharians bring to Rufhia,
** are cotton, ftuffs, and half-filks, fpun and raw cotton, lamb-fkins,
‘* precious ftones, gold-duft, unprepared nitre, fal-ammoniac, &c.”
See Ruffia, or a complete Hiftorical Account of all the nations that

compofe that empire. V. II. p. 141, a very curious and interefting work
lately publifhed.

+ In China the princes of the blood wear three peacock’s feathers,
nobles of the higheft diftnétion two, and the lower clafs of the nobility
one. It is alfo a.mark of high rank to drive a carriage with four
wheels. The governor of Maimatfchin rode in one with only two
wheels. All the Chinefe wear buttons of different colours in their caps,
which alfo denote the rank. Pallas Reife, P. III. p. 126.

ther

RUSSITALC AND CH IWNDA.,

ther hanging behind. The Chinefe give him the
title of Amban, which fignifies commander in chief ;
and no one appears before him without bending the
knee, in which pofture the perfon who brings a petition
muft remain until he receives the governor’s anfwer.
His falary is not large; but the prefents which he re-
ceives from the merchants amount annually to a confi-
derable fum.

The moft remarkable public buildings in Maimatt-
chin, are the governor’s houfe, the theatre, and two
pagodas.

The governors houfe is larger than the others, and 1

better furnifhed ; it is diftinguithed by achamber where
the court of juftice is held, and by two high poles before
the entrance ornamented with flags,

The theatre is fituated clofe to the wall of the town Theatre.

near the great pagoda: it is a kind of {mall fhed, neatly
painted, open in front, and merely f{pacious enough to
contain the ftage; the audience ftand in the ftreet.
Near it are two high poles, upon which large flags with
Chinefe infcriptions are hoifted on fettivals. On fuch
occafions the fervants belonging to the merchants play
fhort burlefque farces in honour of their idols.

F f2 The

219

oufe of the
overnor,

220

The {malt
Pagoda.

The Idol
Tien.

COMMERCE BETWEEN

The {malleft of the two Pagodas is a wooden building,
ftanding upon pillars, in the centre of the town at the
place where the two principal {treets crofs. It is a Chis
nefe tower of two {tories, adorned on the outfide with
fmall columns, paintings, and little iron bells, &c.
The firft {tory is fquare, the fecond oétangular.. In the
lower ftory isa picture reprefenting the God Tien, which
fignifies, according to the explanation of the moft intel-
ligent Chinefe, the moft high God, who rules over the:
thirty-two-heavens. The Manfhurs, it is faid; call this
idol Abcho ;. and: the Mongols, Tingheru. heaven, or the
God of heaven. He is reprefented fitting with his head
uncovered, and encircled with a ray* of glory fimilar to
that which furrounds the head of our Saviour in the’ Ro-
man catholic paintings; his hair is long and flowing;
he holds in his right hand a drawn {word, and-his left
is extended as in the act of giving a-benediction.. On one
fide of this figure two youths, on the other a maiden >
and a grey-headed old man, are delineated?

* When Mr. Pallas obtained permiffion of the governor to fee this
temple, the latter affured him that the Jefuits of Pekin and their con-
verts adored this idol. From whence he ingenioufly conjectures, either
that the refemblance between this idol, and the reprefentations of our
Saviour by the Roman Catholicks, was the occafion of this affertion ; or
that the Jefuits, in order to excite the devotion of the converts, have,
out of policy, given to the picture of our Saviour a refemblance to the
Tien of the Chinefe. Pallas Reife, P. III. p. 119.

The

RUS S Ap AND. CH EN. A,

The upper {tory contains the picture of another idol in
a black and white checquered cap, with the fame figures
of three young perfons and a little old man.. There are
no altarsin this temple, and no other ornaments except-
ing thefe pictures and their frames.- It is opened only on
feftivals, and ftrangers-cannot fee it without permiffion;.

221

The great’ Pagoda*, fituated before the ZOVETNOL'S The great Paw

goda and its

houfe, and near the principal gate looking to the fouth, kok.

is larger and more magnificent’ than the- former.
Strangers are allowed to. fee it at.all times, without the
leaft difficulty,. provided they are accompanied by one of
the priefts, who: are always to be found in the area of
the temple. Tihis area is furrounded with chevaux de:
frize: the entrance is from the. fouth through two gates
with a {mall building between them.- In the. infide of
this building are.two receffes with rails before them,. be-
hind which the images of. two horfes as big as life are
coarfly moulded.out of clay ; they are faddled and bridled,
and attended by.two human figures dreffed like grooms:
the horfe to the right is of a chefnut colour, the other
is dun with a. black mane and tail, the former.is in the

* The great Pagoda is omitted in the engraving of Maimatfchin pre-
fixed to this chapter ; this omiffion was owing to the artift’s being obliged
to. leave Kiachta before he: had time to. finifh the drawing, In
every other refpect, the view, as I was informed by a gentle-
man who has been on the fpot, is complete, and reprefented with tlte

greateft exactnefs.
5 attitude

COMMERCE BETWEEN

attitude of fpringing, the latter of walking. Near each
horfe a banner of yellow filk, painted with filver dragons,

is difplayed.

In the middle of this area are two wooden turrets fur-
rounded with galleries; a large bell of caft iron which is
truck occafionally with a large wooden mallet, hangs in
the Eaftern turret; the other contains two kettle drums
of an enormous fize, fimilar to thofe made ufe of in the
religious ceremonies of the Calmucs.. On each fide of
this area are ranges of buildings inhabited by the prieft
of the temple.

This area communicates by means of an handfome
gateway with the inner court, which is bordered on each
fide by fmall compartments open in front, with rails be-
fore them; in the infide of thefe compartments the
legendary ftories of the idols are exhibited in a feries
of hiftorical paintings. At the farther extremity
of this court ftands a large building, conftructed in the
fame ftyle of architecture as the temple. The infide is
fixty feet long and thirty broad: it is ftored with antient
weapons, and inftruments of war of a prodigious fize ;
fuch as ipears, fcythes, and long pikes, with broad
blades, fhields, coats of arms, and military enfigns re-
prefenting hands *, dragons heads, and other carved

* Thefe hands refemble the manipulary ftandards of the Romans.
figures,

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

figures. All thefe warlike. inftruments are richly gilded,
and ranged in order upon {caffolds along the wail. Op-
pofite the entrance a large yellow ftandard, embroidered
with foliage and filver dragons, is erected ; under it, upon
a kind of altar, there is a feries of little oblong tables,
bearing Chinefe infcriptions.

An open gallery, adorned on both fides with flower-
pots, leads from the back door of the armoury to the colo-
nade of the temple. In this colonade two {late tablets
are placed, in wooden frames, about fix feet high and
two broad, with long infcriptions relating to the buildigg
of the temple. Before one of thefe plates a {mall idol of

an hideous form ftands upon the ground, enclofed in a.

wooden cafe.

The temple itfelf is an elegant Chinefe building,
richly decorated on the outfide with columns lackered,
and gilded carved-work, {mall bells, and other orna-
ments peculiar to the Chinefe architecture. Within there
is a rich profufion of gilding, which correfponds with
the gaudinefs of the exterior. The walls are covered
thick with paintings, exhibiting the moft celebrated ex-
ploits of the principal idol. ;

This temple contains five idols of a coloffal ftature, .

fitting crofs-legged upon pedeftals in three recefies, which
fill the whole Northern fide.

2, The

r24

Gheffur Chan,
the principal
idol :

COMMERCE BETWEEN

The principal idol is feated alone, in the ‘middle re-
cefs, between two columns, entwined with gilded dra-
gons. Large ftreamers of filk, hanging from the roof
of the temple, veil in fome meafure the upper part of
the image. His name is Ghedfur, er Gheffur Chan * ;

‘the Chinefe call him Loo-ye, or the firft and moft-an-

tient; and the Manfhurs, Guanloe, or the fuperior god.
He is of a gigantic fize, furpaffing more than fourfold
the human ftature, with a face gliftening like burnifhed
gold, black hair and’beard. “He wears a crown upon
his head, and is richly drefied in'the Chinefe fafhion :
his garments are not moulded out of clay, as thofe of
the other idols ; but are made of the fineft filk. He
holds in his hands a kind of tablet, which he feems to
read with deep attention. Two {mall female figures, re-
fembling girls of about ‘fourteen years of age, ftand on

* The Mongols and Calmucs call him by this name of Gheffur Chan ;
and although they do not reckon him among their divinities; yet they
confider him as a great hero, the Bacchus and Hercules of Eaftern Tar-
tary, who was born at the fource of the Choango, and who vanquifhed
many monfters. They have in their language avery long hiftory of
his heroical deeds. His title, in the Mongol tongue, is as follows :
Atban Zeeghi Effin‘Gheffur Bogdo Chan : the king of the ten points of
the compafs, or the monarch Gheffur Chan.

I poffefs a copy of this manufeript, containing the Hiftory of Gheffur
Chan ; it is in the original Mongol language, and was a prefent from
Mr. Pallas: I fhould be very happy to communicate it to any perfon
verfed in the Eaftern languages.

each

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

‘each fide of the idel, upon the fame pedeftal; one of
avhich grafps a roll of paper. At the right-hand of the
idol ie feven golden arrows, and at his left a bow.

Before the idol is a fpacious enclofure, furrounded
with rails, within which ftands an altar with four colof-
fal figures, intended probably to reprefent the principal
mandarins of the deified Gheflur. Two of thefe figures
are dreffed like judges, and hold before them {mall
tablets, fimilar to that in the hands.of the principal idol.
The two other figures are accoutred in complete armour :
ene wears a turban; and carries, upon the left fhoulder,
a large {word fheathed, with the hilt upwards. The

other hasan hideous copper-coloured face, a large belly,
and grafps in his right hand a lance with a broad
blade.

Although all the remaining idols in the tempie are of
an enormous fize, yet they are greatly furpaficd in mag-
nitude by Gheffur Chan.

-. The firft idol in the recefs to the right is; called Maoe~ Mécoag:

ang, or the Otf{chibanni of the Mongols. He has three
ghaftly copper-coloured faces, and fix arms ; two of his
arms brandith two fabres crofs ways over the head; a
third bears a looking glafs, and a fourth a kind of {quare,
which refembles a piece of ivory. The two remaining

Gg arms

226

({audfing :

Chufl eo:

Niu-o.

COMMERCE BETWEEN

arms are employed. in drawing a bow, with an arrow laid
upon it, ready to be difcharged. This idol has a mir-
ror upon his breaft, and aneye in his navel: near it are
placed two fmall figures; one holds an arrow, and the

other a little animal.

The next idol in the fame recefs is called by the Chi-
nefe Tfaudfing, or the gold and filver god; and by the
Mongols Tfagan-Dfambala. He wears a black cap, and
is dreffed, after the Chinefe fafhion, in fumptuous robes.
of ftate ; he bears in his hand a {mall jewel cafket. Near
him alfo f{tand two little figures, one of which holds a:

truncated. branch.

In the recefs to the left is the god Chufho, called by:
the Manfhurs Chua-fchan, and by the Mongols Galdi, or.
the Fire God. He is reprefented with a frightful fiery.
reddith face ; elad in complete armour he wields a.{word.
half drawn. out of the fcabbard, and feems on the point
of ftarting up from his feat. He is attended by twa.
little harlbadeers, one of whom is crying ;. and the other:
bears a fowl upon. his hand, which refembles a fea--
pheafant.:

The other idol in the fame recefs is the god of oxen,
Niu-o. He appears to be fitting in a compofed pofture ;
he is habited like a Mandarin, and is diftinguifhed by a

crown

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

crown upon his head. He has, in common with the
other idols, a mirror upon his breaft. The Chinefe
imagine him to be the fame with the Yamandaga of the
Mongols; and it is faid his Manfhurifh name is Chain
Killova; his Mongol name, which relates to the hiftory
of Gheffur, is Bars-Batir, the Hero of Tygers.

Before thefe feveral idols there are tables, or altars, on
which cakes, paftry, dried fruit, and flefh, are placed,
on feftivals and prayer days: on. particular occafions
even whole carcafes of fheep are offered up. ‘Tapers
and lamps are kept burning day and night before the
idols, Among the utenfils of the temple, the moft re-
markable is a veffel fhaped like a quiver, and filled with
flat pieces of cleft reed, on which fhort Chinefe devices
are infcribed. Thefe devices are taken out by the Chi-
nefe on new-years day, and are confidered as oracles,
which foretel the good or ill Iuck of the perfon, by whom
they are drawn, during the following year. ‘There lies
alfo upon a table an hollow wooden black Jackered hel-
met, which all perfons of devotion {trike with a wooden
hammer, whenever they enter the temple. This hel-
met is regarded with fuch peculiar awe, that no itrangers
are permitted to handle it, although they are allowed to
touch even the idols themfelves.

The firft day of the new and full moon is appointed
for the celebration of worfhip. Upon cach of thofe days

Gg 2 no

227

228

Superftion of
the Chinefe.

COMMERCE BETWEEN

no Chinefe ever fails to make his appearance once in the
temple ;, he enters without taking off his cap“, joins his
hands before his face, bows five’ times to each idol,
touches with his forehead the: pedeftal on which the idol
fits, and then retires. Their principal feftivals are held
in the firft month of their year,. which:anfwers:to Febru--
ary. It is called by them, as well as by the Mongols,.
the white month ;° and is confidered as-a lucky time’ for-
the tranfaction of bufinefs; at that time they hoift flags.
before the ternples ; and place meat upon the tables of
the idols; which the priefts take’ away in the even
ing, and eat in the fmall. apartments- of the interior
court. On thefe folemnities plays are performed in the
theatre, in honour of the idols: the pieces are generally
fatyrical, and’ moftly written agaiit unjuft magiftrates
and judges.

But although the Chinefe have fuch few ceremonies in
their fyftem of religious worfhip, yet they. are remark-
ably infected’ with fuperftition;s Mr. Pallas gives the
following defcription of their behaviour at Maimat{-
chin duiing aneclipfe of the moon: At the clofe of
the evening in which the eclipfe appeared, all. the inha-
bitants were indefatigable in raifing an inceflant uproar,

* They donot take off their caps out of refpeét; for among the

Chinefe, as well 2s other Eaftern nations, it is reckoned a mark of difre-
fpect to uncover the head before a fuperior.

fome

RUSSIA AND CHIN A.

fome by hideous fhrieks, others by knocking wood, and
Beating cauldrons; the din was heightened by ftriking
the bell and_beating the kettle drums of the great Pago-
da. The Chinefe-fuppofe, that during an eclipfe the
wicked fpirit of the air, called by the Mongols Arachuk-
la, is attacking the. moon; and that he is frightened
away by thefe hideous fhrieks and noifes. Another in-
ftance of: fuperftition fell: under the obfervation of Mr.
Pallas, while he was at Maimatfchin. A fire broke out
in that town with fuch violence that. feveral houfes were

in flames. None ofthe inhabitants, however, attempted.
to extinguifh it; they ftood indeed in idle confternation:
round the fire ;. and fome of them {prinkled occafionally
water among the flames, in order to footh the fire god,.

who,. as they imagined, had chofen their houfes for a
facrifice. Indeed if the Ruffians-had not exerted them-
felves in quenching the fire, the whole place: would pro-
bably have. been reduced to afhes *.

* This-account of Kiachta and Maimatfchin is taken from.Mr. Pal-
Jas’s defcription of Kiachta, in the journal of his travels-through Siberia,

p-iii, p. 1o9g—126. Every circumftance relating to the religious wor--
fhip of the Eaftern nations is in itfelf fo interefting that I thought it would.

not be unacceptable to my readers to give.a tranflation of the above paf-
fages. refpecting the Chinefe Pagodas and Idols: although in. a work

treating of the new difcoveries, and the commerce which is connected:
with them. In the abovementioned journal the. ingenious author con--

tinues to defcribe from his own obfervations the manners, cuftoms, drefs,

diet, and feveral other particulars relative to the Chinefe ; which, al--

though exceedingly curious and interefting, are foreign to my prefent
purpofe,.and would have been incompatible with the fize of the. prefent
work.

Na:

229

230

COMMER E E, &e.°

No writer has placed the religion and hiftory of the Tartar-nations
in a more explicit point of view than Mr. Pallas ; every page in his in-
terefling journal affords ftriking proofs of this affertion. He has lately
thrown new lights upon this obfcure fubjeét, in a recent publication
concerning the Tartars, who inhabit parts of Siberia, and the territory
which lies between that country and the Chinefe-wall. Of this excellent
work the firft volume appeared in 1776, and contains the genealogy,
hiftory, laws, manners, and cuftoms, of this extraordinary people, as
they are divided into Calmucs, Mongols, and Burats. The fecond
volume is expected with impatience, and will afcertain, with minutenefs
and accuracy, the tenets and religious ceremonies which diftinguifh the
votaries of Shamanifm from the followers of Dalai-Lama, the two
great fects into which thefe tribes are diftinguifhed. Pallas Samlung
hiftorifcher Nachrichten ueber die Mongolifchen Volkerfchafter.

CHAP.

Gia id Pf OP IN?

Commerce between the Chinefe and Ruflians—/y? of the

principal exports and imports—duties
of the Ruffian trade.

average amount

HE merchants of Maimatfchin come from the ae ae oe

Northern provinces of China,. chiefly from Pekin,
Nankin, Sandchue, and. other principal towns. They
are not fettled at this place with their wives and fami-
lies: for it is a remarkable circumftance, that there is
not one woman in Maimatfchin. This reftriction arifes
from the policy of the Chinefe government, which
totally prohibits the women, from having the flighteft
intercourfe with foreigners. No Chinefe merchant
engages in the trade to Siberia who has not a. part-
ner. Thefe’ perfons mutually relieve each other.
One remains for a ftated time, ufually a. year, at
Kiachta;. and when: his partner arrives with a frefh.
eargo of Chinefe merchandize, he then returns home
with the Ruffian commodities *,

Moft of the Chinefe merchants underftand the Mon-
gol tongue, in which language commercial affairs are:

* Pallas Reife, P. IIL p. 125.

generally:

COMMERCE - -BETW'EEN

generally tranfatted. Some few indeed {peak ‘broken
Ruffian, but their pronunciation is fo foft and delicate,
that it is difficult:to comprehend them. They are not
able to pronounce the R, but inftead of it make ufe of
an L; and when two confonants come together, which
frequently occurs in the Ruffian tongue, they divide
them by the interpofition of a vowel*, This failure
in articulating the Ruffian language feems peculiar to
the Chinefe, and ‘is not obfervable in the Calmucs,
Mongols, and other neighbouring nations:t.

The commerce between ‘the Ruffians and Chinefe is
entirely a trade of barter, that is, an exchange of one
merchandize for another. The Ruffians are ‘prohibited
to export their own coin, ner indeed could the Chinefe

* Bayer, in his Mufeum Sinicum, gives feveral curious inftances of
the Chinefe mode of articulating thofe founds, which they have not in
their own language. ‘For inftance they change BDR XZ into PT LSS.

Thus for Maria they fay Ma-li-ya;

for crux, cu-lu-f{n ;

for baptizo, _pa-pe-ti-fo ;

for cardinalis, kia-ul-fi-na-li-fu-;

.for fpiritus, fu-pi-li-tu-fu ;

for Adam, -va-tam.; ,
for Eva, nge-va ; 4
for Chriftus, ki-li-fu-tu-fu ;

ho-ke, nge-fu-tu, co-ul-pu-fu, me-vum.
Bayer, Muf. Sin. ‘Tom. I. P15:

Hoc, eit, corpus, meum

4- Pallas Reife, P. II. p. 134.

5 receive

“RUSSIA AND CHINA,

receive it, even fhould that prohibition be taken off;
for no fpecie is current amongft them except bullion *.
And the Ruflians find it more advantageous to take
merchandize in exchange, than to receive bullion at
the Chinefe ftandard. The common method of tranf-
a&ting bufinefs is as follows. The Chinefe merchant
comes firft to Kiachta, and examines the merchandize he
has occafion for in the warehoufe of the Ruffian trader ;

* The Chinefe have no gold or filver coin. Thefe metals are always
paid in bullion; and for the purpofe of afcertaining the weight, every
Chinefe merchant is conftantly provided with a pair of feales. As
gold is very fcarce in China, filver is the great vehicle of commerce.
When feveral authors affirm that the Ruffians draw large quantities of
filver from China, they miftake an accidental occurrence for a general
and ftanding fact. During the war between the Chinefe and Calmucs,
the former had occafion to purchafe at Kiachta provition, horfes,
and camels, for which they paid filver. This traffic brought
fuch a profufion of that metal into Siberia, that its price was
greatly reduced below its real value. A pound of filver was at
that period occafionally fold at the frontiers for 8 or g roubles, which
at prefent fetches 15 or 16. But fince the conclufion of thefe wars by
the total reduction of the Calmucs under the Chinefe yoke, Ruffia re-
ceives a very fmall quantity of filver from the Chinefe. 8S. R. G. III.
p- 593 & feq. |

The filver imported to Kiachta is chiefly brought by the Bucha-
rian merchants, who fell cattle to the Chinefe in exchange for that
metal, which they afterwards difpofe of to the Ruffians for European
manufactures. Gold-duft is alfo occafionally obtained from the fame
merchants; the quantity however of thofe metals procured at
Kiachta is fo inconfiderable, as fcarcely to deferve mention. The
whole fum imported to Kiachta, in 1777, amounted to only 18,215
roubles.

Hh he

233

Ruffian Ex-

Ports.

COMMERCE BETWEEN

he then goes to the houfe of the latter, and adjutts
the price over a difh of tea. Both parties next re-
turn to the magazine, and the goods in queftion are
there carefully fealed in the prefence of the Chinefe
merchant. When this ceremony is over, they both
repair to Maimatfchin; the Ruffian choofes the commo-
dities he wants, not forgetting to guard againft fraud by
a ftrict infpection. He then takes the precaution to
leave behind a perfon of confidence, who remains in the
warehoufe until the Ruffian goods are delivered, when
he returns to. Kiachta with the Chinefe merchandize *.

The principal commodities which Ruffia exports to
China are as follow:

FURS and IPL Th Y-

It would be uninterefting to. enumerate all the furs
and fkinst brought for fale to Kiachta, which form
the moft important article of exportation on the fide of
the Ruffians. The moft valuable of thefe furs are the
fkins of fea-otters, beavers, foxes, wolves, bears, Bucha-
rian lambs, Aftracan fheep, martens, fables, ermines,
grey-{quirrels.

* Pallas Reife, P. II. p. 135.

+ The lift of all the furs and fkins brought to Kiachta, with their
feveral prices, is to be found in Pallas Reife, Part III. p. 136 to p. 142.
See hereafter, p. 242.

The

WU SS £ A MAD" CP PNM,

The greateft part of thefe furs and fkins are drawn
from Siberia and the New Difcovered Iflands: this fup-
ply however is not alone fully adequate to the demand
of the market at Kiachta. Foreign furs are therefore
imported to St. Peterfburg, and from thence fent to the
frontiers. England alone furnifhes a large quantity of
beaver and other fkins, which fhe draws from Hudfon’s
Bay and Canada *

Ci Lj Only H,
Cloth forms the fecond article of exportation which

Ruffia exports to China,

* Lift of furs fent from England to Peterfburg in the following
years :

Beaver-fkins. Otter-fkins.
17753 46460 7143
1776, 27700 12086
17775 27316 10703

The fineft Hudfon’s beavers have been fold upon an average at Pe-
terfburg from 70 to goroubles per ro fkins.

Inferior ditto and beft Canada beavers from 50 — 75

Young or cub-beavers from 2048 35

Beft otter-fkins from ee go — 100

Inferior ones from 60 — 80

The qualities of thefe fkins being very different occafton great vari-
ations in the prices.

At Kiachta, the beft Hudfon’s Bay beaver
fetches from 4 to 20 roubles per kin.

Otters’ ditto —- tae 6—35

Black foxes fkins from Canada are alfo fometimes fent from England
to Peterfburg.

At Kiachta they fetch from 1 to too roubles per fkin.

Hh 2 The

235

COMMERCE BETWEEN

The coarfe fort is manufactured in Ruffia; the finer
fort is foreign, chiefly Englifh, Pruffian, and French.

An arfhire of foreign cloth fetches, ac-
cording to its finenefs, from 2 to 4 roubles.
Camlets.
Calimancoes.
Druggets.
White flannels, both Ruffian and foreign.

The remaining articles are,

Rich ftuffs.

Velvets.

Coarfe linen, chiefly manufactured in Ruffia.

Ruffia leather.

Tanned hides.

Glafs ware and looking glaffes.

Hardware, namely, knives, {ciffars, locks, &c.

Tin.

Ruffian talk.

Cattle, chiefly camels, horfes, and horned cattle.

The Chinefe alfo pay very dear for hounds, grey=
hounds, barbets, and dogs for hunting wild boars.

Provifions *..

* In the year 1772, the Chinefe purchafed meat at Kiachta, at the
following prices :
A pound of beef 32 copecs.
lamb. 2+

Horfe flefh for the Tartars 1. Pallas Reife, P. III..p.

Meal.

RUSSIA AND CHINA, 23%

Meal.—The Chinefe no longer import fuch large
quantities of meal as formerly, fince they have em-
ployed the Mongols to cultivate the lands lying near
the river Orchon *, &c. &c.

Lift of the moft valuable commodities procured
from China.

RAW AND MANUFACTURED SILK. Importss

The exportation of raw filk is prohibited in China
under pain of death: large quantities however are
fmugeled every year into Kiachta, but not fufficient to
anfwer the demands of the Ruffian merchants.

A pood of the beft fort is eftimated at 150 roubles ;

of the worft fort at 75

The manufactured filks are of various forts, fafhions,.
and prices, viz. fattins, taffaties, damafks, and gauzes,
{canes of filk died of all colours, ribbands, &c. &c.

“RAW AND MANUFACTURED COTTON.

Raw cotton is imported in very large quantities ;
a great part of this commodity is employed in packing
up the china ware, and by thefe means is conveyed into:

* S.R.G, IML p. 495—571. Pallas Reife, P. II. p. 136—144,

the

6-238

COMMERCE BETWEEN

the inland part of Ruffia without any additional expence
of carriage.
A pood fells for — from 4 roubles, 80 cop. to 12.

Of the manufactured cotton, that which the Ruffians
call Kitaika, and the Englifh Nankeen, has the moft
rapid fale. It is the moft durable, and, in proportion
to its goodnefs, the cheapeft of all the Chinefe ftuffs ;
it is {tained red, brown, green, and black.

TE Avs.

The teas which are brought into Ruffia are much
fuperior in flavour and quality to thofe which are fent
to Europe from Canton. The original goodnefs of the
teas is probably the fame in both cafes; but it is con-
jectured, that the tranfport by fea confiderably impairs
the aromatic flavour of the plant. This commodity,
now become fo favourite an object of European luxury,
is efteemed by the Ruffian merchants the moft profitable
article of importation.

At Kiachta a pound of the beft tea * is

eftimated at — — — 2 roubles.
Common ditto at — — 1
Inferior at _ — — 4.0 copecs.

* At Peterfburg a pound of the beft green tea fetches 3 roubles.

POR-

RUSSIA AND CHINA,

PORCELAIN OF ALL SORTS.

For fome years paft the Chinefe have brought to
Kiachta parcels of porcelain, painted with European
figures, with copies of feveral favourite prints and images
of the Grecian and Roman deities.

Furniture, particularly Japan cabinets and cafes, lac-
kered and varnifhed tables and chairs, boxes inlaid with
mother-of-pearl, &c. &c.

Fans, toys, and other {mall wares.

Artificial flowers.

Tiger and Panther fkins,

Rubies *, but neither in large quantities nor of great
value.

White lead, vermilion, and other colours,

Canes.

- Tobacco.

Rice.

Sugar Candy.

Preferved ginger, and other fweetmeats.

Rhubarb f.

Muik,

* Rubies are generally procured by fmuggling; and by the fame
means pearls are occafionally difpofed of to the Chinefe, at a very dear
rate. Pearls are much fought for by the Chinefe ; and might be made.
a very profitable article.

+ See Appendix II.

It

233

Advantages
of this Tradeto
Ruifia.

COMMERCE BETWEEN

It is very difficult to procure the genuine Thibet
mufk, becaufe the Chinefe purchafe a bad fort, which
comes from Siberia, with which they adulterate that
which is brought from Thibet f.

Ruffia draws great advantages from the Chinefe trade.
By this traffic, its natural productions, and particularly
its furs and fkins, are difpofed of in a very profitable
manner. Many of: thefe furs procured from the
moft Eafterly parts of Siberia, are of fuch little value
that they would not anfwer the expence of carriage into
Ruffia; while the richer furs, which are fold to the
Chinefe at a very high price, would, on account of
their dearnefs,. feldom meet with purchafers in the Ruf-
fian dominions. In exchange for thefe commodities the
Ruffians receive from China feveral valuable articles of
commerce, which they would otherwife be obliged to buy
at a much dearer rate from the European powers, to the
great difadvantage of the balance of their trade.

I have before obferved, that formerly the exportation
and importation of the moft valuable goods were pro-
hibited to individuals ; at prefent only the following ar-
ticles are prohibited. Among the exports, fire-arms and
artillery ; gunpowder and ball; gold and filver, coined

% S.R,G.UL p.572—592. Pallas Reife, p. III. p. 144—153.

and

RUSSIA AND CHIWA,

and uncoined, ftallions and mares; fkins of deer, rein-
deer, elks, and horfes; beaver’s hair, potafh, rofin,
thread, and * tinfel-lace : among the imports, falt, brandy,
poifons, copper-moncy, and rhubarb.

The duties paid by the Ruffian-merchants are very
confiderable; great part of the merchandife is taxed
at 25 per cent.

Furs, cattle, and provifions, pay a duty of 23.

Ruffian manufactures . 18.

- One-per cent. is alfo deducted from the price of all
goods for the expence of deepening the river Selenga ;
and 7 per cent for the fupport of the cuftom-houfe.

Some articles, both of export and import, pay no duty.
The exported are, writing, royal, and poft paper, Ruflia
cloth of all forts and colours, excepting peafants cloth.
The imported are, fatins, raw and ftained cottons, por-
celain, earthen-ware, glafs corals, beads, fans, all mu-
fical inftruments, furniture, lackered and enamelled or=

‘naments, needles, white-lead, rice, preferved ginger, ,

and other {weet-meats ts

* Tinfel lace is fmuggled to the Chinefe, with confiderable profit ;
for they pay nearly as much for it as if it was folid filver.
S R. GST p. 588.

+ PallasReife, P.IU, p.154.
Ii The

242 COMMERCE BETWEEN

The importance of this trade will appear from the fol-
lowing table.
Se Table of exportation and importation at Kiachta,

importation.

in the year 177.7:

Rbles. Cop.

Cuftom-houfe duties, 481,460. 59:.
Importation of Chinefe goods, to

the value of 1,466,497. 33.
Of gold and filver T1,215.
Total of Importation 154.04,712.,\ 326

Exportation of Ruffian commodities 1,313,621. 35.

From this table it appears, that the
total fum of export and’ import a-
mounts to: 2,868, 33 3-.

In this calculation however the contraband trade is
not included, which is very large; and as the year
1777 was not fo favourable to this traffic as the pre=
ceding ones*, we may venture to eftimate the grofs

amount

* In the year 1770, 1771, 1772, the cuftom-houfe duties at Kiachta
(according to Mr. Pallas, P. IL. p. 154) produced’ 550,000 roubles.
By

RUSSIA AND CHINA,

amount of the average trade to China at near 4,000,000
Roubles.

By taking therefore the medium between that fum and 481,460, the
amount of the duties in 1777, the average fum of the duties will be
$15,730; and, as the duties in 1777 make nearly a fixth of the whole
fum of exportation and importation, by multiplying 515,730 by 6, we
have the grofs amount of the average exports and imports at 3,094,380.
But as feveral goods pay no duty, and as the contraband trade according
to the loweft valuation is eftimated at the fifth part of the exports and
imports ; the grofs amount of the average trade to China may be fairly
computed at near 4,000,000. the fum fated above.

242
a

Defcription of
uruchaitu.

Defcription of Zuruchaitu—-and its trade—Tranfport of
the merchandife through Siberia.

HE general account of the Ruffian commerce to

China has been given in the preceding chapter,
becaufe almoft the whole traffic is confined to Kiachta.
The defcription of Zuruchaitu, which was alfo fixed by
the treaty of Kiachta for the purpofe of carrying on the
fame trade, will be comprifed of courfe in a narrow
compafs.

Zuruchaitu is fituated in 137 longitude, and 49°. 20/
N. latitude, upon the Weftern branch of the river Ar-
goon, ata fmall diftance from its fource. It is provided.
with a {mall garrifon, anda few wretched barracks fur-
rounded with chevaux de frife. No merchants are fettled.
at this place ; they come every fummer from Nerfhinfk,
and other Ruffian towns in order to meet two parties of
Mongol troops: thefe troops are fent from the Chinefe
towns Naun and Merghen, and arrive at the frontiers.
about July. ‘They encamp near Zuruchaitu upon the
other fide of the river Argoon, and barter with the

Siberiam

‘RUSSIA AND CHINA. ads

Siberian merchants ‘a few Chinefe commodities, which
they bring with them.

Formerly the commerce carried on at Zuruchaitu was
more -confiderable; but at prefent it is fo trifling, that
it hardly deferves to be mentioned. ‘Thefe Mongols
furnifh the diftri@t of Nerfhinfk with bad tea and to- Comm
bacco, bad filks, and fome tolerable cottons. They re-
ceive in return ordinary furs, cloth, cattle, and Ruffian
leather. This trade lafts about a month or fix weeks,
and the annual duties of the cuftoms amount upon an
average to no more than 500 roubles. About the mid-
dle of Auguft the Mongols retire; part proceed imme-
diately to China, and the others defcend the ftream of
“the Amoor as far as its mouth, in order to obferve if
there has been no ufurpation upon the limits. At the
fame time the Ruffian merchants return to Nerfhinfk,
and, were it not for the fimall garrifon, eed would:

remain uninhabited *

gis nfport of

The Ruffian commodities are tranfported by land jones?
and Chinefe

from Peterfburg and Mofcow to Tobol{k. From thence Commoiities
through Si-

the merchants: may embark upon the Irtifh down to its
junction with the Oby; then they either tow up their
boats, or fail up the laft mentioned river as far as

*'S, R. G. HI. p. 465. Pallas Reife, P. II. p. 428.

7 Marym,.

246

COMMERCE BETWEEN

Marym, where they enter the Ket, which they afcend
to Makoffikoi Oftrog. At that place the merchandize is
carried about ninety verfts by land to the Yenifei. The
merchants then afcend that river, the Tungufka, and
Angara, to Irkutf{k, crofs the lake Baikal, and go up
the river Selenga almoft to Kiachta.

It is a work of fuch difficulty to afcend the ftreams
of fo many rapid rivers, that this navigation Eaftwards
can hardly be finifhed in one fummer*; for which
reafon the merchants commonly prefer the way by land.
Their general rendezvous is the fair of Irbit near To-
bol{k ; from thence they go in fledges during winter to
Kiachta where they arrive about February, the feafon
in which the chief commerce is carried on with the
Chinefe. They buy in their route all the furs they find
in the fmall towns, where they are brought from the
adjacent countries. © When the merchants return in
{pring with the Chinefe goods, which are of greater bulk
and weight than the Ruffian commodities, they proceed
by water; they then defcend the ftreams of moft of
the rivers, namely, the Selenga; Angara, Tunguika, Ket,
and Oby to its junction with the Irtifh; they afcend
that river to Tobolfk, and continue by land to Mofcow
and Peteriburg.

* Some of thefe rivers are only navigable in {pring when the fnow
water is melting; in winter the rivers are in general frozen.

Before

RUSSIA: AND CHINA. 247

Before the paffage from Ochotfk to Bolcherefk was Trnfpor of

the Furs from
Kamtchatka to

difcovered in 1716, the only communication between givcita.
Kamtchatka and Siberia was by land; the road lay
by Anadirfk to Yakutfk. The furs * of Kamtchatka
and of the Eaftern ifles are now conveyed from
that peninfula by water to Ochotfk ; from thence
to Yakutifk by land on horfe-back, or by rein-deer :
the roads are fo very bad, lying either through a
rugged mountainous country, or through marfhy fo-
refts, that the journey lafts at leaft fix weeks. Yakutik
is fituated upon the Lena, and is the principal town,
where the choiceft furs are brought in their way to
Kiachta, as well from Kamtchatka as from the Northern
parts of Siberia, which lay upon the rivers Lena, Yana,
and Endigirka. At Yakutfk the goods. are embarked
upon the Lena, towed up the ftream of that river as far
as Vercholenfk, or ftill farther to Katfheg ; from thence
they are tranfported over a fhort tract of land to the
rivulet Buguldeika, down that ftream to the lake Baikal,
acrofs that lake to the mouth of the Selenga, and up
that river to the neighbourhood of Kiachta..

*-'The furs, which are generally landed upon the Eaftern coaft of
Kamtchatka, are either fent by fea to Bolchorefk, or are tran{ported
acrofs the Peninfula in fledges drawn by dogs. The latter conveyance
is only ufed in winter-: it is the ufual mode of travelling in that country.
In fummer there is no conveyance, as the Peninfula contains neither
oxen, horfes, or rein-deer. 8. R.G, III. p. 478.

fo

COMMERCE BETWEEN

In order to give the reader fome notion of that vatt
tract of country, over which the merchandize is fre-
quently tranfported by land carriage, a lift of the dif-
tances is here fubjoined.

From Peterfburg to Mofcow 734. verits.
Mofcow to Tobolf{k — 2385
Tobolifk to Irkutik — 2918
Irkutfk to Kiachta — 471

6508

From Irbit to Tobolfk —— 4.20

From Irkutfk to Nerfhinfk 1129
Nerfhinfk to Zuruchaitu 370

From Gchot{k to Yakutfk —_ 927
Yakutfk to Irkutik ~— 24.33

From Selenginfk to Zuruchaitu 850
Zuruchaitu to Pekin — 1588
Kiachta to Pekin — 1532

The Chinefe tranfport their goods to Kiachta chiefly
upon camels. It is four or five days journey from Pekin —
to the wall of China, and forty-fix from thence acrofs
the Mongol defert to Kiachta*.

* Pallas Reife, P. III. p. 134.

PART

Pee ees ae Ill.

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SUPPLEMENTARY AGCOUN-TS

RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. &c.

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Exiraci from the journal of a voyage made by Captain
Krenitzin and Lieutenant Levatheff to the Fox Iflands,
in 1768, 1760, oy order of the Empre/s of Ruffia—
they fail from Kamtchatka—arrive at Beering’s and
Copper Iflands—reach the Fox Wlands—Krenitzin
winters at Alaxa—Levafheff upon Unalafhka—pfro-
ductions of Unalafhka—de/cription of the inhabitants of the
Fox Iflands—zheir manners and cuftoms, &c.

N the 23d of July Captain Krenitzin failed in the xrenitzin and
‘i 5 5 Levafhetf fail
Galliot St. Catherine from the mouth of the Kamt- ne a
Louth of the
chatka river towards America: he was accompanied by p20

Lieutenant Levafheff, in the Hooker St. Paul. Their
inftructions were regulated by information derived from
Beering’s expedition in 1741. Shaping their courfe ac<
cordingly, they found themfelves more to the North
than they expected; and were told by the Ruffian
traders and hunters, that a fimilar * miftake was com=

* This paffage is obfcurely expreffed. Its meaning may be afcer-
taining by comparing Krenitzin’s chart with that of Beering’s voyage
prefixed to Muller’s account of the Ruffian Difcoveries. The route of
Krenitzin’s vetlel was confiderably to the North of the courfe held by
Beering and Tfchirikoff, and confequently he failed through the middle
of what they had fuppofed to be a continént, and which he found to
Bean open fea. See Robertfon’s Hiftory of America, p. 461, and
p- 26, of this work.

Kk mitted

They reach
Beering’s

Iftand;

and Copper
Tfland. ag

BPP Ee BD) brie ods

mitted in the chart of that expedition. Thefe traders,.
who for fome years paft were accuftomed to ramble to
the diftant iflands in queft of furs, faid that they were
fituated much more to the South, and farther Eaft than.
was imagined. On the 27th they faw Commodore’s or
Beering’s Ifland, which is low and rocky, efpecially to
the S. W. On this fide they obferved a {mall harbour,
diftinguifhed by two hillocks like boats, and not far
from it they found a frefh water lake.

To the S.E., lies another ifland, called by the Ruffians
Mednoi Ottroff, or Copper Hland, from a great quantity
of copper found upon its N. E. coaft, the only fide which:
is known tothe Ruffians. It is wafhed up by the fea,
and covers the fhore in fuch abundance, that many fhips.
may load. with it. Perhaps an India trader might make.
a profitable voyage from thence to China, where this.
metal is in high demand. This copper is moftly in a
metallic or malleable ftate, and many pieces feem as if
they had formerly been in fufion. The ifland is not
high, but has.many hillocks, each of which: has the:
appearance of having formerly been the funnel of a
volcano. We may here, once for all, obferve, that allthe.
iflands reprefented in this chart* abound with fuch
funnels, called in Ruffian Sopka, in fo much that no-
ifland, however fmall, was found. without one; and

* Namely, the chart. which is prefixed to this journal.

many

A OR BP ED OM Be i x.

many of them confifted of nothing elfe. In fhort,
the chain of iflands -here laid down may, without any
violent ftretch of imagination, be confidered as thrown
up by fome late volcanos. The apparent novelty of
every thing feems to juftify this conjecture: nor can
any objection be derived from the vegetable productions
with which thefe iflands abound; for the fummer af-
ter the lower diftrict of Zutphen in Holland was gained.
from the fea, it was covered over with wild muftard.
All thefe lands are fubje& to violent and frequent earth-
quakes, and abound in fulphur. The writer of the
journal was not able to inform us whether any lava was

found upon them; but he {peaks of a party-coloured.

ftone as heavy as iron. From this account it is by no
means improbable, that the copper abovementioned has
been melted in fome eruption.

After leaving Copper Ifland, no land was feen from:
either of the {hips (which had parted company in a fog)
till on the S. E. quarter of their tract, was difcovered:
the chain of iflands or head-lands laid down in the
chart. Thefe in general appeared low, the fhore bad,.
without creeks, and the water between them very fhal-
low. During their courfe outwards, as well as during

_ their return, they had frequent fogs. It appears from.
the journal, as well as from the relation of the hunters,.
that:

Yo

Arrive at the

Fox Iflands.

254 ARMA M MB Hs &

that it is very uncommon to have clear weather for five
- days together, even during fummer.

een The St. Catherine wintered in the ftraits of Alaxa,
ees where they hauled her into fhoal water. The inftructions
given to the captain fet forth, that a private fhip had
in 1762 found there a commodious haven; -but he
looked for it in vain. The entrance of this ftrait from
the N. E. was extremely difficult on account of flats, and
ftrong currents both flood and ebb : the entrance however
from the S. E. was afterwards found to be much eafier
with not lefs than 5: fathoms water. Upon furvey-
ing this ftrait, and the coaft of Alaxa, many fun-
nels were obferved in the low grounds clofe to the
fhore, and the foil produced few plants. May not
this allow one to fuppofe that the coaft had fuffered
confiderable changes fince the year 1762? Few of
the iflands produce wood, and that only in the val-
lies by the rivulets. Unalga and Alaxa contain the
moft; they abound with frefh water ftreams, and even
rivers; from. which we may infer that they are exten-
five. The {foil is in general boggy, and covered, with

mofs; but Alaxa has more foil and produces much grafs.

Levatheff The St. Paul wintered in Unalafhka. This wintering

winters upon

Unalafhka. lace was obferved to lie in 53° 29’ North latitude, ‘and
its longitude from the mouth of Kamtchatka river,

com-=

A PR RP oN pF xX Al. 25

Hn

computed by the fhip’s journal, was 27°05’ E£aft*. Una-
lafhka is about fifty miles long from N. E. to S. W.
and has on the N. E. fide three bays. One of them
called Udagha ftretches thirty miles E. N. E. and
W. S. W. nearly through the middle of the
ifland. Another called Igunck, lying N.N.E. and
§.S. W. is a-pretty good harbour, with three and a half
fathom water at high tide, and fandy ground. It is well
fheltered from the North {well at its entrance by rocks,
fome of which are under water. The tide flows here *
five feet at full and change, and the fhore is in general |
bold and rocky, except in the bay, at the mouth of a
fmall river. There are two burning mountains on this
ifland, one called Ayaghifh, and the other (by the Ruf-
fians) the Roaring Mountain. Near the former is a
very copious hot fpring. The land is in general rocky,
with loamy and clayey grounds; but the grafs is ex-
tremely coarfe, and unfit for pafture. Hardly any wood
is to be found on it. Its plants are dwarf cherry (+ Xy- Productions of
lofteum of Tournefort), wortle berry, (Vaccinium Uli-
ginofum of Linnzus), rafberry, farana and fhikfhu of
Kamtchatka and kutage, larch, white poplar, pine and

* According to the general map of Ruffia, the mouth of the Kamt-
chatka river is in 178° 25’ from Fero. Unalafhka therefore, according
to this eftimation, is 205° 30’ from Fero, or 187° 55° 15” from Green-
wich.

4 The Lonicera Pyrenaica of Linnaeus. It is not a dwarf cherry,
but a {pecies of honeyfuckle,

birch.

AB Rk ae Ie es

to
Gy
oa

birch *. The land animals are foxes of different colours,
mice, and weafels; there are alfo beavers t+, fea cats, and
fea lions as at Kamtchatka. Among their fifh we may
reckon cod, perch, pilchards, {melts, roach, needle fifth,
terpugh, and tchavitcha. The birds are eagles, par-
tridges, ducks, teals, urili, ari, and gadi. The ani-
mals for whofe Ruffian names I can find no tranflations,
are (excepting the Ari) defcribed in Krafhininikoff’s Hif-
tory of Kamtchatka, or in Steller’s relation contained in
the fecond volume of the Memoirs of the Academy of
Peterfburgh.

Accountofthe The inhabitants of Alaxa, Umnak, Unalakfha, and

Inhabitants of
the Fox

Tea the neighbouring iflands, are of a middle ftature, tawny
brown colour, and black hair. In fummer they wear
coats (parkit) made of bird fkins, over which, in bad
weather, and in their boats, they throw cloaks, called
kamli, made of thin whale guts. On their heads they
wear wooden caps, ornamented with duck’s feathers,

* All the other journalifts uniformly defcribe Unalafhka as containing
nothing but underwood; we mutt therefore fuppofe that the trees here
mentioned were very low and fmall, and this agrees with what goes be-
fore, ‘‘ hardly any wood is to be found on it.”

+ By beavers the journalifts certainly mean fea-otters, called by the
Ruffians fea-beavers. See p- 12. For a defcription of the fea-otter, called
by Linneeus Lutra Marina, fee Nov. Com. Petr. vol. II. p. 367, et feq.

{ Parkiin Ruffian fignifies a fhirt, the coats of thefe iflanders being
made like fhirts.

and

(PSP YEN Del axe We

andthe ears of the fea-animal, called Scivutcha or fea-
lion; they alfo adorn thefe caps with beads of different
colours, and with little figures of bone or ftone. In
the partition of the noftrils they place a pin, about
four inches long, made of the bone, or of the ftalk
of a certain black plant; from the ends of this pin or
bodkin they hang, in fine weather and on feftivals, rows
of beads, one below the other. They thruft beads, and
bits of pebble cut like teeth, into holes made in the un-
der-lips. They alfo wear ftrings of beads in their ears,
with bits of amber, which the inhabitants of the other
iflands procure from Alaxa, in exchange for arrows and

kamli.

They cut their hair before juft. above the eyes, and
fome fhave the top of their heads like monks. Behind
the hair is loofe. The drefs of the women hardly dif-
fers from that of the men, excepting that it is made
of fifh-fkins. They few with bone needles, and thread
made of fifh guts, faftening their work to the ground
before them with bodkins. Thev go with the head
uncovered, and the hair cut like that of the men be-
fore, but tied up behind in a high knot. They paint
their cheeks with ftrokes of blue and red, and wear
nofe-pins, beads, and ear-rings like the men ; they hane
beads round their neck, and checkered ftrings round
their arms and legs.

258

Manners and
Cuftoms.

Ay PoP 7m bint ws 1,

In their perfons we fhould reckon them extremely
nafty. They eat the vermin with which their bodies
are covered, and fwallow the mucus from the nofe,
Having wafhed themfeélves, according to cuftom, firft
with urine, and then with water, they fuck their hands.
dry. When they are fick, they lie three or four days
without food; and if bleeding is neceflary, they open a
vein with lancets made of flint, and fuck the blood.

Their principal nourifhment is fifh and whale fat,
which they commonly eat raw. They alfo. feed upon
fea-wrack and roots, particularly the faran, a fpecies of
lily ; they eat a herb, called kutage, on account of its
bitternefs, only with fith or fat. They fometimes kindle
fire by catching a fpark among dry leaves and powder of
fulphur: but the moft common method is by rubbing
two pieces of wood together, in the manner practifed at
Kamtchatka *, and which Vakfel, Beering’s lieutenant,
found to be in ufe in that part of North America which
he faw in 1741. They are very fond of Ruffian oil
and butter, but not of bread. They could not be pre-

* The inftrament made ufe of by the Kamtchadals, to procure fire,
is a board with feveral. holes in it, and a flick; the latter is put into
the holes, and turned about fwiftiy, until the wood within. the holes
begins to burn, where there is. tinder ready to catch the {parks.

S. R. G.I. p. 205.

vailed.

APA PLEUN ABO TSA

vailed upon to tafte any fugar until the commander
fhewed the example; finding it fweet, they put it up
to carry it home to their wives.

The houfes of thefe iflanders are huts built precifely
in the manner of thofe in Kamtchatka, with the entry
through a hole in the middle of the roof. In one of
thefe huts live feveral families, to the amount of thirty
or forty perfons. They keep themfelves warm by
means of whale fat burnt in fhells, which they place
between their legs. The women fet apart from the
men.

Six or feven of thefe huts or yourts make a village,
of which there are fixteen in Unalafhka. The iflands
feem in general to be well inhabited, as may be con-
jeG@ured from the great number of boats which are feen
continually plying along the fhore. There are upwards
-of a thoufand inhabitants on Unalafhka, and they fay
that it was formerly much more populous. They have
fuffered greatly by their difputes with the Ruffians, and
by a famine in the year 17623 but moft of all from
a change in their way of life. No longer contented
with their original fimplicity, they long for Ruffian
luxuries: in order therefore to obtain a few delicacies,
which are prefently confumed, they dedicate the greateft
part of their time to hunting, for the purpofe of pro-

Ek 2 curing

259

26)

AMP AP EON D aE ix f.

curing furs for the Ruflians: by thefe means, they
neglect to lay up a provifion of fifh and roots; and
fuffer their children frequently to die of hunger.

Their principal food is fifh, which they catch with
bone hooks. Their boats, in which they row to a
great diftance from land, are made, like thofe of the
Innuet or Efquimaux, of thin flips of wood and {kins:
thefe {kins cover the top as well as the fides of the
boat, and are drawn tight round the waift of the
rower. The oar is a paddle, broad at both ends. Some
of their boats hold two perfons; one of whom rows,
and the other fifhes: but thefe kind of boats feem
appropriated to their chiefs. They have alfo large
boats capable of holding forty men. They kill birds.
and beafts with darts made of bone, oer of wood tipped
with fharpened ftone : they ufe thefe kind of darts in
war, which break with the blow given by them, and.
leave the point in the wound.

The manners and character of thefe people are what
we fhould expeét from their neceffitous fituation, ex-
tremely rude and favage. The inhabitants however of
Unalafhka are fomewhat lefs barbarous in their manners
aud behaviour to each other, and alfo more civil to
ftrangers than the natives of the other iflands; but

| even

A SPP Pt AE) NA: De Ke ob

even they are engaged in frequent and bloody quarrels,
and commit murder without the leaft compunc¢tion.
Their difpofition engages them in continual wars, in
which they always endeavour to gain their point by
ftratagem. The inhabitants of Unimak are formidable
to all the reft; they frequently invade the other iflands,
and carry off women, the chief object of their wars.
Alaxa is moift fubject to thefe incurfions, probably be-
caufe it is more populous and extenfive. They all
join in hating the Ruffians, whom they confider as ge-
neral invaders, and therefore kill them wherever they
can, The people of Unalafhka however are more
friendly ; for Lieutenant Levafheff, being informed that
there was a Ruffian veflel in the ftraits of Alaxa,
prevailed on fome Unalafhkans to carry a letter, which
they undertook, notwithftanding the danger they were
expofed to from the inhabitants of the intervening"
iflands.

The journalift fays, that-thefe people have no kind
of religion, nor any-notion of a God. We obferve
however among themsfifficient marks of fuch a religion
as might be expectg| ‘freny people in their fituation.
For the journalift informs us, that they have fortune-:
tellers employed by them at their feftivals. Thefe per--
fons pretend to foretel events by the information of the:
Kugans or Demons. In their divinations they put on

wooden.

261

262

Ai PR PE HANG BD TS Xt 8

wooden masks, made in the form in which they fay
the Kugan appeared to them; they then dance with
violent motions, beating at the fame time drums covered
with fifh {kins. The inhabitants alfo wear little figures
on their caps, and place others round their huts, to keep
off the devils. Thefe are fufficient marks of a favage
religion.

It is common for them to have two, three, or four
wives, and fome have alfo an object of unnatural affec-
tion, who is dreffed like the women. The wives do not
all live together, but, like the Kamtchadals, in different
yourts. It is not unufual for the men to exchange their
wives, and even fell them, in time of dearth, for a blad-
der of fat; the hufband afterwards endeavours to get
back his wife, if fhe is a favourite, and if unfuccefs~
ful he fometimes kills himfelf. When ftrangers ar-
rive ata village, it is always cuitomary for the women to
go out to meet them, while the men remain at home:
this is confidered as a pledge of friend{hip and fecurity.
When a man dies in the hut belonging to his wife, fhe
retires into a dark hole, where fhe remains forty days.
The hufband pays the fame compliment to his favourite
wife upon herdeath. When both parents die, the chil-
dren are left to fhift for themfelves. The Ruffians found
many in this fituation, and fome were brought for
fale.

In

BE PMPPESN Del ex 1,

_ In each village there is a fort of chief, called Tookoo,
who is not diitinguifhed by any particular rank or autho-

rity. He decides differences by arbitration, and the

neighbours enforce the fentence. When he goes out to
fea he is exempted from working, and has a fervant,
called Kale, for the purpofe of rowing the canoe ; this is
the only mark of his dignity : at all other times he labours
like the reft. The office is not hereditary ; but is gene-

rally conferred on him who is moft remarkable for his

perfonal qualities; or who poffeffes a great influence by

the number of his friends. Hence it frequently ~hap-
pens, that the perfon who has the largeft family is:

chofen.

During their feftivals, which are held after the fifhing

feafon ends in April, the men and women fing fongs ;

the women dance, fometimes fingly, and fometimes in
pairs, waving in their hands blown bladders ; they begin
with gentle movements, which become at laft extremely

violent.

The inhabitants of Unalafhka are called Kogholaghi.
Thofe of Akutan, and farther Eaft to Unimak, are called
Kighigufi; and thofe of Unimak and Alaxa are called
Kataghayekiki. They cannot tell whence they have
thefe names, and now begin to call themfelves by the

general name of Aleyut, given. them by the Ruffians,.
y. and.

Ay PgP EGN BD TI eX ia 1

and borrowed from fome of the * Kuril iflands. Upon
being asked concerning their origin, they faid that they
had always inhabited thefe iflands, and knew nothing of
any other country beyond them. All that could be ga-
thered from them was, that the greateft numbers came
from Alaxa, and that they did not know whether that
land had any bounds. The Ruffians furveyed this ifland
very far to the N.E. in boats, being out about a fort-
night, and fet up acrofs at the end of their furvey. The
boats of the iflanders are like thofe of the Americans. It
appears however from their cuftoms and way of life, fo
far as thefe are not neceffarily prefcribed to them by
their fituation, that they are of Kamtchatdal original.
Their huts, their manner of kindling fire, and their ob-
jes of unnatural affections, lead to this conjecture. Add
to this, the almo{t continual Wefterly winds, which muft
render the paflage Wettward extremely difficult. Beering
and Tchirikoff could never obtain EaXerly winds but by

going to the Southward.

The Ruffians have for fome years pait been accuitomed
to go to thefe iflands in queft of furs, of which they
have impofed a tax on the inhabitants. The manner of
carrying on this trade is as follows. The Ruffian traders
go in Autumn to Beering’s and Copper iiland, and there
winter: they then employ themifelves in catching the

# T cannot find, that any of the Kuril Ifles are called Aleyut in the
catalogue of thofe iflands given by Mr. Muller, 8.R.G. HI. p. 86—g2.
Neither are any of them laid down under that name in the Ruffian charts.

fea-

A PP. Bao (Dab vxe) gb

fea-cat, ard afterwards the Scivutcha, or fea-lion. The
fleth of the latter is prepared for food, and it is very deli-
cate. They carry the skins of thefe fea-animals to the
Eaftern iflands. Next fummer they go Eaftward, to the
Fox-iflands; and again lay their fhips up for the winter.
They then endeavour to procure, either by perfuafion
or force, the children of the inhabitants, particularly of
_the Tookoos, as hoftages. This being accomplifhed,
they deliver to the inhabitants fox-traps, and alfo skins
for their boats, for which they oblige them to bring furs
and provifions during the winter. After obtaining from
them a certain quantity of furs, by way of tax, for which
they give them quittances,; the Rufiians pay for the reft
in beads, falie pearls, goat’s wool, copper kettles, hatchets,
&c. In the {pring they get back their traps, and deliver
up their hoftages. They dare not hunt alone, nor in
{mall numbers, on account of the hatred of the natives.
Thefe people could not, for fome time, comprehend for
what purpofe the Ruffians impofed a tribute of {fkins,
which were not to be their own property, but belonged
to an abfent perfon ; for their Tookoos have no revenue.
Nor-could they be made to believe, that there were any
more Ruffians than thofe who came among them; for
in their own country all the men of «an ifland go out
together. At prefent they comprehend fomething of
Kamtchatka, by means of the Kamitchadals and:Koriacs
who.come along with the Ruffians; -and,on their-arrival

Mm love

26

266

A Ps PO Pe Ne ee oo

love to affociate with people whofe manner of life refem-

bles their own.

Krenitzin and Levafheff returned from this expedi-

tion into the mouth of the Kamtchatka river in autumn

1769.

The chart which accompanies this journal was com-
pofed by the pilot Jacob Yakoff, under the infpedtion of
the commanders * Krenitzin and Levafheff. The track
of the St. Paul is marked both in going out and return-
ing. The harbour of the St. Paul in the ifland Unalafh-
ka, and the ftraits of Alaxa, are laid down from obferva-
tions made during the winter 1768; and the iflands
conneéted by bearings and diftances taken during a cruife
of the St. Paul twice repeated.

In this chart the variation is faid to be

In Lat. Long. Points
54° 40’. 204. 9, Eatt.
52, HBO 201 Iz
52) ca 198 It
53/520 192 30 I
53 40 188 a
54050 162.180 o3
55 00 180 30 03

* Krenitzin was drowned foon after his return to Kamtehatka in a
canoe belonging to the natives.

INS

MPEP EON Dal So UF 267

Ne IL

Concerning the longitude of Kamtchatka, and of the Eafern
extremity of Afia, as laid down by the Ruffian Geo-
grapbhers.

HE important queftion concerning the longitude bLonsitud:

of the extreme
: P ia
of the extreme parts of Afia has been fo differ-*"* *4"

ently ftated by the moft celebrated geographers, that it
may not be amifs to refer the curious reader to the
principal treatifes upon that fubject. The proofs by
which Mr. Muller and the Ruffian geographers place the by Mr. Mul-

er and the

longitude of the Eaftern extremity of Afia beyond 200 pene
degrees from the firft meridian of Fero, or 180° 6! 15”
from Paris, are drawn from the obfervations of the fa-
tellites of Jupiter, made by Kraffilnikoff at Kamtchatka,
and in different parts of Siberia, and from the expedi-
tions of the Ruffians by land and fea towards T{chukot-

fkoi Nofs.

Mr. Engel calls in queftion the exactnefs-of thefen, mr. Engel,
ob‘ervations, and takes oif twenty-nine degrees from the

M 2 longitude

by Mr, Vau-
gondy.

Monf. Buache

{upports the

Syftem of the

Rafflans

againit Engel
and Vaugondy.

AR PRP TEMOND ADT ee ¢

longitude of Kamtchatka, as laid down by the Ruffians.
To this purpofe he has given to the public,

1. Memoires et obfervations geographiques et. cri-
tiques fur la fituation.des Pays Septentrionaux de lA fie
et de PAmerique. A Laufanne, 1765.

2. Geographifche und Critifche Nachricht ueber die
Lage der noerdlichen Gegenden von Afien und Ame-
rica.,' Mittau,, 177 2.

It appears to Monfieur de Vaugondy, that there are
not fufficient grounds for fo extraordinary a diminution:
accordingly he fhortens thé continent of Afia only
eleven degrees of longitude; and upon this fubject he
has given the two following treatifes :

1. Lettre au fujet d'une carte fyftematique des Pays.
Septentrionaux de l’Afie et de ’PAmerique. Paris, 1768.

2. Nouveau fyfteme geographique; par lequel on
concilie les anciennes connoiffances fur les Pays au
Nord Oueft de ’Amerique. Paris, 1774.

-

In oppofition to thefe authors, Monfieur Buache has.
publifhed an excellent treatife, entitled Memoires fur
les Pays de l’Afie et de PAmerique. Paris, 1775.

In

Os SEES? Bet Se = Te 2 ad

In this memoir he diffents from the opinions of
Mefirs Engel and Vaugondy; and defends the fyftem
of the Ruffian geographers in the following manner.
Monfieur Maraldi, after comparing the obfervations
of the fatellites of Jupiter, taken at Kamtchatka by
Kraffilnikoff, with the tables, has determined the lIon-
gitude of Ochotik, Bolcheresk, and the port of St. Peter
and Paul from the firft meridian of Paris as follows :

* Longitude of Ochotfk : 23 30 .
of Bolcherefk 10 17 17
of the Port ROMS) a5
Latitude of Ochotfk 59° 22’, of Bolcherefk 52° ss’, of

Ene? Port 5.301".

‘ihe

* Kraffilnikoff compared his obfervations with correfponding ones
taken at Peterfburg, which gave refults as follow :

From comparing an obfervation of an eclipfe of the firft fatellite,
taken at Ochotfk the 17th of January, 1743, with an obfervation of an
eclipfe of the fame fatellite taken at Peterfburg on the 15th of January
in the fame year, the difference of longitude between Peterfbure and
Ochotfk appeared to be 75. a1 29 5 from a comparifon of two other
fimilar obfervations the difference of longitude was 75, 31 3’, a mean
of which is 7°. 31 34, being the true difference between the meridians
of Peterfburg and Ochotfk according to thefe obfervations. By adding
the difference of the longitude between Peterfburg and Paris, which is
th, 52’ 25, we have the longitude of Ochotfk from Paris 9". 23) 59’,
which differs 29” only from the refult of Monf. Maraldi. Nov. Comm.
Pet. IIL. p. 470.

269

270

Bp PP ls BD te ait I.

The comparifon of the following refults, deduced
from correfponding obfervations* of the eclipfes of Ju-
piter’s fatellites taken at Bolcherefk at the port of Peter
and Paul by Kraffilnikoff, and at Pekin by the Jefuit mif-
fionaries, will fhew from their near agreement the care
and attention which muft have been given to the obfer-
vations ; and from hence there is reafon to fuppofe, that
the fufpicions of inaccuracy imputed to Kraflilnikoff
are ill founded.

1741, Old Stile.
h au
Jan. 27, Em. 1 -Sat. 12 iG tes cas edna e eae

and Paul.

Oi 420) 2 5 Jak mekiae

Difference of the meridian at Pekin

and the Port 2 48 50

Jan. 30, Imm. 111 Sat.) a2 5 30 at.the Port.
0 16530 eat Peking

In the fame manner the longitude of Bolcherefk appears from the cor-
refponding obfervations taken at that place and at Peterfburg to be
ioh. 20’ 22” differing from Mr. Maraldi about 2’ 5”. Nov. Com. p. 469.

But the longitude of the port of St. Peter and Paul, eftimated in the
fame manner from correfponding obfervations, differs from the longitude
as computed by Monf. Maraldi no more than 20 feconds, p. 459.

* Obf. Aft. Ecc. Sat. Jovis, &c. Nov. Com. Petr. vol. III. p. 452,
&e. Obf. Aft. Pekini facte. Ant. Hallerftein—Curante Max. Hell.
Vindibone, 1768.

Feb.

A SPIRE FEN Op E OX aed.

h

Reb. G8 Sate 8 33 26 atthe Port.

S43.) 45) ab Pekin.

2 49 41
h 4 rue

Feb. 12, Em. Tf Sat. LOun 207" Ag
Pv eg ©: 29
2 49 20

And the longitude from Paris

to Pekin belae hh 3¢ 23

The difference of the meridians of

Paris and the Port will be Io 2 5 3 6

Which differs only 31 feconds from the determination of Mr, Maraldi.

Marek 23.) Envy. rr Sats” 16 5 . 2, at Bolcherefk.

Dec. 31, Im. 1 Sat. LO.) Ft . sd at Bolcheredke.

Difference of the meridians of Pekin 2

and Bolcherefk

By takin

g the medium the difference of the longitude

1741. Old Style.
h

uy

oS Eg o at Pekin.

ee ee

mS AX 2

8 Ou? 4G att Pele.

between Bolcherefk and Pekinwillbefoundtobe —~ 4 I 3 7
Between Bolcherefk and Paris 10 18 (e)

Which differs only one minute and one fecond from the determination of Mr, Maraldi.

In

<9

A? © TECNMD 1 KI OR

In order to call in queftion the conclufions drawn from
the obfervations of Kraffilniko#, Monfieur de Vaugondy
pretends that the inftruments and pendulums, which he
made ufe of at Kamtchatka, were much damaged by the
length of the journey; and that the perfon who was
fent to repair them was an unskilful workman. But
this opinion feems to have been advanced without fuf-
ficient foundation. Indeed Kraffilnikoff* himfelf al-
lows that his pendulum occafionally ftopt, even when
neceflary to afcertain the true time of the obfervation.
He admits therefore that the obfervations which he took
under thefe difadvantages (when he could not correct
them by preceding or fubfequent obfervations of the fun
or ftars) are not to be depended upon, and has accord-
ingly diftinguifhed them by an afterisk ; there are how-
ever a number of others, which were not liable to any
exception of this kind; and the obfervations already

mentioned in this number are comprifed under this clafs.

If the arguments which have been already produced
fhould not appear fufficiently fatisfactory, we have the
further teftimony of Mr. Muller, who was in thofe parts
at the fame time with Kraffilnikof, and who is the only
competent judge of this matter now alive. For that re-

* Nov. Com, Pet. III. p. 444. '
4 {pectable

Yad Doe? 7B. IN ey e-toe 2 ke

fpectable author has given me the moft pofitive affur-
ances, that the inftruments were not damaged in fuch a
manner as to effect the accuracy of the obfervations when

in the hands of a skilful obferver.

i]

Go

That the longitude of Kamtchatka is laid down with (curry of

fufficient accuracy by the Ruffian geographers, will ap-
pear by comparing it with the longitude of Yakutsk ; for
as the latter has been clearly eftablifhed by a variety of
obfervations, taken at different times and by different
perfons, if there is any error in placing Kamtchatka fo
far to the Eaft, it will be found in the longitude between
Yakutsk and Bolcheresk. A fhort comparifon therefore
of fome of the different obfervations made at Yakutsk
will help to fettle the longitude of Kamtchatka, and
will ftill farther confirm the character of a skilful ob-
ferver, which has been given to Kraffilnikoff.

Kraffilnikoff in returning from Kamtchatka obferved
at Yakutsk feveral eclipfes of the fatellites of Jupiter,
of which the following are mentioned by him as the
moft exact.

1744, Old Style.

h f it
*Feb. 7. Imm, 1.Sat. 11 18 35 fomewhat doubtful.

Mii. FIs Sat. TO: 31 EE
29- Imm. 11. Sat. 13 6 ne
Mar. a. Inimigivn Sat., Ped 23") 10
Hpi. 19. Ems eee Sate 2 22 Fo |
* Nov. Comm. Petr. T. III. p. 460.
N n ‘Ehe

all exact.

Ae PP 5B a Dey Tig Beis FE

The fame eclipfes, as calculated by the tables of Mr.
Wargentin, for the meridian of Paris, are as follow:

h / uv h: ¢ i"

‘Feb. 7.Imm. 1.2 49 0 Difference of 8 29 3¢

27, Imms 1.02: 2) To). .the meridians 8 oai0 %
29.Imm.11. 4 38 17. of Paris — 8 28 37
Mar. 1.imm;.1..3 3 37... and Yakutsk .§ 29 22
Apr iO. EM... 1.18 5A be & 29 46

The mean of which is _ Sp ey

ee

The obfervations of Mr. Iflenieff+, made at Yakutsk in
the year 1769, to which place he was fent to obferve
the tranfit of Venus, have received the fanction of the
Imperial Academy. The longitude which he fixes for
Yakutsk is 8" 209/ 34”. this correfponds, to a fufficient
degree of exactnefs, with the longitude inferred from
the obfervations of Kraffilnikoff.

Thus the longitude of Yakutsk from Paris being
8 29° 4”. or in degrees 127 16 o. and of Bolche-
re{k rO 17 17, Or- in degrees 150° 109’ 15. the dit=
ference of the longitude of thefe two places, from aftro-
nomical obfervations, amounts to 1 48 8. or in de-
grees 27° 3’ o. The latitude of Bolcherefk is 52° 55’ 0”.
and that of Yakutfk 62° 1’ so”. andthe difference of

* For Iffenieff’s obfervations at Yakutfk, fee Nov. Com. Tom, XIV.
Part Ill. p.268 to 321.

x their

1 SW elon ed by SibeaeS Bl Ddut Sith EN 9

their longitudes being from the preceding determina-
tion 27 3 0. the direct diftance between the places
meafured on a great circle of the earth will appear by
trigonometry to be 16° 57’. or about 1773 verfts rec-
koning 104: verfts to a degree. ‘This diftance confifts
partly of fea, and partly of land; and a conftant inter-
courfe is kept up between the two places, by means of
Ochotsk, which lies between them. The diftance by fea
from Bolcheresk to Ochotsk is eftimated by fhips reckon-
ings to be 1254 verits, and the diftance by land from
Ochotsk to Yakutsk is 927 verfts, making altogether
2181. The direct diftance deduced by trigonometry,
{on a fuppofition that the difference of longitude between
Bolcheresk and Yakutsk is 27° 3.) is 1773, falling
fhort of 2181 by 408. a difference naturally to be ex-
pected from confidering, that neither roads by land, or
the courfe of fhips at fea, are ever performed precifely
on a great circle of the earth, which is the fhorteft line
that can be drawn on the earth’s furface between two
places.

By this agreement between the diftance thus eftimated,
and that deduced by computation, on fuppofing the dif-
ference of longitude between Yakut{k and Bolchere{k to
be 27° 3’. it feems very improbable, that there fhould
be an error of many degrees in the aftronomical deter-
mination,

IN Since

t&
ba |
Or

Longitude of
the extreme
parts of Afia
determined by
the Ruffians.

A PLP oF aD ak SK Tp F.

Since then the longitude between Fero and Peterf-
burgh is acknowledged to be 48°—that between Peterf-
burgh and Yakutfk 99° 21/—and as the diftance in lon-
gitude between Yakutik and Bolcherefk cannot be ma-
terially lefS than 27° 3’. it follows. that the longitude of
Bolcherefk from Fero cannot be much lefs than 174° 24’.
Where then fhall we find place for fo great an error as
27 degrees, which, according to Mr. Engel, or even of
11°. which, according to Monf. Vaugondy, is imputed.
to the Ruffian geographers, in fixing the longitude of

Kamtchatka?
From the ifle of Fero:

Longitude of Yakutfk LA.) Oy tah
of Ochotik 166.0" 9. oO
of Bolcherefk $7413 4
of the Port of St.Peter andPaul176 10 o

As no aftronomical obfervations have been made fur-.
ther to the Eaft than the Port of St. Peter and Paul, it is.
impoffible to fix, with any degree of certainty, the lon-
gitude of the North-Eaftern promontory of Afia. It ap-
pears however from Beering’s and Synd’s coafting voyages
towards Tichukotfkoi Nofs, and from other expeditions
to the parts by land and fea, that the coaft of Afia in
lat. 64. ftretches at leaft 23° 2 30. from the Port; or
to about 200° longitude from the Ifle of Fero.

IN* A,

APPENDIX FE. 277

IN | LET,

Summary of the proofs tending to fbew, that Beering and
Tichirikoff etther reached America i# 1741, or came
wery Near it.

‘HE coaft which Beering reached, and called Cape

St. Elias, lay, according to his eftimation, in

58°. 28’. N. latitude, and in longitude 236°. from Fero:

the coaft touched at by Tfchirikoff was fituated in lat.
§6-.; long, 241° *.

Steller, who accompanied Beering in his expedition Arguments ad-

vanced by

towards America, endeavours to prove, that they difco- S's" '°

prove that

é : - “4 Beesing and

vered that continent by the following arguments ¢: The richinikot
difcovered

coafts were bold, prefenting continued chains of high,Amerca.
mountains, fome of which were fo elevated, that their
tops were covered with fnow, their fides were cloathed

* The reader will find the narrative of this voyage made by Beering
and Tichirikoff in Muller’s account of the Ruffian Difcoveries,
S. R. G. JIL. 193, &c. |

+ Sce Krafhininikoff’s account of Kamtchatka, Chap. X. French:
Tranflation; Chap. 1V. Englith tranflation.

from:

BR . POP LEAN Deed rae,

from the bottom to the top with large tracts of thick and

fine wood }.

Steller went afhore, where he remained only a few
hours; during which time he obferved feveral {pecies of
birds which are not known in Siberia : amongft thefe was
the bird defcribed by * Catefby, under the name of Blue
Jay; and which has never yet been found in any country
but North America. The foil was very different from
that of the neighbouring iflands, and at Kamtchatka:
and he collected feveral plants, which are deemed by
botanifts peculiar to America.

The following lift of thefe plants was communicated
to me by Mr. Pallas: I infert them however without pre-

+ The recent navigations in thofe feas ftrongly confirm this argument.
For in general all the new difcovered iflands are quite deftitute of trees ;
even the largeft produce nothing but underwood, one of the moft Eaf-
terly Kadyak alone excepted, upon which fmall willows and alders were
obferved growing in vallies at fome diftance from the coaft. See
p- 118.

* See Catefby’s Natural Hiftory of Florida, Carolina, &c. This bird
is called by Linneus Corbus Criftatus. I have feen, in Mr. Pennant’s
MS account of the hiftory of the animals, birds, &c. of N. America,
and the Northern hemifphere, as high as lat. 60, an exact defcription of
this bird. Whenever that ingenious author, to whom we are indebted
for many elegant and interefting publications, gives this part of his la-
bours to the world, the zoology of thefe countries will be fully and ac-
curately confidered.

fuming

A PYPAEGNVDAT MX I.

fuming to decide, whether they are the exclufive growth
of North America: the determination of this point is the
province of botany.

Trillium Erectum.
Fumaria Cucullaria.
A fpecies of Dracontinm, with leaves like theCannalndica.
Uvularia Perfolata.
Heuchera Americana.
Mimulus Luteus, a Peruvian plant.

A fpecies of Rubus, probably a variety of the Rubus
Idzeus, but with larger berries, anda large laciniated
red calyx.

None of thefe plants are found in Kamtchatka, or in
any of the neighbouring iflands *.

* According to Mr. Pallas, the plants of the new-difcovered iflands:

are moftly alpine, like thofe of Siberia ;. this he attributes to the fhort-
nefs and coldnefs of the fummer, occafioned by the frequency of the

North winds. His words are: ‘* Quoique les hivres. de ces ifles foient ~

affez tempereés par l’air de la mer, de fagon que les. neiges ne couvrent
jamais la terre que par intervalles, la plupart des plantes y font alpines,.
comme en Siberie, par la raifon que l’eté y eft tout auf: courte et froide,
a caufe des. vents de nord qui y regnent.” This paflage is taken from a
MS treatife in the French language, relative to-the new-difcovered iflands
comnmunicated to me by my very learned and ingenious friend Mr. Pallas,
profeffor of natural hiftory at St. Peterfburg; from which Lhave been

enabled to collect a confiderable degree of information. "This treatife was.

fent to Monf. Buffon ; and that celebrated naturalift has made great ule
of it in the fifth volume of his Supplement a l’Hiftoire Naturelle.

Thou gh

Though thefe circumftances fhould not be confidered
as affording decifive proofs, that Beering reached Ame- |
rica; yet they will furely be admitted as {trong prefump-
tions, that he very nearly approached that continent ¢.

~- The reader will recolleét in this place, that the natives of the
contiguous iflands touched at by Beering and Tfchirikoff ‘ prefented to
«‘the Ruffians the calumet, or pipe of peace, which is a fymbol of
** friendfhip univerfal among. the people of North America, and an
‘* ufage of arbitrary inftitution peculiar to them.” See Robertfon’s Hitt.
Am. vol. I. p.276. S RG. IL. p.214.

Ne IV.

A BRB HORN B Ue AL 281

N° IV.

Lift of the principal charts reprefenting the Rufian
difcoveries.

HE following is an authentic lift of the principal
charts of the Ruffian difcoveries hitherto publifhed.
It is accompanied with a few explanatory remarks.

tr. Carte des nouvelles découvertes au nord de la mer Lif of the

Charts of the

du fud, tant a Eft de la Siberie et du Kamtchatka, qu’a Kuhe |
YOueft de la Nouvelle France dreffé fur les memoires de

Mr. de I’Ifle, par Philippe Buache, 1750. A memoir re-

lative to this chart was foon afterwards publifhed, with

the following title, Explication de la carte des nouvelles
découvertes au Nord de la mer du fud par Mr. de I’Ifle

Paris, 1752, 4to.

This map is alluded to, p. 26 of this work.

2. Carte des nouvelles deécouvertes entre Ja partie
orientale de l’Afie et ’Occidentale de PAmerique, avec des
vues fur la grande terre reconnue, par les Batlesne en Ii74TI,
par Phil. Buache, 1752.

3. Nouvelle carte des decouvertes faites par des vaif-
feaux Ruffiens aux cotés inconnus de l’Amerique fepten-
trionale avec les pais adjacens, drefsés fur les memoires

Oo authentiques

232

ARE SMD MWe. A

authentiques de ceux qui ont affifte 4 ces decouvertes, et
fur d’autres connoiffances ; dont on rend raifon dans un.
memoire fepare : a St. Peterfburg, a Academie Imperiale
des fclences, 1754. 175 Oe

This map was publifhed under the infpection of Mr.
Muller, and is ftill prefixed to his account of the Ruffian
difcoveries**. The part which exhibits the new difcovered
ifles and the coaft of America, was chiefly taken from
the chart of Beering’s expedition. Accordingly that con-
tinent is reprefented as advancing, between 50 and 60
degrees of latitude, to within a {mall diftance of Kamt-
chatka. Nor could there be any reafon to fufpedct, that
fuch experienced failors as Beering and Tfchirikoff had
miftaken a chain of iflands for promontories belonging to
America, until fubfequent navigators had actually failed
through that very part, which was fuppofed to be a

continent.

4. A fecond chart publifhed by the Academy, but not
under the infpection of Mr. Muller, bears the fame title

as the former.

Nouvelle carte des découvertes faites par des vaifleaux
Ruffiens aut cétés inconnus de PAmerique, &c. 1773.

* This map was publifhed by Jefferys under the following title: “A

“ Map of the Lifcoveries made by the Rufhans on the North Weft

“ coaft of America, publifhed by the Royal Academy of Sciences at

“ Peterfburg. Reptblifhed by Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to his
“ Majefty, 1761.”

I It

oe PRY ES VINE AD) od Ee

It is for the moft part a copy of a manufcript chart
known in Ruflia by the name of the chart of the Promy-
fhlenics, or merchant adventurers, and which was
fketched from the mere reports of perfons who had failed
to the New Difcovered Iflands. As to the fize and po-
fition of the New Difcovered Iflands, this chart of the
Academy is extremely erroneous: it is however free
from the above-mentioned miftake, which runs through
all the former charts, namely, the reprefenting of the
coaft of America, between 50 and 60 degrees of lati-
tude, as contiguous to Kamtchatka. It likewifé re-
moves that part of the fame continent lying in latitude
66, from 210° longitude to 224°, and in its ftead lays
down a large ifland, which ftretches between latitude
64° and 71° 30’, from 207° longitude to 218°, to
within a fmall diftance of both continents. But whe-
ther this latter alteration be equally juftifiable or not,
is a queftion, the decifion of which muft be left to fu-
ture navigators *.

Se carte

* Mr. Muller has long ago acknowledged, in the moft candid and
public manner, the incorrectnefs of the former chart, as far as it relates
to the part which reprefents America, as contiguous to Kamtchatka :
but he ftill maintains his opinion concerning the aétual vicinity of the
two continents in an higher latitude. ‘The following quotation is taken
from a letter written by Mr. Muller, in 1774, of which I have a copy
in my pofleffion. ‘* Pofterity muft judge if the new chart of the Aca-
“‘ demy is to be preferred to the former one ‘for removing the conti-

O03 «* nent

283.

284

AO Pee MING TIDE UK, ie

s. Carte du nouvel Archipel du Nord decouvert
parles Ruffes dans. la mer de Kamtchatka et d’Anadir.

This chart is prefixed to Mr. Stzhlin’s account of the
New Northern Archipelago. In the Englifh tranflation
it is called, A Map of the New Northern Archipelago,
difcovered by the Ruffians in the feas of Kamtchatka
and Anadyr. It differs from the laft mentioned chart
only in the fize and pofition of a few of the iflands,.
and in the addition of five or fix new ones, and is
equally incorrect. The New Difcovered Iflands are:
claffed in this chart into three groups, which are called
the Ifles of Anadyr *, the Olutorian + Ifles, and the Ale-
utian Ifles. The two laft mentioned charts are alluded.
to, p. 26 of this work.

6. An

« nent of America (which is reprefented as lying near the coaft of
«‘ Tfchutfki) to a greater diftance. Synd, who is more to be trufted.
‘<< than the Promyfchlenics, perfifts in the old fyftem. He places Ame-
*€ rica as near as before to Tfchukotfkoi Nofs, but knows nothing of a
s* Jarge ifland called Alafhka, which takes up the place of the conti-
«* nent, and which ought to be laid down much more to the South. or
«© South Eaft’”

* Monfieur Buffon has adopted the apellation and: erroneous repre-.
fentation of the ifles of Anadyr, in his Carte de deux regions Polaires,.
Jately publifhed. See Supplement a ’Hift. Nat. vol. V. p. 615.

+ The Olotorian Ifles are fo named from the fmall river of Olotora,
which flows into the fea at Kamtchatka, about latitude 61° The fol-

lowing

ALP =F -E IN (Dik 5% I.

6. An excellent map of the Empire of Ruffia, pub-
lifhed by the geographical department of the Academy
of Sciences at St. Peterfburg in 1776, comprehends the
greateft part of the New Difcovered Iflands. A reduced
copy of this chart being prefixed to this work, I fhall
only mention the authorities from whence the com-
pilers have laid down the New Difcovered Iflands.
The Aleutian ifles are partly taken from Beering’s
chart, partly from * Otcheredin’s, whofe voyage is related
in the eleventh chapter, and partly from other MS.

lowing remarks upon this group of iflands are taken from a Ietter of
Mr. Muller mentioned in the laft note. ‘* This appellation of Olu-
“© torian Ifles is not in ufe at Kamtchatka. Thefe iflands, called upon
“¢ this chart Olutorians, lie according to the chart of the Promytchle-
«© nics, and the chart of the Academy, very remote from the river Olu-
“tora: and it feems as if they were advanced upon this chart nearer
«* to Kamtchatka only in favour of the name. They cannot be fitu-
“ated fo near that coaft, becaufe they were neither feen by Beering
<¢ in 1728, nor by the Promyfchlenics, Novikoff and Bacchoff, when
“< they failed in 1748 from the Anadyr to Beering’s Ifland.” See p. 42.

* I have a MS. copy of Otcheredin’s chart in my poffeffion; but as
the Fox Iflands, in the general Map of Ruffia, are copied from thence,
the reader will find them laid down upon the reduced map prefixed to
this work. ‘Fhe anonymous author of the account of the Ruffian Dit
coveries, of whofe work I have given a tranflation in Part I. feems to
have followed, in moft particulars, Otcheredin’s chart and journal for
the longitude, latitude, fize, and pofition of the New Difcovered Iflands.
For this reafon, I fhould have had his chart engraved if the Fox Iflands
upon the gencral map had not been taken from thence: there feemed
no occafion therefore for increafing the expence of this work, already

too great from the number of charts, by the addition. of another not

abfolutely neceflary.

3 charts

285

AUP BH N Bix I.

charts of different navigators. The iflands near the
coaft of the Tichutiki are copied from Synd’s chart.
The Fox Iilands are laid down from the chart of Otche-
redin. The reader will perceive, that the pofition of
the Fox Hlands, upon this general map of Ruffia, is
materially different from that affigned to them in the
chart of Krenitzin’s and Levafheff’s voyage. In the
former they are reprefented as ftretching between
56° 61’ North latitude, and 210° and 230° longitude
from the ifle of Fero: in the latter they are fituated
between 51° 40’ and 55° 20’ latitude, and rg9° 30/ and
207° 30’ longitude. According to the moft recent ac-
counts received from Peterfburg, the pofition given to
them upon this general map is confiderably too much
to the North and Eaft; confequently that affigned to
them upon Krenitzin’s chart. is probably the moft to be
depended upon.

7. Carte des decouvertes Ruffes dans la mer orien-

tale et en Amerique, pour fervir a PEffai* fur le com-
merce

* "The twelfth chapter of this Effay relates to the difcoveries and
commerce of the Ruffians in the Eaftern Ocean. The account of the
Rufhan difcoveries is a tranflation of Mr. Stehlin’s Defcription of the
New Northern Archipelago, In addition, he has fubjoined an account
ef Kamtchatka, and a fhort fketch of the Ruffian commerce to the New
Difcovered Iflands, and to America. If we may believe the author of
this Eflay, the Ruffians have not only difcovered America, but they alfo

‘every year form occafional fettlements upon that ‘continent, fimilar to

thofe of the Europeans in Newfoundland. His words are: Il eft donc
certain,

&° PAP LEGNMD AT X& I,

merce de Ruffie, 1778, Amiterdam. It is natural to
expect, that a chart fo recently publifhed fhould be fu-
perior to all the preceding ones; whereas, on the con-
trary, it is by far the moft incorrect reprefentation of
the New Difcovered Iflands which has yet appeared.

certain, que les Ruffes ont decouvert le continent de Amérique ;_ mais
on peut affurer quils n’y ont encore aucun port, aucun comptoir.
Il en eft des établiffements de cette nation dans la grande terre, comme
de ceux des nations Européennes dans l’ifle de Terre Neve. Ses vaif-
feaux ou frégates arrivent en Amerique ; leurs equipages et les Cofaques
chaffeurs s’etabliffent fur la céte; les uns fe retranchent, et les autres
y font la chaffe et la péche du chien marin et du narval. Ils revicn-
nent enfuite au Kamtchatka,. apres avoir été relevés par d’autres fré-
gates fur les mémes parages, ou a des diftances plus ou moins eloignés,
&c. &c.” See Effai fur le commerce de la Ruffie, p. 292—293. Thus the
publick is impofed upon by fictitious and exaggerated accounts.

NE Me

287

oo
CO

A’ Pi yPPTEMIN WD 3T° 3X i.

1 ed

Pofition of the Andreanoffsky Ifles a/certained—Numbcr
of the Aleutian Ifles.

HEWN the anonymous author publifhed his ac-

count of the Ruffian Difcoveries in 1766, the
pofition of the Andreanoffsky les was not afcertained.
It was generally fuppofed, that they formed part of that
clufter of iflands, which Synd* fell in with in his voy-
age towards Tichukotfkoi Nofs ; and Buffon + reprefents
them to be the fame with thofe laid down in Stehlin’s
chart, under the name of Anadirsky Ifles. The ano-
nymous author in the paflage here referred to, fuppofes
them to be N. E. of the Aleutian Ifles ; “ at the diftance
“6 of 600 or 800 verits ; that their direction is probably
“ Batt and Weft, and that fome of them may unite
‘¢ with that part of the Fox Iflands which are moft
«¢ contiguous to the oppofite continent.” This conjec-
ture was advanced upon a_ fuppofition that the
Andreanoffsky Ifles lay near the coaft of the T{chutski ;

* See N° IX. of this Appendix.

-+- Ifles Anadyr ou Andrien. Supp. vol. V. p. 591.

and

A pk pi REN Dt IeX 4. 289

and that fome of the Fox Iflands were fituated in lati-
tude 61, as they are laid down upon the general map
of Ruffia. But according to fubfequent information,
the Andreanoffsky Ifles lie between the Aleutian and the pee hs
Fox Iflands, and complete the connection between!"
Kamtchatka and America*. Their chain is fuppofed to
begin in about latitude 53, near the moft Eafterly of the
Aleutian Ifles, and to extend in a {cattered feries towards
the Fox Iflands. The moft North Eafterly of thefe
iflands are faid to be fo near the moft Southerly of the
Fox Iflands, that they feem occafionally to have been
taken for them. An inftance of this occurs in p. 61
and 62 of this work; where Atchu and Amlach are
reckoned among the Fox Iflands. It is however more
probable, that they are part of the group called by the
Aleutian chief Negho +, and known to the Ruffians
under the name of Andreanofisky Iflands, becaufe they
were fuppofed to have been firft difcovered by Andrean
Tolftyk, whofe voyage is related in the feventh chap-
ter of the Firft Part.

I take this opportunity of adding, that the anonymous Number of the
Ae j Aleutian Ifles.
author, in defcribing the Aleutian Ifles, both in the
firftt and laft chapter of the account of the Ruffian

* P. 58. Some of the remoter iflands are faid to be E. S. E. of the
Aleiitian Ifles ; thefe muft be either part of the Andreanoffsky Ifles, or
the moft Southerly of the Fox Iflands.

++ See N° VIII. of this Appendix.
Pp difco-

290

7 A PEPLEANA DHT Aah

difcoveries, mentions only three; namely, Attak, Se-
mitfhi, Shemiya. But the Aleutian Ifles confift of a
much larger number; and their chain includes all the
lands comprehended by the iflander in the two groups
of Khao and Safignan *. Many of them are laid down
upon the general map of Ruffia; and fome of them
are occafionally alluded to in the journals of the Ruf
fian voyages t+.

* Sce Ne VIII.

+ See p. 30, and particularly p. 46, where fome of thefe iflands are
mentioned under the names of Ibiya, Kifka, and Olas.

N° VI.

Ae Prey Ys e. . 291

N° VI.

Conjectures concerning the proximity of the Fox Ilands ¢o
the continent of America.

HE anonymous author, in the courfe of his ac-

count of the Ruffian difcoveries, has advanced
many proofs drawn from natural hiftory, from which
he fuppofes the Fox Iflands to be at a {mall diftance
from the continent of America: hence he grounds his
conjecture, that “ the time is not far diftant when fome
of the Ruffian navigators will fall in with that coaft.”

The fmall willows and alders which, according to
Glottoff, were found growing upon Kadyak, do not ap-

pear to have been fufficient either in fize or quantity rele of Les

to afcertain, with any degree of certainty, the clofe vi- fox Man’ te
cinity of that ifland to America. River-otters, wolves,
bears, and wild boars, which were obferved upon the
fame ifland, will perhaps be thought to afford a ftronger
prefumption in favour of a neighbouring continent ;
martens were alfo caught there, an animal which is not
known in the Eaftern ports of Siberia, nor found upon
any of the other iflands. All the above mentioned ani-
mals, martens alone excepted, were feen upon Alakfu,
which is fituated more to the North Eaft than Kadyak,
Pp 2 and

29%

A RPPRPERB EX A.

and alfo rein-deers and wild dogs. To thefe proofs
drawn from natural hiftory, we muft add the reports of
a mountainous country covered with forefts, and of a
great promontory called Atachtak, lying {till more to the
N. E. which were prevalent among the inhabitants of
Alakfu and Kadyak.

Although thefe circumftances have been already men=-
tioned *, yet I have thought proper to recapitulate them
here, in order to lay before the reader in one point. of
view the feveral proofs advanced by the anonymous au-
thor, which feem to fhew, that the Fox Iflands are fituated.
near America. Many of them afford, beyond a doubt,
evident figns of a lefs open fea; and give certain marks.
of a nearer approach towards the oppofite continent.
But how far that diftance may be fuppofed, mutt be
left to the judgment of the reader; and remains to be
afcertained by fubfequent navigators. All that we know for
certain, is, that as far as any Ruffian veflels have hitherto
failed, a chain of iflands has been difcovered lying E. or
N. E. by E. from Kamtchatka, and ftretching towards
America. Part of this chain has only been touched at ;
the reft is unknown; and all beyond is uncertainty
and conjecture.

* See p. 68 and 69—116—118—170.
I

yo VET.

As (Pure TEIN 4 Dire Keo Fe 293

N’ VIL.

Of the T/chutski—Reports of the vicinity of America to
their coafi, frft propagated by them, feem to be confirmed
by late accounts from thofe parts.

| HE Tfchutfki, it is well known, inhabit the North TheTéhuti.
Eaftern part of Siberia; their country is a fmall

trac of land, bounded on the North by the Frozen Sea,

on the Eaft by the Eaftern Ocean; on the South it borders

upon river Anadyr, and on that of Kovyma to the Weft.

The N.E. cape of this country is called Tfchukotfkoi-

Nofs, or the promontory of the Tfchutfki. Its inhabitants

are the only people of Siberia who have not yet been

fubdued by the Ruffians. .

The anonymous author agrees with Mr. Muller in
fuppofing, that America advances to within a {mall dif-
tance of the coaft of the Tfchutski; which he fays “is
confirmed by the lateft accounts procured from thefe

parts.”

The firft intelligence concerning the fuppofed vicinity
between Afia and America was derived from. the reports
of

294

The Reports
concerning the
Proximity of
America to
their Coatt.

Aree? AN aD, A a

of the Tfchutski in. their intercourfe with the Ruffians.
Vague and uncertain accounts, drawn from a barbarous
people, cannot deferve implicit credit ; but as they have
been uniformly and invariably propagated by the inhabi-
tants of thofe regions from the middle of the laft century
to the prefent time, they muft merit at leaft the attention

of every curious enquirer.

Thefe reports were firft related in Muller’s account of
the Ruffian difcoveries, and have been lately thought
worthy of notice by Dr. Robertfon *, in his hiftory of
America. Their probability feems ftill further increafed
by the following circumftances. One Plenifner, a na-
tive of Courland, was appointed commander of Ochotsk,
in the year 1760, with an exprefs order from the court
to proceed as far as+ Anadirsk, and to procure all pof-
fible intelligence concerning the North Eaftern part of
Siberia, and the oppofite continent. In confequence of
this order Plenifner repaired to Anadirsk, and proceeded
likewife to Kovimskoi Oftrog: the former of thefe Ruffian
fettlements is fituated near the Southern; the latter near
the Weftern limits of the Tfchutski. Not content how-
ever with collecting all the information in his power from
the neighbouring Koriacs, who have frequent intercourfe

* Hift. of America, vol. I. p. 274—277.
++ Anadirfk has been lately deftroyed by the Ruffians themfelves.

with

AE ED EP ss BUEN AD: AT dex I.

with the Tichutski; he alfo fent one Daurkin into their
country. This perfon was a native Tfchutski, who
had been taken prifoner, and bred up. by the Ruffians :
he continued two years with his countrymen, and made
feveral expeditions with them to the neighbouring iflands,
which lie off the Eaftern coaft of Siberia.

The fum of the intelligence brought back by this
Daurkin was as follows: that Tfchukotfkoi-Nofs is a
very narrow peninfula; that the Tichutfki carry on a
trade of barter with the inhabitants of America; that
they employ fix days in paffling the itrait which feparates
the two continents: they direct their courfe from ifland
to ifland, and the diftance from the one to the other is
fo {mall, that they are able to pafs every night afhore.
More to the North he defcribes the two continents as ap-
proaching ftill nearer to each other, with only two iflands
lying between them.

This intelligence remarkably coincided with the ac-
counts collected by Plenifner himfelf among the Koriacs.
Plenifner returned to Peterfburg in 1776, and brought
with him feveral * maps and charts of the North Eaftern

parts

* The moft important of thefe maps comprehends the country of the
Tfchutfki, together with the nations which border immediately upon
them, ‘This map was chiefly taken during a fecond expedition made by

major

a2

#. oR POSE MN ADE a * B

parts of Siberia, which were afterwards made ufe of in
the compilation of the general map of Ruffia, publithed
by the academy in 17767. By thefe means the country
of the Tichutiki has been laid down with a greater de-
gree of accuracy than heretofore. Thefe are probably
the late accounts from thofe parts which the anonymous
author alludes to.

major Pauloffsky againft the Tichutfki; and his march into that country
is traced upon it. The firft expedition of that Ruffian officer, in which
he penetrated as far as Tichukotfkoi-Nofs, is related by Mr. Muller,
S.R.G. IIL. p.134—138. We have no account of this fecond expe-
dition, during which he had feveral fkirmifhes with the Tfchutfki, and
came off victorious; but upon his return was furprifed and killed by
them. This expedition was made about the year 1750.

+ This detail I procured during my continuance at Peterfburg from
feveral perfons of credit, who had frequently converfed with Plenifner
fince his return to the capital, where he died in the latter end of the
year 1778.

N° VII.

APPENDIX LL oy

N° VIII.

Lift of the new-difcovered Iflands, procured from an
Aleutian chief—Catalogue of iflands called by different
names in the Account of the Ruffian Difcoveries.

HE fubfequent lift of the new-difcovered iftands

was procured from an Aleutian chief brought to

Petersburg in 1771, andexamined at the defireof theEm-
prefs by Mr. Muller, who divides them into four principal M:. Muller

divides the
: ees : 2 2 dif d
groups. He regulates this divifion partly by a fimilarity ints isto.
four Groups.

of the language {poken by the inhabitants, and partly by
vicinity of fituation.

The firft group*, called by the iflander Safignan, rit Group,
called Safig~
comprehends, 1. Beering’s Ifland. 2. Copper Ifland.»™- .

3. Otma. 4. Samya, orShemiya. 5. Anakta.

The fecond group is called Khao, and comprifes eight giro, the
iflands: 1. Immak. 2. Kifka. 3. Tchetchina. 4. Ava. Syed
5. Kavia. 6. T{chagulak. 7. Ulagama. 8. Amtf-
chidga.

* Thefe two firft groups probably belong to the Alciitian Ties.

Q4q The

298 A PEP, EONS Di Nix he

Negho, the "The third general name is Negho, and comprehends
the iflands known by the Ruffians under the name of
Andreanoffskye Oftrova : Sixteen were mentioned by the
iflander, under the following names :
1, Amatkinak. 2. Ulak. 3. Unalga. 4. Navotfha.
5. Uliga. 6. Anagin. 7. Kagulak. 8. Illafk, or
Wak. g.Takavanga, upon which isa volcano. to. Ka-
naga, which has alfo a volcano. 11. Leg. 12. Shet-
fhuna. 13. Tagaloon: near the coafts of the three
laft mentioned iflands feveral fmall rocky ifles are fitu-
ated. 14. An ifland without a name, called by the

Ruffians Goreloi*. 415. Atchu. 16. Amla.

Sees Tne fourth group is denominated Kavalang; and
comprehends fixteen iflands: thefe are called by the Ruf-
fians Lyffie Oftrova, or the Fox Iflands.

1.Amuchta. 2. Tichigama. 3. Tfchegula. 4. Unif-
tra. 5. Ulaga,. 6. Tana-gulana. 7.Kagamin. 8. Ki-
galga, 9. Schelmaga. to. Umnak. 11, Aghun-Alafh-
ka. 12. Unimga. At a fmall diftance from Unimga,
towards the North, ftretches a promontory called by the
iflanders the Land of Black Foxes, with a {mall river

called Alafhka, which empties itfelf oppofite to the laft-

* Goreloi is fuppofed by the Ruffian navigators to be the fame ifland
as Atchu, and is reckoned by them among the Fox Iflands. See part I.
p- 61. and N° V. of this appendix.

2 mentioned

& PyePy ExiNy Dy I 4x hh

mentioned ifland into a gulf proper for a haven. The
extent of this land is not known. To the South Eaft of
this promontory lie four little iflands. 13. Uligan.
14. Antun-duflume. 145. Semidit. 16. Senagak.

Many of thefe names are neither found in the journals
or charts; while others are wanting in this lift which are
mentioned in both journals and charts. Nor is this to be
wondered at; for the names of the iflands have been
certainly altered and corrupted by the Ruffian navigators.
Sometimes the fame name has been applied to different
iflands by the different journalifts; at other times the
fame ifland has been called by different names. Several
inftances of thefe changes feem to occur in the account
_of the Ruffian difcoveries : namely,

Att, Attak, and Ataku.

Shemiya and Sabiya.

Atchu, Atchak, Atach, Goreloi or Burned Iffand.
Amlach, Amlak, Amleg.

Ayagh, Kayachu.

Alakfu, Alagfhak, Alachfhak.

Aghunalafhka, Unalafhka.

Qq 2 Ne IX.

299

Hlands called
by different
Names in the
Ruffian
Journals.

509)

A PSP‘ EVNUDE1x> &

IN®- TX.

Voyage of Lieutenant Synd to the North Eafi of Siberia—
He difcovers a clufter of tflands, and a promontory,,
which he Juppofes to belong to the continent of America,.
lying near the coaft of the Tichuttki.

N 1764 lieutenant Synd failed from Ochotsk, upon 2:
voyage of difcovery towards the continent of America..
He was ordered to take a different courfe from that held
by the late Ruffian veffels, which lay due Eaft from the
coaft of Kamtchatka. As he fteered therefore his courfe
more to the North Eaft than any of the preceding nayi-
gators, and as it appears from all the voyages related in
the firft part of this work *, that the vicinity of America
is to be fought for in that quarter alone, any accurate
account of this expedition would not fail of being highly
interefting. It is therefore a great mortification to me,
that, while I raife the reader’s curiofity, I am not able
fully to fatisfy it. The following intelligence concern-
ing this voyage is all which I was able to procure. It is
accompanied with an authentic chart.

* See p. 27.
In

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In 1764 Synd put to fea from the port of Ochotfk, but
did not pafs (we know not by what accident) the
fouthern Cape of Kamtchatka and Shufhu, the firft Kuril
Hle, before 1766. He then fteeredhis courfe North at
no great diftance from the coaft of the Peninfula, but
made very little progrefs that year, for he wintered South
of the river Uka..

The following year he failed from Ukinfki Point due
Eaft and North Eaft, until he fell in with a clufter of
Hlands* ftretching between 61 and 62 degrees of latitude,
and 195° and 202° longitude. Thefe iflands lie South
Eaft and Eaft of the coaft of the Tfchutfki; and feveral
of them are fituated very near the fhore. Befides thefe
fmall iflands, he difcovered alfo a mountainous coaft
lying within.one degree of the coaft of the Tfchutski,
between 64 and 66 North latitude; its moft Weftern
extremity was fituated in longitude 38° 15’ from
Ochotsk, or 199° 1” from Fero. This iffand.is laid
down in his chart as part of the continent of Ame-

rica;. but we cannot determine upon: what proofs he

grounds this reprefentation, until a more circumftantial.

account of his voyage is communicated to. the public.

* Thefe are certainly fome of the iflands which the Tfchuttki refort
td in their way to what they call the continent of America.

I Synd

308

302

ASP OR SB NOP = Ss I.

Synd feems to have made but a fhort ftay afhore. In-
ftead of endeavouring to furvey its coafts, or of fteering
more to the Eaft, he almoft inftantly fhaped his courfe
due Weft towards the courfe of the Tfchutski, then
turned dire&tly South and South Weft, until he came
oppofite to Chatyrskoi Nofs. From that point he conti-
nued to coaft the peninfula of Kamtchatka, doubled the
cape, and reached Ochotsk in 1768.

N° X.

a” Pe Pl ee Ns De Bt Xe OE

i a

Specimen of the Aleutian language.

Sun Agalya One Tagatak
Moon .Tughilag Two Alag
Wind Katfhik Three Kankoos
Water Tana Four Setf{chi
Fire Kighenag Five. Tshaw.
Earth hut | Oollae Six Atoo
Chief Toigon Seven. Ooloo
Man Taiyaga Eight Kapoé
Wood Yaga ‘Nine ‘Shifet
Shield Kuyak Ten. Afok..
Sea otter ‘Tf{cholota
Name oF the Kanagitt..

nation.

It is very remarkable, that. none of thefe words bear

the leaft refemblance to thofe.of the fame fignification, ,
which are found in the different dialects {fpoken by the.
Koriaks, Kamtchadals, and the inhabitants of.the Kuril.

Ifles.

N° XI.

394

A PrP, Er Ny Drom &

N° XI.

Attempts of the Ruffians fo di/cover a North Eafi pagage—
Voyages from Archangel towards the Lena—From the
Lena fowards Kamtchatka—Extraci from Mauller’s ac-
count of Defchneft’s voyage round Tschukotskoi Nofs—
Narrative of a voyage made by Shalauroff from the Lena
to Shelatskoi Nofs.

HE only communication hitherto known between

the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, or between Europe
and the Eaft Indies, is made either by failing round the
Cape of Good Hope, or by doubling Cape Horn. Butas
both thefe navigations are very long and dangerous, the
great object of feveral late European voyages has been
turned towards the difcovery of a North Eaft or a North
Weft paflage. As this work is entirely confined to the
Ruffian navigations, any difquifition concerning the
North Weft paffage is totally foreign to the purpofe ; and
for the fame reafon in what relates to the North Eait, thefe
refearches extend only to the attempts of the Ruffians for
the difcovery of that paflage.

The advocates for the North Eaft paffage have divided
that navigation into three principal parts; and by en-
deavouring to fhew that thefe three parts have been

paffed

a BP, EN, DE. x I,

paffed at different times, they conclude from thence,
that the whole when taken collectively is practicable.
Thefe three parts are, 1. from Archangel to the Lena;
2. from the Lena to Kamtchatka ; 3. from Kamtchatka
to Japan. With refpeét to the latter, the connec- |
tion between the feas of Kamtchatka and Japan firft ap-
peared from fome Japanefe veflels, which were wrecked
upon the coaft of Kamtchatka in the beginning of this
century ; and this communication has been unqueftion-
ably proved from feveral voyages made by the Ruffians

from Kamtchatka to Japan*,

No one ever aiferted that the firft part from Archangel,
to the Lena was ever performed in one voyage; but {e-
veral perfons having advanced that this navigation has
been made by the Ruffians at different times, it becomes
neceflary to examine the accounts of the Ruffian voyages

in thofe feas.

395

In 1734 lieutenant Morovieff failed from Archangel voyages from

Archangel to

toward the river Oby; and got no farther the firft year th
than the mouth of the Petchora. The next fummer he
pafied through the ftraits ef Weygatz into the fea of
Kara; and coatted along the Eaftern fide of that fea, as
high as latitude 72° 30’, but did not double the pro-
montory which feparates the fea of Kara from the Bay of

* S.R.G. III. p. 78, and p. 166, &c.
RE Oby.

e Yeniféi.

Unfuccefsful
Attempt to
pals from the
Yeniléi to the
Lena.

Voyage of
Pi onthhiftth-
eff from the
Lena towards
the. -Yeniféi.

A PoP EN OE gt Ls L

Oby. In 1738, the lieutenants Malgyin and Skurakoft
doubled that promontory with great difficulty, and en-
tered the bay of Oby. During thefe expeditions the na-
vigators met with great dangers and impediments from
the ice. Several unfuccefsful attempts were made to pafs
from the bay of Oby to the Yenifei, which was at laft
effected, in 1738, by two veffels commanded by lieute-
nants Offzin and Kojfkelef The fame year the pilot
Feodor Menin failed from the Yenife1 rowards the Lena:
he fteered North as high as lat. 73°. 15’. and when he
came to the mouth of the Piafida he was {topped by the
ice; and finding it impoflible to force a paflage, he re--
turned to the Yenifei *.

July, 1735, lieutenant Prontfhifttheff failed from
Yakutsk up the Lena to its mouth, in order to pafs
from thence by fea to the Yenifei. The Weftern moutlis
of the ena were fo choaked up with ice, that he was
obliged to pafs through the moft Eafterly one; and was
prevented by contrary winds from getting out until the
r3th of Auguit. Having fteered North Wett aiong the
iffands which lie fcattered before the mouths of the Lena,
he found- himfelf in lat. 70° 4’. He faw much ice to
the North and North Eaft; and- obferved.ice-mountains
from twenty-four to fixty feet in height. He {teered be-
twixt the ice; which inno: place. left. a free channel ‘of

#- Pl 145 to-140.

greater

&® PyP) Err Ne De WcXe h

areater breadth than an hundred or two hundred yards.’
The veffel being much damaged, on the 1{t of Septem-
ber he ran up the mouth of the Olenek, which, accord-
ing to his eftimation, licsin 72° 30’, near which place
he paffed the winter *.

He got out of the Olenek the beginning of Auguft in
the following year; and arrived on the third at the mouth
of the Anabara, which he found to lie in lat. 73° 1’.
There he continued until the roth, while fome of the
crew went up the country in fearch of fome mines. On
the roth he proceeded on his voyage: before he reached
the mouth of the Chatanga he was {o entirely furrounded
and hemmed in with ice, that it was not without great
difficulty and danger he was able to get loofe. He then
obferved a large field of ice ftretching into the fea, on
which account he was obliged to continue near the fhore,
and to run up the Chatanga. The mouth of this river
was in lat 74° 9’. From thence he bent his courfe moftly
Northward along the fhore, until he reached the mouth
of the Taimura on the 18th. He then proceeded fur-
ther, and followed the coaft towards the Piafida. Near
the fhore were feveral {mall iflands, between which and
the land the ice was immovably fixed. He then directed

his courfe toward the fea, in order to pafs round the
* Gmelin Reife, II. 425 to 427.

Bor 2 chain

7

308 ££ PaPt EVN DAE 4a H

chain of iflands. At firft he found the fea more free
to the North of the iflands, while he obferved much ice
lying between them. He came at length to the laft ifland,
fituated in lat. 77° 25’. Between this ifland and the
fhore, as well as on the other fide of the ifland which lay
moit to the North, the ice was firm andimmovable. He
attempted however to fteer {till more to the North; and
having advanced about fix miles, he was prevented by
a thick fog from proceeding : this fog being difperfed,
he faw oneach fide, and before him, nothing but ice;
Prevented by @ithyat towards the fea was not fixed; but the accumulated
Teomoe:. maffes were all fo clofe, that the {malleft veffel could not
pect i have worked its way through. Still attempting however
to pafs to the North; he was forced by the ice N. E,
Apprehenfive of being hemmed in, he returned to the
Taimura; and from thence got, with much difficulty

and danger, tothe Olenek, onthe 29th of Auguft.

This narrative of Prontfhiftfheff’s expedition is
extracted from the account of profeffor * Gmelin: ac-
cording to Mr. Muller +, who has given a curfory relation
of the fame voyage, Prontfhifttheff did not quite reach the
mouth of the Taimura; for he there found the chain of
iflands ftretching from the continent far into the fea..

The channels between the iflands were fo choaked up:

* Gmelin Reife, vol. II. p. 427 to p» 434.
¥ S.R.G. IIL p. 149, 150.
with

Was tli te SA Sig It

with ice, that it was impoffible to force a paflage: after
fteering as high as lat. 77° 25’, he found fuch a plain
of fixed ice before him, that he had no profpect of
getting any farther. Accordingly he returned to the
Olenek.

Another attempt was made to pafs from the Lena to
the Yenifei in 1739, by Chariton Laptieff, with equal
bad fuccefs; and he relates, that between the rivers
Piafida and Taimura, a promontory ftretches into the
fea which he could not double, the fea being entirely
frozen up before he could pafs round *.

From alf thefe circumftances we muft collect, that the

whole {pace between Archangel and the Lena has never p

yet been navigated; for in going Eaft from the Yenifei
the Ruffians could get no farther than the mouth of the
Piafida ; and, incoming Weft from the Lena, they were
ftopped, according to Gmelin, North of the Piafida;
and, according to Muller, Eaft of the Taimura.

The Ruffians, who fail almoft annually from Arch-
angel, and other towns, to Nova Zemla, for the pur-
pofe of catching fea-horfes, feals, and white bears, make

* Gmelin Reife, p. 440. Mr. Muller fays only, that Laptieff met
with the fame obftacles which forced Prontfhifttheff to return. S. R. G,
Ill. p. 150.

5 to

|

Cape between
the Rivers
Chatanga and
iafida never
yet doubled,

310

AP PEN Dw Kin &

to the Weftern Coaft; and no Ruffian vcffel has ever
paffed round its North Eaftern extremity *.

The

* Although this work is confined to the Ruffian Difcoveries, yet as
the N. E. paffage is a fubject of fuch interefting curiofity, it might feem
an omiffion in not mentioning, that feveral Englifh and Dutch veffels
have pafled through the Straits of Weygatz into the fea of Kara; they
all met with great obftructions from the ice, and had much difficulty in
getting through. See Hiftoire Gen. Des Voyages, tome XV. paflim.

In 1696 Heemfkirk and Barentz, after having failed along the Weftern
coaft of Nova Zemla, doubled the North Eaftern cape lying in latitude
77°20, and got no lower along the Eaftern coaft than 76°, where they
wintered.

See an account of this remarkable voyage in Girard Le Ver’s Vraye
Defcription De Trois Voyages De Mer, p.13 to 45; and Hift. Gen.
des Voy. tom. XV. p. 111 to 139.

No veflel of any nation has ever paffed round that Cape, which extends
to the North of the Piafida, and is laid down in the Ruffian charts in
about 78° latitude. We have already feen that no Ruffian veflel has
ever got from the Piafida to the Chatanga, or from the Chatanga to the
Piafida ; and yet fome authors have pofitively aflerted, that this promon-
tory has been failed round. In order theretora to elude the Ruffian ac-
counts, which clearly aflert the contrary, it is pretended, that Gmelin
ahd Muller have purpofely concealed fome parts of the Ruffian journals,
and have impofed upon the world by a mifreprefentation of faéts. But
without entering into any difpute on this head, I can venture to aflirm,
that no fufficient proof has been as yet advanced in fupport of this af-
fertion ; and therefore until fome pofitive information fhall be produced,
we cannot deny plain facts, or give the preference to hearfay evidence
over circumttantial and well attefted accounts.

Mr. Engel has a remarkable paffage in his Effai fur une route par la
Nord Eft, which it may be proper to confider in this place, becaufe
he aflerts in the moft pofitive manner, that two Dutch veffels formerly
paffed three hundred leagues to the North Eaft of Nova Zemla; from

thence

=

GP OP UE ON wD at rxee . i

The navigation from the Lena to Kamtchatka now re-Stmpis 0

the Rufliaas to
afs from the

maifis to be confidered. If we may believe fome authors, }.,,
Kamiechatka,

this

thence he infers that they muft have doubled the above-mentioned Cape,
which extends to the North of the Piafida, and have got at leaft as far
Eaft as the mouth of the Olenek. His words are L’Illuftre Societé Roy-
ale, fous l’an 1675, rapporte ce voyage et dit, que peu d’années aupara-
vant une Societé de merchands d’Amfterdam avoit fait une tentative pour
chercher le paflage du Nord Eff, et équippa deuxvaifleaux les quels etant
paflé au feptante neuf ou huitantieme degre de latitude, avoient poufleé fe-
lon Wood, jufqu’ a trois cent lieues a Eft de laNouvelle Zemble, &c. &c,
Upon this faét he founds his proof that the navigation from Archangel
to the Lena has been performed. Par confequent cette partie de la route
a été faite. He refts the truth of this account on the authority of the
Philofophical Tranfactions, and of Captain Wood, who failed upon‘a
voyage forthe difcovery of the North Eaft paflage in 1676. The latter,
in the relation of his voyage, enumerates feveral arguments which in-
duced him to believe the practicability of the North Eaft paflage—
“© The feventh argument,” he fays, ‘© was another narration, printed -in
<« the Tranfactions, of two fhips of late that had attempted the paflage,
“ failed 300 leagues to the Eaftward of Nova Zemla, and had after proie-
“ cuted the voyage, had there not a difference arofe betwixt the undertakers
“and the Eaft-India company.” We here -findsthat Captain Wood re-
fers to the Philofophical Tranfa¢ctions for his authority. ‘The narration
printed in the ‘Tranfactions, and which is:alluded te by both Captain
Wood and Mr. Engel,’-is-to be found in Vol. IX. of the Philofophical
Tranfactions, p. 209, for December, 1674. It confifts of-a very curious
“© Narrative of fome obfervations made upon feveral voyages, under-
«© taken to find a way forfailing about the North to the Eaft-Indies);
«© together with inftructions given by the Dutch Eaft-India Company
‘© for the difcovery of the famous land of Jeffo near Japan.” Thefe in-
fiructions were, in 1643, given to Martin Geritfes Vries, captain of the
fhip Caftricum,. “ who fet out to difcover the unknown Eattern coaft

4 ve of

312

AP A THON 4D OTE “In

this navigation has been apen for above a century and
an half; and feveral veficls have at difierent times
pafied

‘¢ of Tartary, the kingdom of Catay, and the Weft coaft of America,

“ together with the ifles fituate to the Haft of Japan, cried up for their
‘* riches of gold and filver.” ‘Thefe inftructions contain no relation of
two Dutch veffels, who paffed 300 leagues Eaft of Nova Zemla.
Mention is made of two Dutch veffels, ‘* who were fent out in the
<< year 1639, under the command of Captain Kwaft, to difcover the
«© Eaft coaft of the Great Tartary, efpecially the famous gold and filver
‘¢ iflands; though, by reafon of feveral unfortunate accidents, they
“ both returned re infeéti.” Short mention is afterwards made of Cap-
tain Kwatt’s journal, together with the writings of the merchants who
were with him, as follows: ‘* That in the South Sea, at the 371 de-
“¢ orees Northern latitude, and about 400 Spanith, or 343 Dutch miles,
“‘ that is, 28 degrees longitude Eaft of Japan, there lay a very great
«© and high ifland, inhabited by a white, handfome, kind and civilized
“© people, exceedingly opulent in gold and filver, &c. &c.”

From thefe extracts it appears, that, in the fhort account of the jour-
nals of the two Dutch vetlels, no longitude is mentioned to the Eaft of
Nova Zemla; .but the difcoveries of Kwaft were made in the South
fea, to which place he, as well as Captain Vries afterwards, muft have
failed round the Cape of Good Hope. The author of the narrative
concludes, indeed, that the N. E. patlage is practicable, in the follow-
ing words: “to promote this paflage out of the Haft-Indies to the
«© North into Europe, it were neceflary to fail from the Eaft-Indies to
“‘ the Weftward of Japan, all along Corea, to fee how the fea-coafts
“¢ trend to the North of the faid Corea, and with what conveniency
“ fhips might fail as far as Nova Zemla, and to the North of the fame.
«© Where our author faith, that undoubtedly it would be found, that
‘«¢ having paffed the North corner of Nova Zemla, or, through Wey-
‘© gatz, the North end of Yelmer land, one might go on South-Faft-
«‘ ward, and make a fuccefsful voyage.” But mere conjectures cannot
be admitted as evidence. As we can fird no other information relative

to

APPENDIX I 313

paffed round the North Eaftern extremity of Afia. But
if we confult the Ruffian accounts, we fhall find, that fre-
quent expeditions have been unqueftionably made from
the Lena to the Kovyma; but that the voyage from the
Kovyma round Tichukot{koi Nofs, into the Eaftern ocean,
has been performed but once. According to Mr. Muller,
this formidable cape was doubled in the year 1648.
The material incidents of this remarkable voyage are as
follow.

Narrative of

“In 1648 feven kotches or veffels failed from the pny.
voyage round

mouth of the river Kovyma#, in order to penetrate into Tichukodko-
the Eaftern Ocean. Of thefe, four were never more
heard of: the remaining three were commanded by
Simon Defhneff, Gerafim Ankudinoff, two chiefs of the
Coffacs, and Fedot Alexeeff, the head of the Promyth-
lenics. Defhneff and Ankudinoff quarrelled before their

to the fact mentioned by Captain Wood and Mr. Engel, (namely, that
two Dutch veflels have paffed 300 leagues to the Eaft of Nova Zemla)
that we have no reafon to credit mere affertions without proof: we
may therefore advance as a faét, that hitherto we have no authentic ac-
count, that any veflel has ever pafled the cape to the Eaft of Nova
Zemla, which lies North of the river Piafida. See Relation of Wood’s
Voyage, &c. in the Account of feveral late Voyages and Difcoveries to
the South and North, &c. London, 1694, p. 148. See alfo Engel,
Mem. et Obf. Geog. p. 231 to 234.

I fhould not have fwelled my book with this extra@, if the Eng-
lith tranflation of Mr. Muller’s work was not extremely erroneous in fome
material paffages. S.R.G. III. p. 8—20.

+> Mr. Muller calls it Kolyma.
Ss departure :

314

A POP OE Wa ee ae Oe

departure: this difpute was owing to the jealoufy of
Defhneff, who was unwilling that Ankudinoff fhould
fhare with him the honour, as well as the profits, which
might refult from the expected difcoveries. Each veffel
was probably manned with about thirty perfons; An-
kudinoff’s, we certainly know, carried that number.
Defhneff promifed before-hand a tribute of feven fables,
to be exacted from the inhabitants on the banks of Ana-
dyr; fo fanguine were his hopes of reaching that river.
This indeed he finally effected; but not fo foon, nor with
fo little difficulty, as he had prefumed.

On’ the 20th of June, 1648, the three veffels failed
upon this remarkable expedition from the river Kovyma.
Confidering the little knowledge we have of the extreme
regions of Afia, it is much to be regretted, that all the
incidents of this voyage are not circumftantially related.
Defhneff *, in an account of his expedition fent to

Yakutsk,

* In order thoroughly to underftand this narrative, it is neceffary to
inform the reader, that the voyage made by Defhneff was entirely for-
gotten, until the year 1736, when Mr. Muller found, in the archives of
Yakutfk, the original accounts of the Ruffian navigations in the Frozen
Ocean.

Thefe papers were extracted, under his infpection, at Yakutfk, and
fent to Peterfburg ; where they are now preferved in the library belong-
ing to the Imperial Academy of Sciences: they confift of feveral folio
volumes. The circumftances relating to Defhneff are contained in the
fecond volume. Soliverftoff and Stadukin, having laid claim to the dif-

I covery

ASR ie Be Dad I.

Yakutsk, feems only as it were accidentally to mention
his adventures by fea: he takes no notice of any occur-
rence

covery of the country on the mouth of the Anadyr, had afferted, in
confequence of this claim, that they had arrived there by fea, after
having doubled Tichukotfkoi Nofs. Defhneff, in anfwer, fent feveral
memorials, petitions, and complaints, againft Stadukin and Soliverftoff,
to the commander of Yakutfk, in which he fets forth, that he had
the fole right to that difcovery, and refutes the arguments advanced by
the others. From thefe memorials Mr. Muller has extra¢ted his account
of Defhneft’s voyage. When I was at Peterfburg I had an opportunity
of feeing thefe papers : and as they are written in the Ruffian language,
I prevailed upon my ingenious friend Mr. Pallas to infpect the part
which relates to Defhneff. Accordingly Mr. Pallas, with his ufual readi-
nefs to oblige, not only compared the memorials with Mr. Muller’s ac-
count, but even took the trouble to make fome extracts in the moft
material paflages : thefe extracts are here fubjoined ; becaufe they will not
only ferve to confirm the exactnefs of Mr. Muller; but alfo becaufe they
tend to throw fome light on feveral obfcure paflages. In one of Defh-
neff’s memorials he fays, ‘‘’To go from the river Kovymato the Anadyr,
‘* a great promontory muft be doubled, which ftretches very far into
“¢ the fea: it is not that promontory which lies next to the river
“ Tfchukotskia. | Stadukin never arrived at this great promontory :
“¢ near it are two iflands, whofe inhabitants make holes in their under-
‘lips, and infert therein pieces of the fea-horfe tufh, worked into the
<< form of teeth. This promontory ftretches between North and North
<¢ Faft : It is known on the Ruffian fide by the little river Stanovie,
‘¢ which flows into the fea, near the fpot where the Tichutfki have ere¢t-
<¢ ed a heap of whale-bones like a tower. The coaft from the promon-
«« tory turns round towards the Anadyr, and it is poffible to fail with a
<¢ good wind from the point to that river in three days and nights, and
‘© no more: and it will.take up no more time to go by land. to the fame
“river, becaufe it difcharges itfelf into a bay.’? In another memorial
Dethneff fays, ‘‘ that he was ordered to go by fea from the Indigirka

Ss 2 “ta

3r

AUP Pr Ee DP Ae

rence until he reached the great promontory of the
Tfchutfki; no obftruGtions from the ice are mentioned,
and probably there were none; for he obferves upon

another occafion, that the fea is not every year fo free

“to the Kovyma; and from thence with his crewto the Anadyr, which
«* was then newly difcovered. That the firft time he failed from the
«‘ Kovyma, he was forced by the ice to return to that river; but that
‘ next year he again failed from thence by fea, and after great danger,
¢¢ misfortunes, and with the lofs of part of his fhipping, arrived at laft
“‘ at the mouth of the Anadyr. Stadukin having in vain attempted to
« 90 by fea, afterwards ventured to pafs over the chain of mountains
* then unknown; and reached by that means the Anadyr. Soliverf-
“© toff and his party, who quarrelled with Dethneff, went to the fame
** place from the Kovyma by land; and the tribute was afterwards fent
« to the laft mentioned river acrofs the mountains, which-were very dan-
* serous to pafs amidft the tribes of Koriacs and Yukagirs, who had

“ been lately reduced by the Ruffians.”

In another memorial Defhneff complains bitterly of Soliverftoff;
and afferts, “that one Severka Martemyanoff, who had been gained
“ over by Soliverftoff, was fent to Yakutfk, with an account that he
“ (Soliverftoff) had difcovered the coafts to the North of the Anadyr,
* where large numbers of fea-horfes are found.” Dethneff hereupon fays,
¢ that Soliverftoff and Stadukin never reached the rocky promontory,
“« which is inhabited by numerous bodies of the Tichuthki; over againft
“< which are iflands whofe inhabitants wear artificial teeth thruft through
* their under lips. This is not the firft promontory from the river Ko-
“ yyma, called Svatoi Nofs; but another far more confiderable, and
«<-very-well known to him (Dethneff), becaufe the veffel of Ankunidoff
<« was wrecked there ; and becaufe he had there taken prifoners fome of
“the people, who were rowing in their boats; and feen the iflanders
with teeth in their lips. He alfo well knew, that it was ftill far from
“ that promontory to the river Anadyr.”

n
.

from.

AOR By EM Dok) Hg bk

from ice as it was at this time. He commences his nar-
rative with a defcription of the great promontory: * It
“¢ is,” fays he, “ very different from that which is fituated
“6 Weft of the Kovyma, near the river Tichukot{fkia. It
“lies between North and North Eaft, and bends, in a
“ circular direction, towards the Anadyr. It is diftin-
“< suiihed on the Ruffian (namely, the Weftern) fide, by
«a rivulet which falls into the fea, clofe to which the
“ T{chutfki have raifed a pile, hke a tower, with the
“ bones of whales. Oppofite the promontory, (it is not
* faid on which fide), are two iflands, on which he ob-
‘‘ ferved people of the nation of the Tfchutfki, who had
“ pieces of the fea-horfe tooth thruft into holes made in

“ their lips. With/a good wind it is pofflible to fail from.

‘* this promontory to the Anadyr in three days; and the
“* journey by land may be performed in the fame fpace

“of time, becaufe the Anadyr falls into a bay.” An-
kudinoff’s kotche was wrecked on this promontory, and.

the crew was diftributed on board the two remaining
veffels. Onthe 20th of September Defhneff and Fedot

Alexéef went on fhore, and had a {fkirmifh with the:

Tichutski, in which Alexeef was wounded. The two
veffels foon afterwards loft fight of each other,. and never
again rejoined. Defhneff was driven about by tempef--
tuous winds until October, when he, was fhipwrecked
(as it appears from circumftances), confiderably to the
South of the Anadyr, not, far from the river Olutora..

What:

8

AAP BPE ND £ Ber

What became of Fedot Alexeff and his crew will be men-
tioned hereafter. Defhneff and his companions, who
amounted to twenty-five perfons, now fought for the
Anadyr; but being entirely unacquainted with the
country, ten weeks elapfed before they reached its banks
at a {mall diftance from its mouth : here he found neither

wood nor inhabitants, &c.

The following year he went further up the river, and
built Anadirfkoi Oftrog: here he was joined by fome
Ruffians on the 25th of April, 1650, who came by land
from the river Kovyma. In 1652, Defhneff having
conftructed a veffel, failed down the Anadyr as far as
its mouth, and obferved on the North fide a fand bank,
which ftretched a confiderable way jnto the feaw A
fand bank of this kind is called, in Siberia, Korga. Great
numbers of fea-horfes were found to refort to the
mouth of the Anadyr. Defhneff collected feveral of
their teeth, and thought himfelf amply compenfated by
this acquifition for the trouble of his expedition. In
the following year, Defhneff ordered wood to be felled
for the purpofe of conftructing a veflel, in which he
propofed fending the tribute which he had collected by
fea to Yakutik*. But this defign was laid afide from the

* That is, by fea, from the mouth of the Anadyr, round Tfchukot-
fkoi Nofs to the river Lena, and then up that river to Yakutfk.

want

ARF? EN DEE MR

want of other materials. It was alfo reported, that the
fea about T{chukotfkoi Nofs was not every year free

from ice.

Another expedition was made in 1654 to the Korga,
for the purpofe of colleéting fea-horfe teeth. A Coffac,
named Yuiko Soliverftoff, was one of the party, the
fame who had not long before accompanied the Coffac
Michael Stadukin, upon a voyage of difcovery in the
Frozen Sea. This perfon was fent from Yakutfk to
collect fea-horfe teeth, for the benefit of the crown. In
his inftructions mention is made of the river Yentfhen-
don, which falls into the bay of Penfhinfk, and of the
Anadyr; and he was ordered to exact a tribute from
the inhabitants dwelling near thefe rivers; for the ad-
ventures of Defhneff were not as yet known at Yakutfk.
This was the occafion of new difcontents. Soliverftoff
claimed to himfelf the difcovery of the Korga, as if he
had failed to that place in his voyage with Stadukin in
1649. Defhneff, however, proved that Soliverftoff had.
not even reached T{chukotfkoi Nofs, which: he defcribés:
as nothing but bare rock, and it was but too well known.
to him, becaufe the veffel of Ankudinoff was fhip-
wrecked there. ‘ T{chukotfkoi Nofs,” adds Defhneff,
“ is not the firft promontory which prefents itfelf un-
«¢ der the name of Svatoi Nofs*. It is known by the

: “© two

* We may collect from Defhneff’s reafoning, that Soliverftoff, in en-
deavouring to prove that he had failed round the Eaftern extremity of
Afia,

A FP BE ND fF © AL

“ tivo iflands fituated oppofite to it, whofe inhabitants
«¢ (as is before-mentioned) place pieces of the fea-horfe
‘¢ tush into holes made in their lips. Defhneff alone
‘‘ had feen thefe people, which neither Stadukin nor
‘* Soliverftoff had pretended to have done: and the
“¢ Korga, or fand-bank, at the mouth of the river Anadyr,
** was at fome diftance from thefe iflands.”

While Defchneff was furveying the fea-coaft, he faw
in an habitation belonging to fome Koriacs a woman of
Yakutsk, who, as he recollected, belonged to Fedot
Alexieff. Upon his enquiry concerning the fate of her
mafter, fhe replied, “ that Fedot and Gerafim (Ankudi-
“ noff) had died of the {curvy ; that part of the crew had
“ been flain; that a few had efcaped in fmall veffels,
“¢ and have never fince been heard off.” Traces of the

latter were afterwards found in the peninfula of Kamt-

Afia, had miftaken a promontory called Svatoi Nofs for Tfchukottkoi
Nofs: for otherwife, why fhould Defhneff, in his refutation of Soli-
verftoff, begin by afferting, that Svatoi Nofs was not Tfchukotfkoi Nofs?
The only cape laid down in the Ruffian maps, under the name of Sva-
toi Nofs, is fituated 25 degrees to the Weft of the Kovyma: but we
cannot pofhibly fuppofe this to be the promontory here alluded to; be-
caufe, in failing from the Kovyma towards the Anadyr, ‘the firft promon-
“‘ tory which prefents itfelf” muft neceflarily be Eaft of the Kovyma.
Svatoi Nofs, in the Rufhan language, fignifies Sacred Promontory ; and
the Ruffians occafionally apply it to any cape which it is difficult to

‘ double. It therefore moft probably here relates to the firft cape,

which Soliverftoff reached after he had failed from Kovyma.

7 chatka 3;

APR BNR EE ye

chatkas; to which place they probably arrived with a
favourite wind, by following the coaft, and running up
the Kamtchatka river.

When Volodimir Atlaffoff, in 1697, firft entered upon
the reduction of Kamtchatka, he found that the inhabi-
tants had already fome knowledge of the Ruffians. A
common tradition fall prevails amongft them, that long
before the expedition of Atlaffoff, one * Fedotoff (who
was probably the fon of Fedot Alexeeff) and his compa-
nions had refided amongft them, and had intermarried
with the natives. They {till fhew the {pot where the
Ruffian habitations ftood; namely, atthe mouth of the {mall
river Nikul which falls into the Kamtchatka river, and is
called by the Ruffians Fedotika. Upon Atlaffoff’s arrival
none of the firft Ruffians remained. They are faid to
have been held in great veneration, and almoft deified
‘by the inhabitants, who at firft imagined that no human
power could hurt them, until they quarrelled amonett
themfelves, and the blood was feen to flow from the
wounds which they gave each other: and upon a fepara-
tion taking place between the Ruffians, part of them had
been killed by the Koriacs, as they were going to the
fea of Penfhinsk, and the remainder by the Kamtcha-
dals. The river Fedotika falls into the Southern fide of

* Fedotoff, in the Ruffian language, fignifies the fon of Fedor.
Tt the

321

Al Peo Tahoe Deis ea’ ae

the Kamtchatka river about an hundred and eighty verfts
below Upper Kamtchatkoi Oftrog. At the time of the
firft expedition to Kamtchatka, in 1697, the remains of
two villages {till fubfifted, which had probably been in-
habited by Fedotof and his companions: and no one
knew which way they came into the peninfula, until it
was difcovered from the archives of Yakutfk in 1636.”

* No other navigator, fubfequent to Deihneff, has ever
preterided to have paffed the North Eaftern extremity of
Afia,

* Mr. Engel indeed pretends that lieutenant Laptieff, in 1739, dou-
bled Tichukotfkoi-Nofs, becaufe Gmelin fays, that ‘ he pafled from the
“‘ Kovyma to Anadirsk partly by water and partly by land.” For Mr.
Engel afferts the impofhibility of getting from the Kovyma to Anadirsk,
partly by land and partly by water, -without going from the Kovyma to
the mouth of the Anadyr by fea; and from thence to Anadirsk by land.
But Mr. Muller (who has given a more particular account of the conclufion
of this expedition) informs us, that Laptieff and his crew, after having
wintered near the Indigirka, pafled from its mouth in fmall boats to the
Kovyma; and as it was dangerous, on accqunt of the Tichutski, to fol-
low the coaft any farther, either by land or water, he went through the
interior part of the country to Anadirsk, and from thence to the mouth
ofthe Anadyr. Gmelin Reife, vol..II. p.44o. S.R.G.IIL. p.157.

Mention is alfo made by Gmelin of a man who paffed in a fmall
boat from the Kovyma round Tichukotskoi-Nofs into the fea of Kamt-
chatka: and Mr. Engel has not omitted to bring this paflage in fupport
of his fyftem, with this difference, that he refers to the authority of
Muller, inftead of Gmelin, for the truth of the faét. But as we have
no account of this expedition, and as the manner in which it is mentioned

by Gmelin implies that he had it merely from tradition, we cannot lay any
ftrefs

PND K
Ep ats
ie

CHART of SHALAUTROF

Yo FF ny?
aI ak

Neo a2 7 Sm WN oe FF RB

ESS

Swatot Nos

A ex TDiomed

o.
NG

ER O24 EN

Rtcssian Vests.

ar a re]

Oftvova Medviedfkie

or the

Bear Mands .

Publiched Apri g780 eccortiiny to Wet offarlian hy Ulewtellin theStrand,

ShdlutskoiNexs

es

Thiele sine! Sougp=

ACPRP REINA DPI ye. B

Afia, notwithftanding all the attempts which have been
made to accomplifh this paflage, as well from * Kamt-
chatka as from the Frozen Ocean.

The following narrative of a late voyage performed
by one Shalauroff, from the Lena towards Tichukotikoi-
Nofs, will fhew the great impediments which obftruct a
coatting navigation in the Frozen: Sea, even at the moft
favourable feafon of the year.

Shalauroff, having conftructed a fhitik at his own Voyageof
Shalauroff-

expence, went down the Lena in 1767. He was ac-
companied by an exiled midfhipman, whom he had
found at Yakutik, and to whom we are indebted for

‘ftrefs upon fuch vague and uncertain reports. The paflage is as follows :
“* Bs find fo gar Spuren vorhanden, dafs ein Kerl mit einem Schifflein,
«¢ das nicht viel groeffer als ein Schifferkahn gevefen, von Kolyma bis
“¢ Tfchukotfkoi-Nofs vorbey, und bis nach Kamtfchatka gekommen fey.”
Gmelin Reife, Il. p.437. Mem. et Obf. Geog. &c. p. 10.

* Beering, in his voyage from Kamtchatka, in 1628, towards Tfchu-
kotskoi-Nofs, failed along the coaft of the Tfchutski as high as lat.
67° 18’. and obferving the coaft take a Wefterly dircétion, he too haftily
concluded, that he had paffed the North Eaftern extremity. Apprehen-
five, if he had attempted to proceed, of being locked in by the ice, he re-
turned to Kamtchatka. If he had followed the fhore, he would have
found, that what he took for the Northern ocean was nothing more
than a deep bay : and that the coaft of the Tfchutski, which he contfidered
as turning uniformly to the Weft, took again a Northerly direétion.
@ KR, G. TIL. paris

e's the

373

324

A: PAP LESINVDU DS

the chart of this expedition. Shalauroff got out of the
Southern mouth of the Lena in July, but was fo much
embarrafled by the ice, that -he ran the veffel into the
mouth of the Yana, where he was detained by the ice
until the 29th of Auguft, when he again fet fail. Being
prevented by the ice from keeping the open fea, he
coafted the fhore; and, having doubled Svatoi-Nofs on
the 6th of September, difcovered at a {mall diitance, out
at fea, to the North, a mountainous land, which is pro-
bably fome unknown ifland in the Frozen Sea. He was
employed from the 7th to the 15th in getting through
the ftrait between Diomed’s ifland and the coaft of
Siberia; which he effected, not without great difficulty.
From the 16th he had a free fea and a fair S. W. wind,
which carried them in 24 hours beyond the mouth of the
Indigirka. The favourable breeze continuing, he paffed
on the 18th the Alafca. Soon afterwards, the veffel
approaching too near the fhore was entangled amongft
vaft floating maffes of ice, between fome iflands * and

the

* Thefe iflands are Medvicdkie Oftrova, or the Bear Iflands; they
are alfo called Kreffftoffikie Oftrova, becaufe they lie oppofite the mouth
of the fmall river Kreftova. Fora long time vague reports were pro-
pagated that the continent of America was ftretched along the Frozen
Ocean, very near the coafts of Siberia; and fome perfons pretended to
have difcovered its fhore not far from the rivers Kovyma and Kreftova.
But the falfity of thefe reports was proved by an expedition made in
1764, by fome Ruffian officers fent by Denys Ivanovitch Tfchitcherin,

governor

ADP. SP | BAINVDE Xr ds

the main land. And now the late feafon of the year
obliged Shalauroff to look out for a wintering place;
he accordingly ran the veffel into one of the mouths of
the river Kovyma, where fhe was laid up. The crew
immediately conftructed an hut, which they fecured
with a rampart of frozen {now, and a battery of the
fmall guns. The wild rein-deers reforted to this place
in large herds, and were fhot in great plenty from the
enclofure. Before the fetting in of winter, various {pe-
cies of falmon and trout came up the river in fhoals:
thefe fifh afforded the crew a plentiful fubfiftence, and
preferved them from the fcurvy *.

The mouth of the Kovyma was not freed from ice
before the 21ft of July, 1762, when Shalauroff again

governor of Tobolfk. '‘Thefe officers went in winter, when the fea was
frozen, in fledges drawn by dogs, from the mouth of the Kreftova.
They found nothing but five {mall rocky iflands, fince called the Bear
Iflands, which were quite uninhabited; but fome traces were
found of former inhabitants, namely, the ruins of huts. They obferved
alfo on one of the iflands a kind.of wooden ftage built of drift-wood,
which feemed as if it had been intended for defence. As far as they
durft venture out over the Frozen Sea, no land could be feen, but
high mountains of ice obftruéted their patiage, and forced them to re-
turn. See the map of this expedition upon the chart of Shalauroft’s
voyage prefixed to this number.

* Raw-fifth are confidered in thofe Northern countries as a prefer-
vative againft the fcurvy.

4 put

Winters at the
Mouth of the
Kovyma,

Departure
from thence
in July.

A PreP TE CIN FD IN BF:

put to fea, and fteered until the 28th N. E. by N. E.
;E. Here he obferved the variation of the compafs
afhore, and found it to; be 11° 15” Eaft. The 28th.a
contrary wind, which was followed by a calm, obliged
him to come to an anchor, and kept him ftationary
until the roth of Auguft, when ‘a favourable breeze
{pringing up he fet fail; he then endeavoured to fieer
at fome diitance from fhore, holding a more Eatterly
courfe, and N. E. by E. But the veffel was impeded by ©
large bodies of floating ice, and a ftrong current, which
feemed to bear Wettward at the rate of a verft an hour. |
Thefe circumftances very much retarded his courfe. On
the 18th, the weather being thick and foggy, he found
himfelf unexpectedly near the coaft with a number. of
ice lilands before him, which on the 1gth entirely fur-
rounded and hemmed in the veffel. He continued in
that fituation, and in a continual fog, until the 23d,
when he got clear, and endeavoured by fteering N.E.
to regain the open fea, which was much lefs clogged
with ice than near the fhore. He was forced how-
ever, by contrary winds, S. E. and E. among large
maffes of floating ice. This drift of ice being paffed,
he again ftood to the N. E. in order: to double She-
latfkoi Nofs*; but before he could reach the iflands

%* He does not feem to have been deterred from proceeding by any
fuppofed difficulty in paffing Shelatfkoi Nofs, but to have veered about
merely on account of the late feafon of the year. Shelatfkoi Nofs is

fo called from the Sthelagen, a tribe of the Tfchutfki, and has been
fuppofed to be the fame as T{chukotfkoi Nofs. S.R,G. III. p. 52.

lying

A PoP BONDE Tr) x) i 327

lying near it, he was fo retarded by contrary winds,
that -he was obliged, on account of the advanced fea-

. . . No being ble
fon, to fearch for a wintering place. He accordingly todouvie

Shelatikoi

failed South towards an open bay, which lies on the Nol seus
Weit fide of Shelatfkoi Nofs, and which no navigator *"*
had explored before him. He fteered into it on the
25th, and got upon a fhoal between a fmall ifland,

and a point of land which juts from the Eaftern
coatt of this bay. Having got clear with much dif-
ficulty, he continued for a ifhort time a S. E. courfe,
then turned S. W. He then landed in order to difcover

a {pot proper for their winter refidence ; and found two
fmall rivulets, but neither trees nor drift wood. The
veffel was towed along the Southerly fide of the bay as

far as the ifland Sabadei. On the sth of September, he

faw fome huts of the Tfchutfki clofe to the narrow
channel between Sabadei and the main land; but the

inhabitants fled on his approach...

Not having met with a proper fituation, he ftood
out to fea, and got round the ifland Sabadci on the
8th, when he faftened the veffel to a large body of ice,
and was carried along by a current towards W. S. W.
at the rate of five verfts an hour. On the 1oth, he
faw far to the N. E. by N. a mountain, and iteered the
11th and 12th towards his former wintering place~ in winters « «-

cond Time at

the river Kovyma. Shalauroff propofed to have madet'« Kovyma,
a

id returns to

the the Lena. .

Second Expe-
dition of Sha-
lauroff.

A) PePr EQ NipDs IGXT ih

the following year another attempt to double Shelatfkoi
Nofs; .but want of provifion, and. the mutiny of- the
crew, forced him ‘to return to the Lena in 1763. It
is worth remarking, that during his whole voyage he
found the currents fetting in almoft uniformly from
the Eaft. Two remarkable rocks were obferved by
Shalauroff near the point where the coaft turns to
the N. E. ‘towards the channel which feparates the
ifland Sabadei from the continent; thele rocks may
ferve to direct future navigators: one is called Saetfhie

Kamen, or Hare’s Rock, and rifes like a crooked horn;
b) 9 +]

the other Baranei Kamen, or Sheep’s Rock; it is in

the fhape of a pear, narrower at the bottom than at top,
and rifes twenty-nine yards above high-water mark.

Shalauroff, who concluded from his own experience,
that the attempt to double Tfchukotfkoi Nofs, though
difficult, was by no means impracticable, was not dif-
couraged by his former want of fuccefs from engaging
a fecond time in the fame enterprize: he accordingly
fitted out the fame fhitik, and in 1764 departed as be-
fore from the river Lena. We have no pofitive ac-

counts of this fecond voyage; for neither Shalauroff or

any of his crew have ever returned. The following
circumftances lead us to conclude, that, both he and
his crew were killed near the Anadyr by the Tf{chutfki,
about the third year after their departure from the Lena.

About

4, BPP. TE CMa SE I,

About that time the Koriacs of the Anadyr refufed to
take from the Ruifians the provifion of flour, which
they are accuftomed to purchafe every year. Enquiry
being made by the governor of Anadirsk, he found that
they had been amply fupplied with that commodity
by the Tichutfki. The latter had procured it from the

plunder of Shalauroff’s veffel, the crew of which appeared No Account

to have perifhed near the Anadyr. From thefe facts,
which have been fince confirmed by repeated intelli-
gence from the Koriacs and Tfchutiki, it has been af-
ferted, that Shalauroff had doubled the N. E. cape of
Afia. But this affertion amounts only to conjecture ; for
the arrival of the crew at the mouth of the Anadyr
affords no decifive proof that they had paffed round the
Eaftern extremity of Afia; for they might have penetrated
to that river by land, from the Weftern fide of Tichukotf-
koi-Nofs.

In reviewing thefe feveral accounts of the Ruffian
voyages in the Frozen Sea, as far as they relate to
a North Eaft paflage, we may obferve, that the cape
which ftretches to the North of the Piafida has never
been doubled; and that the exiftence of a paflage round
Tichukotfkoi Nofs refts upon the fingle authority of
Dethneff. Admitting however a practicable navigation
round thefe two promontories, yet when we confider
the difficulties and dangers which the Ruffians en-

Uu countered

of this Expedi-
tion, he and
his Crew being
killed by the

A P.P EON DF) x L

countered in thofe parts of the Frozen Sea which they
have unqueftionably failed through; how much time
they employed in making an inconfiderable progrefs, and
how often their attempts were -unfuccefsful: when we
refle& at the fame time, that thefe voyages can only be
performed in the midft of a fhort fummer, and even
then only when particular winds drive the ice into the
fea, and leave the fhores lefs obftructed ; we {hall reafon-
ably conclude, that a navigation, purfued along the
coafts in the Frozen Ocean, would probably be ufelefs for
commercial purpofes.

A navigation therefore in the Frozen Ocean, calculated
to anfwer any end of general utility, muft Gf poffible) be
made in an higher latitude, at fome diftance from the
fhores of Nova Zemla and Siberia. And fhould we
even grant the poffibility of failing N. E. and Eaft of
Nova Zemla, without meeting with any infurmountable
obftacles from land or ice; yet the final completion
of aN. E. voyage muft depend upon the ex-
iftence of a free paflage * between the coaft of the
Wfchutf{ki and the continent of America. But fuch dif-

* J have faid a free paffage, becaufe if we conclude from the narrative
of Defhneff’s voyage, that there really does exift fuch a paffage; yet if
that paffage is only occafionally navigable (and the Ruffians do not pre-
tend to have paffed it more than once) it can never be of any general
and commercial utility. °

quifitions

Pah, Bee Poe By A Bi oe >

quifitions as thefe do not fall under the intention of
this work, which is meant to ftate and examine facts,
not to lay down an hypothefis, or to make theoretical
enquiries *.

* I beg leave to affure the reader, that throughout this whole work
I have entirely confined myfelf to the Ruffian accounts ; and have care-
fully avoided making ufe of any vague reports concerning the difcoveries
lately made by captains Cooke and Clerke in the fame feas. Many of
the geographical queftions which have been occafionally treated in the
courfe of this performance, will probably be cleared up, and the true
pofition of the Weftern coafts of America afcertained, from the jour-
nals of thofe experienced navigators.

U, uy 2 APPENDIX

2

elt CaP AON RR TE eae er Te

Tartarian rhubarb brought to Kiachta dy the Bucha-
rian Merchants—Method of examining and purchajing
the roots—Different fpecies of rheum which yield the
finefi rhubarb—Price of rhubarb in Ruflia—Exporta-
tion—Superiority of the Tartarian over fhe Indian
rhubarb.

UROPE is fupplied with rhubarb from Ruffia and
the Eaft Indies. The former is generally known by

the name of Turkey rhubarb, becaufe we ufed to im-
port it from the Levant in our commerce with the Turks,
who procured it through Perfia from the Bucharians.
And it {till retains its original name, although inftead of
being carried, as before, to Conftantinople, it is now

brought to Kiachta by the Bucharian merchants, and

Titarian,or there difpofed of to the Ruffians. This appellation is

Turkev,
Riubarb.

indeed the moft general; but it is mentioned occafionally
by feveral authors, under the different denominations of
Ruffian, Tartarian, Bucharian, and Thibet, Rhubarb.
This fort is exported from Ruffia in large roundifh
pieces, freed from the bark, with an hole through the
middle: they are externally of a yellow colour, and
when cut appear variagated with lively reddith ttreaks.

The

ANE JP HEN wD 41 GID 933

Indian

The other fort is called by the Druggifts Indian Rhu- {ie
barb; and is procured from Canton in longer, harder,
heavier, more compact pieces, than the former; it is
more aftringent, and has fomewhat lefs of an aromatic
flavour; but, on account of its cheapnefs, is more gene-
rally ufed than the Tartarian or Turkey Rhubarb.

The government of Ruffia has referved to itfelf the
exclufive privilege of purchafing rhubarb; it is

: nee
brought to Kiachta by fome Bucharian merchants, who Rhubarb prés

cured at

have entered into a contract to fupply the crown with Kiss.
that drug in exchange for furs. Thefe merchants come
from the town of Selin, which lies South Weftward of

the Koko-Nor, or Blue Lake toward Thibet. Selin, and

all the towns of Little Bucharia; viz. Kathkar, Yerken,
Atrar, &c. are fubje& to China.

The beft rhubarb purchafed at Kiachta is produced
upon achain of rocks, which are very high, and for the
moft part deftitute of wood: they lie North of Selin, and
{tretch as far as the Koko-Nor. The good roots are»
diftinguifhed by large and thick {ftems. The Tanguts, The Rhubarb

ant grows
upon the

who are employed in digging up the roots, enter upon yy",

2 3 ~ of Little
that bufinefsin April or May. As faft as they take them Bucharis.
out of the earth, they cleanfe them from the foil, and
hang them upon the neighbouring trees to dry, where

they

Care taken in
examining the
roots at

Kiachta.

AP 2 EW /D 2 | TH.

they remain until a fufficient quantity is procured: after
which they are delivered to the Bucharian merchants.
The roots are wrapped up in woollen facks, carefully
preferved from the leaft humidity; and are in this man-
ner tranfported to Kiachta upon camels.

The exportation of the beft rhubarb is prohibited by
the Chinefe, under the fevereft penalties. It is procured
however in fufficient quantities, fometimes by clandef-
tinely mixing it with inferior roots, and fometimes by
means of a contraband trade. The College of Com-
merce at Petersburg is folely empowered to receive this
drug, and appoints agents at Kiachta for that purpofe.
Much care is takenin the choice; for it is examined, in
the prefence of the Bucharian merchants, by an apothe-
cary commiffioned by government, and refident at Kiach-
ta. All the worm-eaten roots are rejected ; the remain-
der are bored through, in order to afcertain their found-
nefs; and all the parts which appear in the leaft da-
maged or decayed are cut away. By thefe means even
the beft roots are diminifhed a fixth part; and the refufe
1s burnt, in order to prevent its being brought ahother
year *,

* Pallas Reife, part II. p.155—157. When Mr. Pallas was at
Kiachta, the Bucharian merchant, who fupplies the crown with rhubarb,
brought fome pieces of white rhubarb (von milchveiffen rha-
barber) which had a fweet tafte, and was equal in its effects to the
beft fort.

Linnzeus

ACCP: Pr EBanN Dit i

Linneus has diftinguifhed the different fpecies of
rhubarb by the names Rheum Palmatum, R.Rhaphonti-
cum, *R. Rhabarbarum, R. Compactum, and R. Ribes.

Botanifts have long differed in their opinions, which
of thefe feveral fpecies is the true rhubarb; and that
queftion does not appear to be as yet fatisfactorily cleared
up. However, according to the notion which is moft

335

Different Spe-
cies of Rhu-

barb.

generally received, it is fuppofed to be the Rheum ¢ Pal- Rhum Pal-

matum; the feeds of which were originally procured
from a Bucharian merchant, and diftributed to the prin-
cipal botanifts of Europe. Hence this plant has been
cultivated with great fuccefs; and is now very common
in all our botanical gardens. The learned doctor { Hope,
profeflor of medicine and botany in the univerfity of
Edinburgh, having made trials of the powder of this root,
in the fame dofes in which the foreign rhubarb is given,
found no difference in its effects ; and from thence con-
clufions have been drawn with great appearance of pro-

%* See Murray’s edition of Linneus Syftema Vegetab. Gott. 1774.
In the former editions of Linnaus Rheum Rhabarbarum is called R.
Undulatum.

+ Mr. Pallas (to whom I am chiefly indebted for this account of the
Tartarian and Siberian Rhubarb) affured me, that he never found the
R. Palmatum in any part of Siberia,

+ Phil, Tranf. for 1765, p. 290.
I bability,

Os

At Po) Pa YD a XK her

pability, that usis Is the plant which produces the true
rhubarb. But this inference does not appear to be ab-
folutely conclufive; for the fame trials have been re-
peated, and with fimilar fuccefs, upon the roots of the
R. Rhaponticum and R. Rhabarbarum.

The leaves of the R. Rhaponticum are round, and
fometimes broader than they are long. This f{pecies is
found abundantly in the loamy and dry deferts between
the Volga and the Yaik *, towards the Cafpian Sea. It
was probably from this fort that the name Rha, which is
the Tartarian appellation of the river Volga, was firft ap-
plied by the Arabian phyficians to the feveral fpecies of
rheum. The roots however which grow in thefe warm
plains are rather too aftringent ; and therefore ought not
to be ufed in cafes where opening medicines are required.
The Calmucs call it Badfhona, or a ftomachic. The
young fhoots of this plant, which appear in March or
April, are deemed a good antifcorbutic ; and are ufed as
‘fach by the Ruffians. The R. Rhaponticurm is not to be
found to the. Weft of the Volga. The feeds of this
fpecies produced at Petersburg plants of a much greater
fize than the wild ones : the leaves were large, and of a
roundifh cordated figure.

* The Yaik falls into the Carpian Sea, about four degrees to the
Eaft of the Volga.

4
The

A PPL EEN Divs Me.

337

The R. Rhabarbarum grows in the crevices of bare. rhabar-

barum.

rocky mountains, and alfo upon gravelly foils: it is
more particularly found in the high vallies of the roman-
tic country fituated beyond Lake Baikal. Its buds do
not fhoot before the end of April; and it continues in
flower during the whole month of May. The ftalks of
the leaves are eaten raw by the Tartars: they produce
upon moft perfons, who are unaccuftomed to them, a
kind of fphafmodic contraction of the throat, which goes
off ina few hours; it returns however at every meal,
until they become habituated to this kind of diet. The
Ruffians make ufe of the leaves in their hodge-podge :
accordingly, foups of this fort affect ftrangers in the man-
ner above mentioned. In Siberia the ftalk is fometimes
preferved as a {weet-meat ; and acuftom prevails among
the Germans of introducing at their tables the buds of
this plant, as well as of the Rheum Palmatum, inftead of
cauli-flower.

The R.Rhaponticum which commonly grows nearR. Rhapon-

t

the torrents has, as well as the R. Rhabarbarum of Sibe-
xia, the upper part of its roots commonly rotten, from
too much moifture: accordingly, a very fmall portion of
_the lower extremity is fit for ufe. The Ruffian College
of Phyficians order, for the ufe of their military hof-
pitals, large quantities of thefe roots to be dug up in
Siberia, which are. prefcribed under the name of rha-
pontic. Butthe perfons employed in digging and pre-
paring it are fo ill inftrugted for that purpofe, that its

X x - beft

icum.

338 MB POP) EIN! DIP ke

beft juices are frequently loft. Thefe roots ought to be
drawn up in fpring, foon after the melting of the {nows,
when the plant retains all its fap and ftrength; whereas
they are not taken out of the ground betore Augutft,
when they are wafted by the increafe of the ftem, and
the expanfion of the leaves. Add to this, that the roots
are no fooner taken up, than they are immediately fliced
in fmall pieces, and thus dried: by which means the
medicinal qualities are fenfibly impaired.

Mehodofdry- For the fame roots, which in this inftance were of

ing the Roots
of the R. Rha- : : z é
ponticum, {uch little efficacy, when dried with proper precaution,

have been found to yield a very excellent rhubarb. The
procefs obferved for this purpofe, by the ingenious Mr.
Pallas, was as follows: The roots, immediately after
being drawn out, were fufpended over a ftove, where
being gradually dried, they were cleanfed from the
earth: by thefe means, although they were actually
taken up in autumn, they fo nearly refembled the beft
‘Fartartan rhubarb in colour, texture, and purgative qua-
lities, that they amfwered, in every refpect, the fame
medicinal purpofes.

A German apothecary, named Zuchert, made fimilar
trials. with the fame fuccefs, both on the Rheum Rha-
barbarum and R. Rhaponticum, which grow in great

Eiubarb ia perfection on the mountains in the neighbourhood of
aan Nerfhinfk. He formed plantations of thefe herbs on
3 : the

APP SP ENP A wa w 439

the declivity of a rock *, covered with one foot of good
mould, mixed with an equal quantity of fand and gravel.
If the fummer proved dry, the plants were left in the
ground; but if the feafon was rainy, after drawing
out the roots he left them for fome days in the fhade
to dry, and then replanted them. By this method of
cultivation he produced in feven or eight years very large
and found roots, which the rock had prevented from pe-

j : The Roots of
netrating too deep; and when they were properly dried, ther. Rhapon-
: a ticum and R,
one {cruple was as efficacious as half a drachm of Tarta- eee,
{ual in their

1 ; Effeéts to tl
rian rhubarb. Effet to the

Rhubarb.

From the foregoing obfervations it follows, that there
are other plants, befides the Rheum Palmatum, the roots
whereof have been found to be fimilar both in their ap-
pearance and effects, to what is called the beft rhubarb.
And indeed, upon enquiries made at Kiachta concerning
the form and leaves of the plant which produces that
drug, it feems not to be the R. Palmatum, but a f{pecies
with roundifh {colloped leaves, and moft probably the
R. Rhaponticum : for Mr. Pallas, when he was at Kiach-
ta, applied for information to a Bucharian merchant of
Selin-Chotton, who now fupplies the crown with rhu-

* In order to fucceed fully in the plantation of rhubarb, and to pro-
cure found and dry roots, a dry, light foil with a rocky foundation, where
the moifture eafily filters off, is effentially neceflary.

XxX 2 barb ;

340

The true Rhu-
barb probably
procured from
different Spe-

cies of Rheum.

PP? NE” Ee ae

barb ; and his defcription of that plant anfwered to the
figure of the Rheum Rhaponticum. The truth of this
defcription was ftill further confirmed by fome Mongol
travellers who had been in the neighbourhood of the
Koko-Nor and Thibet; and had obferved the rhubarb:
growing wild upon thofe mountains..

The experiments alfo made by Zuchert and others,
upon the roots of the R. Rhabarbarum and R. Rhapon-
ticum, fufficiently prove, that this valuable drug was
procured from thofe roots in great perfection. But as
the feeds of the Rheum Palmatum were received from
the father of the above-mentioned Bucharian merchant
as taken from the plant which furnifhes the true rhu-
barb, we have reafon to conjecture, that thefe three
fpecies, viz. R. Palmatum, R. Rhaponticum, and R. Rha-
barbarum, when found in a dryer and milder alpine
climate, and in proper fituations, are indifcriminately
drawn up; whenever the fize of the plant feems to pro-
mife a fine root. And perhaps the remarkable difference
of the rhubarb, imported to Kiachta, is occafioned by this
indifcriminate method of collecting them. Moft certain
it is, that thefe plants grow wild upon the mountains,
without the leaft cultivation; and thofe are efteemed the
beft which are found near the Koko-Nor, and about the
fources of the river Koango.

Formerly

A PYPIEUNe DAT iis I

Formerly the exportation of rhubarb was confined to
the crown of Ruffia; and no perfons but thofe em-
ployed. by government were allowed the permiffion of
fending it to foreign countries; this monopoly however
has been taken off by the prefent emprefs, and the free
exportation of it from St. Petersburg granted to all perfons
upon paying the duty. It is fold in the firft inftance by the

College of Commerce for the profit of the Sovereign ;:

and is preferved in their magazines at St. Petersburg.
The current price is: fettled every year by the College
of Commerce.

Itis received from the Bucharian merchants at Kiachta
in exchange for furs ;: and. the prime coft is rated at
16 roubles per pood. By adding the pay of. the com-
miffioners who purchafe it, and of the apothecary who
examines it, and allowing for other necefflary expences,.
the value of a. pood at Kiachta amounts: to 25 roubles ;

Price of Rhu-
barb in Rufhia,

add to this the carriage from the frontiers: to St. Peter{--

burg, and it is calculated that the price of a pood ftands:

the crown at 30-roublés.. The largeft exportation of:

rhubarb ever known from Ruffia,. was made in the year

1765, when,1350. pood were exported, at 65 roubles.

per pood.

2, E X--

242 A? SPEND: EL vlee, Be

EXPORTATION of RHUBARB
From St. PETERSBURG.

Fxportation of

Rhubarb at 76; Dutch * dollars,
rom St. Peterf -
burg. In 1777, 29 poods 13 pounds, or gi roubles, 30 co-

pecs per pood.
In 1778, 23 poods 7 pounds, at 80 ditto, or 96 roubles.

In 1778, 1055 poods were brought by the Bucharian
merchants to Kiachta; of which 680 poods 19 pounds
were felected. The interior confumption of the whole
empire of Ruffia for 1777 amounted to only 6 poods
5 pounds t.

Superiority of = The fuperiority of this Tartarian Rhubarb, over that

the Tartarian
over the Indian

Rhubarb. procured from Canton, arifes probably from the follow-
ing circumitances,

1. The Southern parts of China are not fo proper for
the growth of this plant, as the mountains of Little
Bucharia.

2. There is not fo exact an examination made in
receiving it from the Chinefe at Canton, as from the

*If we reckon a Dutch dellar, upon an average, to be worth 1 rouble
20 copecs.

4 This calculation comprehends only the rhubarb purchafed at the
different magazines belonging to the College of Commerce ; for what
was procured by contraband is of courfe not included.

Bu-

A PL PAE Dy. Pex Il.

Bucharians at Kiachta. For the merchants, who pur-
chafe this drug at Canton, are obliged to accept it in the
grofs, without feparating the bad roots, and cutting
away the decayed parts, as is done at Kiachta.

3. It is alfo probable, that the long tranfport of this
drug by fea is detrimental to it, from the humidity
which it muft neceffarily contract during fo lIcng a
voyage.

TABLE

43

C 34 J]
TABLE or LONGITUDE anv LATITUDE.

F OR the convenience of the Reader, the following Table
exhibits in one point of view the longitude and latitude
of the principal places mentioned in this performance.
Their longitudes are eftimated from the firit meridian of
the Ifle of Fero, and from that of the Royal Obfervatory
at Greenwich. The longitude of Greenwich from Fero is
computed at 17° 34/45”. The longitude of the places
marked * has been taken from aftronomical obfervations.

Table of Latitude. Longitude.
ree ee Fero. Greenwich.
D..| M. -'S.2i) DM. S.o]¢ De, PAE
* Peterfburg _ 59.1 56 234 O- 104. Bo. page
* Mofcow = Bp as 45155. 6 BO.) 37) gt
* Archangel — 6433 241-56 15-0 | 38 ‘49
* Tobolfk - 58 12 22| 85 40 ©} 68 26
* Tomfk — $65:30 Oyl 402 60.. 40 MBE as
* Irkuthk — Royas “Sg eae 23 7O Toa as
* Selenginfk — gt .6 o'/'124 18 -g0} rob. 44
Kiachta — ae © 70 |124 48 —o ] 106. ae
* Yakutfk — 62. a 80/147 .©. O41 129 25
* Ochortk — 39. 22. 0] 160-7 © | B42 6 32
* Bolcherefk — Boag! Oo.) Eyaeltng th Ol nee) ae
*Portof St.PeterandPaull 53 1 © {176 10 0}f 158 36

Eaftern Extremity of 66
Siberia

According ]

to the gene-

ral map of 5

Ruffia

According !

to the chart

Bs ETI AS ie Es Lg 187 55

& Levatheff

eG). Ogee” 6D 7 208 ia.

Unalafhka

+ Ihave omitted the feconds in the longitude from Greenwich.

INDEX.

A.

AGTAR, aninterpreter, p. 133.
Aguladock, a \eader of the Unalafh-
kans, taken prifoner by Solovioff,

139.

Agulok, a dwelling-place on Una-
lafhka, 137.

Aifchin-Giord, chief of the Manfhurs
at the beginning of the 17th cen-
tury, 198.

Aktunak, an ifland to the Eaft of
Kadyak, 108.

Akun (one of the Fox Iflands), 159.

Akutan (one of the Fox Iflands),

159.

Alakfu, or Alachfhak, one of the
moft remote Eaftern iflands, 65.
Cuftoms of the inhabitants, 68.
Animals found on that ifland, 73.
Conjectured to be not far from
the continent of America, 69.

Alaxa, one of the Fox Iflands, 254.

Albafin, and the other Ruffian forts
on the Amoor, deftroyed by the
Chinefe, 198. The Ruffians ta-
ken there refufe to return from
Pekin, 208.

Aleiitian Iffes difcovered, 21. 29.
their fituation and names, 24.
Names of perfons there, bear a
furprifing refemblance to thofe of
the Greenlanders, 40. Inhabi-
tants defcribed, 41. 46. Account
of thofe iflands, 45. 55. ©The
manners and cuftoms of the inha-
bitants refemble thofe of the Fox
Iflands, 173. Are entirely fubjec
to Ruffia, 174. Their number,
289. Specimen of the Aleiitian
language, 303. See Fox Ifands,
Ibiya, Novodtfikeff, Thuproff.

Alexeeff (Feodot). See Defhneff.

Aleyut. See Fox Ilands.

Allai (a prince of the Calmucs), his
fuperftitious regard for the me-
mory of Yermac, 194.

Amaganak, a toigon of Unalafhka,
143.

America, moft probable courfe for
difcovering the neareft coaft of
that continent, pointed out, 27.
See I/lands, Delifle, Alakju,
Kadyak, Fox Iflands, Steller.

Amlach, one of the Andreanoffskye
Iflands, 76.

Yy¥ Ana-

I N D

Anadirsky Iles, or Iles of Anadyr,
fo called by Mr. Stehlin, and
after him by Buffon, p. 25. 284
—288.

Amoor river, called by the Man-
fhurs Sakalin-Ula; and by the
Mongols, Karamuran, or the
Black River.

Andriancffskie Iflends, their fituation
doubtful, 25. Defcription of, 74,
75. Muft not be blended with
the Fox Iflands, 74. Account of
the inhabitants, 77. Other iflands
beyond them to the Eaft, ibid.
Pofition of the Andreanoffskie-
Iflands, 289.

Arachulla, fappofed by the Chinefe
a wicked fpirit of the air, 229.
Archangel, voyages from thence to

the Yenisci, 305.
Artic, or Ice Foxes, defcription of,

ig.

Afia, the fir report of its vicinity
to America, learned from the
Tfehutiki, 293.

Atachiak, a great promontory N.E.
of Alakfu, 118.

Ataku, one of the Aleitian Iflands,
45s

oy one of the Andreanoffsky
Iflands, defcription of, 76.

Atchu, Atchak, Atach, Goreloi, or
Burnt Ifland, one of the Fox
Tflands, 61.

Atlafjoff Volodimir), takes poffeffion
of the river Kamtchatka, 4.

Atrar, a town of Little Bucharia,

MANO ine. Riastaatlik often

Ayagh, or Kayachu, one of the An-
dreanofisky Iflands, 72. Defcrip-
tion of, 75-

E X.

B.
Bacchoff. See Novikoff.

Baranéi Kamen, or Sheep's Rock, de-
{cription of, 328.

Bear Iflands. See Medvioedkie Of-
trova.

Beering, his voyage made at the ex-
pence of the crown, 8. His
voyage (with ‘Yfchirikoff) in
fearch of a junction between Afia
and America, in 1728 and 1729,
unfuccefsful, 20. Shipwrecked,
ibid. and death on an ifland called
after his name, 21. See Dif-
coveries, Steller; fee alfo p. 323.

Beering’s Iland, the winter-{tation
of all the fhips failing for the
new-difcovered iflands, 52.

Belayeff (Larion), treats the inhabi-
tants of the Aleiitian Iflands. in an
hoftile manner ; in which he is
under-hand abetted by Tfuproff,

34+
Bolcheret/fh, a diftri& of Kamtchat-

ka, 5. See Kamtchatkoi Ofiregs.

Belkofky (prince), appointed way-
wode of Siberia, 190. See Yer
MACs

Boris and Glebb. See Trape/nikoff.

Bucharia (Little), all fubject to
China, 333.

Buache (Mr.). See Longitude.

Burgoltei, a mountain in the valley
of Kiachta, 214.

Burnt Iland. See Atchu.

Buttons (of different colours), ufed
as marks of diftinétion among the
Chinefe, 218.

é.
Calumet of peace, a fymbol of friend-

fhip peculiar to America, 280. —
Cambi,

I N D

Cemhi, the fecond Chinefe emperor
of the Manfhur race, 197. Ex-
pels the Ruffians from his domi-
nions, for their riots and drun-
kennefs, 205.

Camphor wood (the true), drove by
the fea on Copper Ifland, 107.
Caravans (Ruffian), allowed to trade
to Pekin, 203. Difcontinued,

and why, 209. See Ruffia.

Chatanga, the cape between that
river and the Piafida never yet
doubled, 309—313.

Chinefe, origin-of the difputes be-
tween them and the Ruffians, 197.
Hoftilities commenced between
them, 198. Treaty of Nerfhinfk
concluded, 200. Beginning of
the commerce between the two
nations, 202. Their trade with
the Ruffians, 208, &c.
it a mark of difrepeét to uncover
the head to a fuperior, 228.
Their fuperftition in regard to
fires, 229. Manner of theiripro-
nouncing foreign expreflions, 232.
No {fpecie but bullion current
among them, 233. Advantage
of the Chinefe trade to Rufha,
240.

Cholodilof. Voyage of a veftel fitted
out by him, 48.

Chufho, (or the Fire-god), a Chinefe
idol, 226. SeeChinefe. ’
Copper Sfland, why fo called, 21.107.
252. Probable that all, the hil-
locks in that country have for-

- merly been vulcanoes, ibid. Sub-
ject to frequent earth-quakes, and
abound in fulphur, 253.

Cyprian (firit archbif:op ot Siberia),
collects the archives of the Sibe-
tian hiftory, pga.

Reckon .

1D

Daurkin (a native T{chuthki), em-
ployed by Plenifner to examine
the iflands to the Eaft of Siberia,
295. The intelligence he brought
back, zbid,

Delifle, miftaken concerning the
Wettern coaft of America, 26.
Defbneff, his voyage, 313. Ex-
tracts from his papers, 315, 316.
His defcription of the great pro-
montory of the Tfchutfki, 317.
Ankudinoff’s vefiecl wrecked on
that promontory, ibid. Delhnef®
builds Anadirfkoi-Oftrog on the
river Anadyr, 318. Ditpute be-
tween him and Soliverftoff, con-
cerning.the difcovery of the Kor-.
ga, 319, 320. No navigator
fince Defhneff pretends to have
pafled round the N. E. extremity

of Afia, 322.

Difcoveries. The profecution of
thofe begun by Beering moftly
carried on by individuals, 8. The
veffels equipped for thofe difco-
veries defcribed, zbid. I.xpences
attending them, 9. Profits of
the trade to the new-difcovered
lands very -confiderable, . io.
Lift, of the principal charts of the
Ruflian difcoveries hitherto pub-
lifhed, 281.

Dogs, ufed for drawing carriages,

247.
Drone (Alexei), wrecked at Beer-
ing’s Hland, 46, His voyage to
the Fox \iflands, 80—88. Win-
ters.at Unalafhka, 82. Allthe
crew, except four Ruffians, viz.
Stephen Korelin, Dmitri Bragin,

Yy 2 Gregory

I N D
Gregory Shaffyrin, and Ivan Ko-
kovin, deftroyed by the natives,
83. SeeUnala/bka.

Durneff (Rodion). His voyage, 45.

EK.
Eclipfe, behaviour of the Chinefe at

one, 228.

Emprefs of Ruffia. See Ruffa.

Engel (Mr.) Difputes the exa€nefs
of the longitudes laid down by
Muller and the Ruffian geogra-
phers, 267.

E/fquimaux Indians, fimilarity between
their boats and thofe of the Fox
Iflands, 260, 264.

Bs

Feathers (peacock’s), ufed for a dif-
tinction of rank by the Chinefe,
218.

Fedotika. Sce Nikul.

Foxes, different fpecies of, defcrib-
ed, 14. Value of their fkins,

15.

Fox Iflands, fometimes called the
fartheft Aleitian Ifles, 29. Their
land and fea-animals, 148. Man-
ners and cuftoms of the inhabi-
tants, 149. Warm fprings and
native fulphur to be found in
fome of them, 149. Their drefs,
151. 169. Their veffels defcrib-
ed, 152. Are very fond of fnuff,
153. Their drums defcribed, 154.
Their weapons, 155.170. Food
of the inhabitants, 168. Their
feafts, 171. Their funeral cere-
monies, 173. Account of the
inhabitants, 256—261. Their

E X.

extreme naftinefs, 258. Their
boats made like thofe of the Ef
quimaux Indians in North Ame-
rica, 260. 264. Are faid to have
no notion of a God, 261; yet
have fortune-tellers, who pretend
to divination, by the information
of {pirits, zbid. The inhabitants
called by the Ruffians by the ge-
neral name of Aleyut, 263.
Proofs of the vicinity of thote
iflands to America, 291.

G.

Geographers (Ruffian), their accu-
racy, 273.

Gheffur-Chan, the principal idol at
Maimatfchin, 224.

Glottoff (Stephen), his voyage, 106
—123. Winters upon Copper
Ifland, 106. Arrives at Kadyak,
the moft Eaftward of the Fox
Iflands, 108. Is attacked by the
natives, whom he defeats, 110,

and finally repulfes, 112. Win-
ters at Kadyak, 113. Is recon-
ciled to the natives, 114. Curi-

ofities procured by him at that
ifland, ibid. No chart of his
voyage, 117. Departs from Ka-
dyak, and arrives at Umnak, 118,
119. Defeats a defign formed
againft him by the natives, 120.
Meets with Korovin, 121. Win-
terson Umnak, 122. Journal of
his voyage, 124—130. See Solo-
vioff, Korovin.
(Ivan), an Aleiitian inter-
preter, 101.
Golodoff, killed at Unyumga, 65.
Goreloi. See Atchu.

Greenlanders,

Ni N.

Greenlanders, their proper names
nearly fimilar to thofe ufed in the
Aleiitian Ifles, 40.

Hi.

Hare’s Rock. See Saet/hie Kammen.
Hot Springs, found in Kanaga, 75.
in Tfetchina, 76.

I,

hiya, Rickfa, and Olas, Three large
populous iflands to the Eaft of
the Aletitian Iflands, 46.

Fefuits, their compliance with the
Chinefe fuperftition, 220.

Igonok, a village of Unalathka, 142.

Igunok, a bay N. E. of Unalathka,

255.

Ikutedbk, a dwelling place at Una-
lathka,.137.

Imperial Academy, their chart of
the New Difcovered Iflands, not
to be depended on, 24. 27.

Indigirka, a river of Siberia, 14.

Inlogufak, a leader of the Unalath-
kans, killed, 139.

Jfanak, one of the iflands to the
Weft of Kadyak, 109.

Iflands (New Difcovered), firft tri-
bute brought from thence to
Ochotfk, 22. Lift of thofe iflands,
according to Mr. Muller, 297.
Their names altered and corrupt-
ed by the Ruffian navigators, 299.
See Aleiitian Iffes and Fox I/lands.

Dflenieff (Mr.), fent to Yakutfk to
obferve the tranfit of Venus, 274.

Itchadek and Kagumaga, two friend.
ly Toigons, 137.

7

E X.

Ivan Shilkin, his voyage, 57. 60.
Shipwrecked on one of the Fox
Iflands, 58. Great diftreffes of
his crew on that ifland, 59. Ship-
wrecked a fecond time, 60,

Ivan Vaffilievitch 1. makes the firft
irruption into Siberia, 177.

Ivan Vaffilicvitch U. took the title
of Lord of all the Siberian lands
before the conquefts of Yermac,
179. See Ruffia. i

Ives (Ibrand), a Dutchman. Em-
baffador from Peter I. to Pekin,
203.

Iviya, one of the Aleiitian Iflands,
55+

Ke

Kadyak, one of the Fox Iflands,
35- The fondnefs of the natives
for beads, 114. Animals and ve-
getables found there, 115, 116.
Great reafon to think it is at no
great diftance from the continent
of America, 117. Account of the
inhabitants, 118. See Giottoff.

Kagumaga. See Itchadek.

Kalaktak, a village of Unalathka,
143.

Kama, a river, 180.

Kamtchatka, difcovered by the Ruf-
fians, 3. The whole peninfula re-
duced by the Ruffians, 4. Of little
advantage to the crown at firft, but
fince the difcovery of the iflands
between Afia and America its
fur-trade is become a confiderable
branch of the Ruffian commerce,
ibid. Its fituation and boundaries,
5. Its diftri&s, government, and
population, iid. Fixed and other
tributes to the crown, 6. Its foil

and

if N D

and climate not favourable to the
culture of corn; but hemp has of
late years been cultivated there
with great fuccefs, 7. Supplied
yearly wich falt, provifions, corn,
and manufaétures, from Ochotk,
bid. Rout for tranfporting furs
from thence to Kiachta, 247.
Manner of procuring fire there,
and which Vakfel, Beering’s lieu-
tenant, found \practifed in that
part of North America which
he faw in 1741, 158. See Mo-
rofko, Atlaffoff, Koriacs, Ochotjr
and Penfhinfk, BolchercfR, Tigil-
fraia, Krepoft, Verchnei, Nifanei,
Kamtchetka Ofirogs, Volcanos,
Furs and Skins.

Kamtchatkci Oftrogs (Upper and
Lower) and Bolcheretfk built, 4.

Kanaga, one of the Andreanofifky
ifands, 72. Defeription of, 75.

Karaga Ifland, tributary to Ruflia,
35. See Olstorians.

Kafotar, Atown of Liide Bucharia,
4i)oh

Ka/bmak, an interpreter employed by
the Ruffians, 92.

Kataghayekiti, name-of the inhabi-
tants of Unimak and Alaxa, 263.

Kayachu. See Ayagh.

Kuachta, a frontier town of Siberia,
12. Treaty concluded there be-
tween the Ruffans and Chinefe,
206,209. Isat prefent the cen-
tre of the Ruffian and Chinefe
commerce, 210. That placeand
Zuruchaitu agreed on for trant-
ating the commerce ‘between
Rufha and China, 211. Deferip-
tion of Kiachta. @id.

Kishigufi, vhabitants of Akutan fo
called, 26%

Kittaika, a Chinefe fluff, 238.

E X.

Koghologhi, inhabitants of Unalath-
ka fo called, 263,

Kopeikina, a bay of the river Ana-
dyr, 43-

Korenof. See Solovioff.

Korga, A fand-bank at the mouth
of the river Anadyr, 318. Sce
Soliver fof.

Koriacs, their country the Northern
boundary of Kamtchatka, 5. Tri-
butary to Ruffia, 43.

Korovin (Ivan), his voyage89,—1035.
Arrives at Unalafhka, his tranf-
actions there, go—96. Builds
an hut, and prepares for winter-
ing, 93. Being attacked ‘by the
favages, deftroys his hut, and re-
tires to his veflel, 95. Attacked
again, repulfes the favages, and is
ftranded on the ifland of Umnak,
96. After different fkirmifhes
with the natives, is relieved by
Glottoff, 99. His defeription of
Umnak and Unalafhka, with their
inhabitants, 103. See Solovioff.

Kovyma, a river of Siberia, 14.

frenitzin (Captain), commands a
fecret expedition, 23.

Krenitzin and Levafbeff, their jour-
nal and chart fent, by order of
the Emprefs of Ruffa, to Dr. Ro-
bertfon, 23. Extract from their
journal, 251—255. They arrive
at the Fox Iflands, 253. Krenit-
zin winters at Alaxa, and Leva-
fheff at Unalafhka, 254. "hey
return to the river of Kamtchat-
ka, 266. Krenitzin drowned, idid.
See Vakoff.

Kraffilnikoff, Voyage of a weffel
fitted out by him, 52. Ship-
wrecked on Copper Iland, iid.
The crew return to Beering’s
Ifland, 53.

Kraf-

I N D

Krafiicnikof (a Ruffian aftronomer),
his:accuracy in taking the longi-
tude of Kamtchatka, 273. _

Krafbininikof, his biftory of Kamt-
chatka, 256.

Kreftova, a river of Siberia, 324.

Krugloi, or Round I/lend, one of the
Aleiitian Iflands, 69.

Kulkoff, his veflel deftroyed, and
his crew killed by the favages,
94. 157.

Kullara, a fortrefs belonging to
Kutchum Chan, Igo.

Kuril Ifles, fabject to Rufiia, 5.

Kutchum Chan (a defcendant of
Zinghis Chan), defeats Yediger,
and takes him prifoner, 179. The
moft powerful fovereign in Sibe-
ria, 182. See Vermat, Sibir.

L.

Laptieff (Chariton), his unfaccefs-
ful attempt to pafs from the Lena
to the Yeniséi, 309. See p. 322.

Latitude of Bokhere/k, Appendix I.
N° Il. See Longitude.

Lena, a river of Siberia, 14. At-
tempts of the Ruflians to pafs
from thence to Kamtchatka, 311.
See Menin.

Leontieff (a Ruffian), has tranflated
feveral interefting Chinefe publi-
cations, 208.

Levafheff. See Krenitzin and Le-
vapbeff

Lobafchkoff (Prokopéi), killed at A-
lakfu, 66.

Longitude, of the extreme parts of
Afia, by Mr. Muller and the
Ruffian geographers, 267. By
Mr. Engel, ivid. By Mr. Vau-

E X.

gondy, 268. The Ruffian fyftem
fupported by Monf. Buache, a-
gainft Engel and Vaugondy, ibid.
See Kra/filnixaf?.

Longitude of Ochotsk, Bolcheresk, and
St. Peter and St, Paul, 269.

Longitude and Latitude of the prin-
cipal places mentioned in this
work, 244.

Lyffie Oftrova, or Fox Tflands, 14.
Their fitwation and names, 25.
Defcription of the inhabitants, 62.

M.

Maimat/chin (the Chinefe frontier
town), defcribed,214. Houfes
there defcribed,.216. An ac-
count'of the governor, 218. The-
atre defcribed, 219. The {mall
pagoda, 220. The great pagoda,
221. Idols worfhiped there,
ibid.— 227. See Sitting-Rooms.

Manjburs, their origin, 197.

Maocang, a Chinefe idol, 225.

Mednoi Oftrof, or Copper Ifland,
Difcovered, 21. See Copper Iland.

Medvedeff (Dennis), his crew
maflacred by the favages, go.
He and part of Protaffoff’s crew
found murdered on the ifland of
Umnak, 99.

Menin (Feodor), his unfaccefsful
attempt to pals from the Yenisei
to the Lena, 306.

Merghen, a Chinefe town, 244.

Medviodkie Oftrova, Kreffftoffskie O/-
trova, or Bear Iflands, Difcovery
0) Oe

Minyachin (a Coflac), a collector of
the tribute, 69.

Mongol,

I N D

Mongol, the commerce between the
Ruflians and Chinefe, moftly car-
ried on in that tongue, 231.

Morosko (Lucas Semenoff), com-
manded the firft expedition to-
wards Kamtchatka, 3.

Muller, (Mr.) His conjecture re-
lating to the coaft of the fea of
Ochotfk, confirmed by Captain
Synd, 23. Part of a letter writ-
ten by him in 1774, concerning
the vicinity of Kamtchatka and
America, 283. His lift of the
New Difcovered Iflands, 297.

N.

Nankin, 231.

Naun, a Chinefe town, 244.

Nerfbinsk. See Chinefe.

Nevodtfikoff (Michael), fails from
Kamtchatka river, 29. Difcovers
the Aleutian Iflands, did. WNar-
rative of his voyage, 31—36.

New Moon, ceremonies obferved
at, by the Chinefe, 228.

Nikul, or Fedotika, a river which
falls into that of Kamtchatka, 321.

Ni/bnei, or Lower Kamtchatkoi Oftrog,
a diftriét of Kamtchatka, 5.

Niu-o, Chinefe idol, 226.

North Eaft Paffage, Rafans attempt
to difcover, 304—231.

Novikoff and Bacchoff, their voy-
age from Anadyrfk, 42. 44.
Are fhipwrecked on Beering’s
Ifland, where they build a fmall
boat, and return to Kamtchatka,
44s

©:
Oby (bay of ), 306.

E; Ke

Ochotsk and Penfbinsk, Weftern
boundaries of Kamtchatka, 5. See
Kamtchatka, Muller.

Offzin and Koskeleff (Lieutenants),
firft effected the pafflage from the
bay of Oby to the Yenisei, 306.

Olas. See Ibiya.

Olotorian Ifles, whence fo called,
284,

Olotorians, invade the ifland of Ka-
raga, and threaten to deftroy all
the inhabitants who pay tribute
to Ruffia, 36.

Onemenskaya, a bay in the river
Anadyr, 43.

Oracles (Chinefe), 227. -

Orel, a Ruffian fettlement, 181.

Otcheredin, (Aphanaffei), his voy-
age to the Fox Iflands, 156—163.
Winters at Umnak, 157. The
toigon of the Five Mountains
gives him holtages, for which the
other toigons kill one of his
children, 158. A-party fent by
him to Ulaga repulfed the
inhabitants, who had attacked
them, 159. Is joined by Popoff
from Beering’s Ifland, and pre-
vails on the inhabitants to pay
tribute, 161. Receives an ac-
count of Levafheff’s arrival at
Unalafhka, did. Returns to
Ochotfk, with a large cargo,
leaving Popoff at Umnak, 162.
Brings home two iflanders, who
were baptized by the names of
Alexey Solovieff and Boris Ot
cheredin, 103. See Poloskaff.

f N D

Ps

Pagoda. See Maimat/chin.

Paikoff (Demetri), his voyage, 61
—62.

Pallas, receives from Bragin a nar-
rative of his adventures and ef-
cape, p.88. Account of Kiachta
and Maimatfchin, extracted from
his journal, p. 229. His pub-
lication concerning the Mongol
tribes, 230. Lift of plants found
by Steller upon the coatt difcover-
ed by Beering in 1741, com-
municated by Mr. Pallas—quo-
tation from a treatife of his, rela-
tive to the plants of the new-dif-
covered iflands, 279. Extracts
made by him relative to Defhnetk’s
voyage, p 314—316.

Pautloffsky, his expedition, in which,
after feveral fuccefsful fkirmithes
with the Tfchurtski, he is furprifed
and killed by them, 296.

Peacock. See Feathers.

Pekin. Ruflian fcholars allowed to
fettle there, to learn the Chinefe
tongue, 209. See Caravans.

Penjfbinsk, 5.

Peter I. fictt proje&ted making dif-
coveries in the feas between
Kamtchatka and America, 20.

Peterflurg, length of the different
routs between that city and Pekin,
248.

Piafida, a river of Siberia, 309.

Plenifner (a Courlander), fent on
difcoveries to the N. E. of Sibe-
tia, 294. See Daurkin.

Poloskoff, (Matthew), Sent by Ot-
cheredin to Unalafhka, 159.
Spends the autumn at Akun, and
after twice repulfing the favages,
returns to Otcheredin, 159161.

E X.

Popoff (Ivan), a velfel fitted out by
him arrives at Unalafhka, 158.
See Otcheredin.

Pront/biji/beff (Lieutenant), his un-
fuccefsful attempt to pafs fromthe
Lena towards the Yenis¢i, 306 —

OQ.

Prova’ he and his crew deftroyed
by the favages, 133.157. See
Medvedeff.

Pufbkareff (Gabriel), his voyage,
64—69. Winters upon Alakfu,
65. He, with Golodoff and
twenty others, attempting to vio-
late fome girls, on the ifland
Unyumga, are fet upon by the
Matives, and at laft obliged to
retreat, 65,66. He and his crew
tried for their inhuman behaviour
to the iflanders during their voy-
age, 67.

R.

Rheum. See Rhubarb.

Rhubarb, that from Ruffia gene-
rally called Turkey Rhubarb, and
why, 332. Defcription of, ibid.
Indian rhubarb inferior to the
Tartarian or Turkey, 333. A
milk-white fort defcribed, 334.
Different fpecies, 335—341-
Planted in Siberia by M. Zuchert,
a German apothecary, 338. Ex-
portation of, 242. Superiority
ef the Tartarian over the Indian
Rhubarb, accounted for, 342.

Rick/a. See lbiya.

Roaring Mountain. See Unalafhka.

Robertjon (Dr.) See Krenitzin and
Levafheff.

Round Ifiand. See Kruglot.

Ruffia (prefent Emprefs of), a
great promoter of new difco-
Li Z veries,

I N

veries, 22. No communication
between that country and Siberia
till the reign of Ivan Vafhlievitch
II. 178. The emprefs abolifhes
the monopoly of the: fur-trade,
and relinquifhes the exclufive pri-
vilege of fending caravans to
Pekin, 210.

Ruffia, a curious and interefting
“*Aiftorical Account of thenations
which compofe that: Empire”
lately publifhed, 218.

Rufians, quit’ Siberia after the
death of Yermac, 194. Recover
their antient territories in that
country, 195. Their progrefs
checked by the Chinefe, 196.
Are expelled from the Chinefe
dominions, 205. Are allowed to
build a church (and to have four
priefts to officiate in it) within

their caravanfary at Pekin, 208. .

Commerce between them and the
Chinefe carried on only by barter,

232. Method of tranfacting bu-
finefs between them, 233. Ruf-
fian exports, 234—237. Im-

ports, 237—239. Articles of
trade prohibited to individuals,
240. Duties paid by the Ruflian
merchants, 241. The Ruflians’
manner of trading to the Fox
Iflands, 264. Their attempts to
difcover a North Eaft paffage,
304—331. Held in great vene-
ration by the Kamrchadals, till
they quarrelled among them-
felves, 321. See Siberia, Chinefe,
Albafin, Lena.

Sabya, an ifland at a diftance from
Att, 30. See Aft.

Sacred Helmet, at Maimatfchin, 227.

Saetfbie Kamen,. or Hare’s Rock,
Defcription of, 328.

D:

EE

Sagaugamak, one of the Fox Iflands,

157+ 4

St. Peterflurg, the geographical ca-
lendar of not tobedepended on, 24.

Saktunak, an ifland near Alakfu,119.

Sandchue,.a northern province of
China, 231.

Sea-horfe teeth, their value, 16.

Sea-lion, or Scivutcba, its feth deli-
cate food, 265.

Sea-otters, Many writers miftaken
concerning them, 12. Defcription
of, ibid. Value of their fkins, 13.

Selin,a town of Little Bucharia, 333.

Serebranikoff, voyage of a veffel
fitted out by him, 49—542. Ship-
wrecked on an ifland oppofite.

. Katyrskoi Nofs, in the peninfula
of Kamechatks, 50. Defcription
of the iffland, 51.

Shaffyrin (Sila), a Coflac, colle&or
i the tribute, 40. 45. 61. killed,

2.

Shalaureff, his firft'voyage from the
Lena, 323—328. Winters ata
mouth of the Kovyma, 325.
Not being able to double She-
letskoi Nofs, retarns to the Ko-
vyma, winters there a fecond
time, and returns to the Lena,
327. No account of his fecond
expedition, he and his crew be-
ing killed by the Tichutski, 328.

Sheep’s Rock. Sce Baranéi Kamen.

Shelatskoi Nofs, whence that name is
derived, 326.

wis one of the Aletitian Iflands,
78.

Shilkin (Ivan), his voyage, 4s.
Wrecked on one of the Fox
Iflands, 58. where the Ruflians
are attacked by the favages,
whom they repulfe, 59. After
fuffering the greatetft diftrefs, they

build

I N

build a fmall veffel, in which they
are a fecond time wrecked, and
return at laft in Serebranikoff’s
veffel to Kamtchatka, -59, 60.

Shuntf{chi, The firft Chinefe empe-
ror of the Manfhur race, 198.

Shufbu, the firft of the Kuril Ifles,

Ors

Sider, the principal refidence of
Kutchum Chan, 182.

Siberia, conqueft of by Yermac,
1g. Second irruption of the
‘Ruffians into that country, 179.
State of at the time of Yermac’s
invafion, 182. Conjeéture con-
-cerning “the derivation of that
name, ibid. Totally reduced by
the Ruffians, 196. Tranfport of
the Ruffian and Chinefe commo-
-dities through that country, 245.
“See Ivan Vaffilievitch I. Ruffia.
Kutchum Chan.

Sitkin, one of the Fox Iflands, 62.

Sitting-rooms, (Chinefe), detcribed,

6

216.

Soliverftoff (Yuko), his expedition to
the Korga, to colleét fea-horfes
teeth, 319.

Soloviof (Ivan), his voyage, 131—
155 Arrives at Unalafhka, 132.
Learns the particulars of a con-
federacy formed by the Toigons

‘of Unalafhka, Umnak, Akutan,
and Tofhko, againft the Ruffians,
134. Is joined by Korovin, 135.
Hoftilities between. him and the
natives, ibid. Winters at Una-
lafhka, with other tranfa¢tions at
that ifland, 136. Makes peace
with the natives, and receives
hoftages, 139. Meets with Koro-
vin, 140. His crew being greatly
afflicted with the fcurvy, the in-
habitants of Makufhinfk confpire

D

E X.
: to feize his-veffel, t41. But are
happily prevented, 142. Is vi-
-fited by Glottoff, idid. Receives
‘hoftages “from: the inhabitants of
‘Kalaktak, 143. “Sends Korenof
in different hunting parties, 144.
Journal. of his voyage homewards,
¥44. His defcription of the Fox
Iflands, 148.
“Solvytfhegodfkaia. “See Strogonof.
Steller, ‘His arguments to prove that
Beering and Tfchirikiff difcovered
America, 277.
Strogonof? (Anika), a Ruffian mer-
chant, eftablifhes a trade with
“Solvythhegodfkaia in Siberia, 178.
Makes fettlements upon the Kama
and Tfehuffovaia, 180. Sce Yer-
mac.
Studentzoff, a Coffac, colle&tor of the
tribute, 45. 57.
Svatoi Nofs, that. name. explained,
3206
Sulphur found on the ifland- of Ka-
naga, 75. See Copper Ilands.
Synd (capt.) his voyage to theN. F.-
of Siberia,.300. Difcovers acluf-
ter of iflands; and a promontory,
which he fuppofes to belong to
America, 301.

E.

Tabaetfhinskian, a mountain of
Kamtchatka, emitting a conftant
fmoke, :6.

Tagalak, one of the Andreanoffskye
Hands, defcription of, 76.

Tartarian Rhubarb. See Rhubarb.

Tchingi, a town on the banks of the
Tura, 185. See Yermac.

Tea, finer in Ruffia than in Europe,
and why, 238.

Temnac, an Aleutian interpreter, 30.
ZZ 2 Tien.

I N

Tien, an idol worshiped in the {mall
pagoda at Maimatfchin, 220,

Tigilfkaia Krepof, a diftritt
Kamtchatka, 5.

Tolftyk, (Andrean), his voyage to
the Aleutian Ifles, in 1748, 30.
Ditto, in 1756, 54. Ditto in
1760, 71—79. Difcovers the
Andreanofkie Iflands, 72. Ship-
wrecked near the mouth of the
Kamtchatka river, 79.

Tofhko. See Soloviof.

Totchikala, a village of Unalafhka,
138.

Trapefnikoff (Nikiphor), Boris and
Glebb, a veflel fitted out by him,
her voyage and return, 39, 40,
&c. Another veffel fitted out by
him deftroyed, and the crew cut
off, by the natives of Unimak,
140.

Tfaaduck, a kind of lamp, 159.

Tfaudfing, a Chinefe idol, 226.

Tchirikof. See Beering.

Tchuffovaia (a river). See Stroganoff.

Tfchutski, a people on the river
Anadyr, 43. Boundaries of their
country, 293. See Aja.

Tfchukotskoi INofs, the N. E. cape
of the country of the Tfchutfki,
293. Stadukin and Soliverftoff
claim the difcovery of the paflage
round that promontory, 314, See
Defbneff, Svatoi Nofs, Shelatskoi
Nofs ; fee alfo p. 322-

Tfchuvatch. See Yermac.

Tjetchina, one of the Andreanoff:ky
Iflands, defcription of, 76.

Tfikanok, or Ofernia, a river of Una-
lafhka, 133.

Lfuprof, his adventures at the
Aleutian Iflands, 32. See Be-
layeff.

Turkey Rhubarb. See Rhubarb.

ot

Wr’ -(E X.

U..

Vakjfel. See Kamtchatka.

Vaffilievitch. See Ivan Vaffilievitch,

Vaugondy. See Longitude.

Udagha, a bay on the N. E. of Una-
lathka, 255.

Verchnet, or Upper Kamtchatkoi O/-
trog,.a diftrict of Kamtchatka, 5.

Ukunadok, a village of Unalafhka,

143.

Ulaga, one of the Fox Iflands. See
Otcheredin.

Umgaina, a village of Unalafhka,
142.

Umnak, one of the Fox Iflands, 81.
See Korovin, Solovioff.

Unala/bka, or Agunalafbka, one of
the Fox Iflands, 82. Adventures of
four Ruffians belonging to Drufi-
nin’s crew there, 84—88. De-
{cription of, 254. Ayaghifh and
the Roaring Mountain, two volca-
nos, on that ifland, 255. Pro-
ductions, ibid. The inhabitants
lefs barbarous than thofe of the
other Fox Iflands, 260.

Unimak, an ifland to the Eaft of
Agunalathka, 139. See Irape/-
nikoff.

Unyumga. See Pufbkareff, Goledeff.

Volcanos, fome burning ones in
Kamtchatka, and traces of many
former ones to be obferved there,
6. One eruption near Lower
Oftrog in 1762, and another in
1767, ibid. Anhigh volcano on
the ifland of Kanaga, 75. See
Copper Ifland, Unala/hka.

Vorobieff, his voyage, 42.

Ww.

Wheels, a carriage with four wheels
a mark of high diftinction among
the Chinefe, 218.

White month, explained, 228.

Women, none allowed to live at
Maimatfchin, and why, 231.

Wyievidoff (Andrew), his voyage to:

the new-difcovered Iflands, 38.

¥.

Yakoff (Facob), compofed the chart
of Krenitzin and Levafheff’s
voyage, 266,

Yediger (a Tartar chief), pays tri-
bute to the Ruffians, 179. See
Kutchum Chan.

Yenifei, a river of Siberia, 305,
& feq.

Yerken, a town of Little Bucharia,

ag.

Yermac, being driven from the Caf-
pian Sea, retires to Orel, 181,
where he winters, and deter-
mines to invade Siberia, 182. To
which he is inftigated by Strogo-

D E

x.

noff, 183. Marches towards Si-
beria, and returns to Orel, 184.
Sets out on a fecond expedition,
and arrives at Tchingi, 185. De-
feats Kutchum Chan at Tfchu-
vatch, 186. Marches to Sibir,
and feats himfelf on the throne,
187. Cedes his conqueft to the
Tzar of Mufcovy, 189.. Who
fends him a reinforcement, under
the command of prince Bolkofky,
t90. Is furprifed by Kutchum
Chan, 191. And drowned, 192.
Veneration paid to his memory,
193. See Allai, Ruffians, Siberia,
Ivan Vaffielivitch ll.

Yefimoff (Sava), one of Yermac’s
followers, an accurate hiftorian
of thofe times, 192.

Yugoff (Emilian), his voyage, 38. Dies
on Copper Ifland, 39.

Zi.
Zuchert. See Rhubarb.
Zuruchaitu. Defcription of, 244.

Its trade very inconfiderable, 245.
See Kiachta:

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Seer tabi

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Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Peterfburgh, in a Series of Letters, by
N. Wraxall, jun. 3d Edition. 6s.

A Journey to the Weftern Ifles of Scotland. ‘By the Author of the
Rambler. 6s.

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