UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AT LOS ANGELES
. \
T O
JACOB BRYANT, ESQ.
AS A PUBLIC TESTIMONY
O F
THE HIGHEST RESPECT FOR
HIS DISTINGUISHED
LITERARY ABILITIES,
THE TRUEST ESTEEM FOR
HIS PRIVATE VIRTUES,
AND THE MOST GRATEFUL SENSE OF
MANY PERSONAL FAVOURS,
THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE
INSCRIBED,
B Y
HIS FAITHFUL AND AFFECTIONATE
HUMBLE SERVANT,
WILLIAM COXE.
Cambridge,
March 27, 1780.
[ ill ]
ADVERTISEMENT
T O
THE THIRD EDITION.
TH E author has, in this third edition,
arranged the chapters in a more regu-
lar and connected manner than in the for-
mer impreflions ; and has fubjoined a com-
parative View of the Ruffian Difcoveries with
thole made by Captains Cook and Clerke,
which has lately appeared in a feparate pub-
lication,
so, 1787.
a 3 To
ERRATA.
P. ii. 1. 8. dele having.
P. 6. 1. 7. for are read 'were.
P. 24. Note 2. for Part II. Chap. I. read
Appendix^ No. I.
P. 82. 1. 1 8. for turbot read halibuts.
P. 124. 1. 5. dele right.
P. 229. notes. 1. 2. for chri/latus read cr^*-
fatus.
PREFACE.
THE late Ruffian Difcoveries between
Afia and America have, for fome time,
engaged the attention of the curious ; more
efpecially fince Dr. Robertfon's admirable
Hiilory of America has been in the hands of
the public. In that valuable performance the
elegant and ingenious author has communi-
cated to the world, with an accuracy and
judgement which fo eminently diftinguifh all
his writings, the moft exact information at
that time to be obtained, concerning thofe
important difcoveries. During my flay at
Peterfburg, my inquiries were particularly di-
rected to this interefting fubject, 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 refpedtive journals
of the feveral voyages fubfequent to the expe-
dition of Beering and Tfchirikof in 1741,
with which the celebrated Muller concludes
his account of the firft Ruffian navigations.
a 3 During
vi PREFACE.
During the courfe of my refearches I was
informed, that a treatife in the German lan-
guage, published at Hamburg and Leipfic in
1776, contained a full and exact narrative of
the Ruffian voyages, from 1745 to 1770*.
As the author has not prefixed his name, I
fhould have paid little attention to an anony-
mous publication, if I had not been aflured,
from very good authority, that the work in
queftion was compiled from the original jour-
nals. Not refting however upon this intel-
ligence, I took the liberty of applying to
Mr. Muller himfelf, who, by order of the
Emprefs, had arranged the fame journals,
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 fa-
voured me with the following ftrong teHimony
to its exa&nels and authenticity : " Vous
" feres bien de traduire pour 1'ufage de vos
" compatriotes le petit livre fur les ifles
" fitues entre le Kamtchatka et TAmerique.
" II n'y a point de doute, que 1'auteur n'ait
* The title of the book is, Neue Nachrichten von a'enen
Neuendeckten Infulnin der See zwifchen Afta und Amerika
aus mitgetheilten Urkunden und Aufzuegen verfaffet von
J. L. S.
" etc
PREFACE. vii
" etc pourvu de bons memoirs, et qu'il ne
" s'en foit fervi fidelement. J'ai confronte le
" livre avec les originaux." Supported there-
fore by this very refpectable authority, I con-
fidered this treatife as a performance of the
higheft credit, and well worthy of being more
generally known and perufed. I have ac-
cordingly, in the firft part of the prefent pub-
lication, fubmitted a tranflation of it to the
reader's candour ; and added occafional notes
to fuch paflages as feemed to require an ex-
planation. The original is divided into fec-
tions without any references. But as it feemed
to be more convenient to divide it into chap-
ters ; and to accompany each chapter with a
fummary of the contents, and marginal re-
ferences ; I have moulded it into that form,
without making however any alteration in the
order of the journals.
The additional intelligence which I pro-
cured at Peterfburg is thrown into a Second
Part : it confifts of fome new information, and
of three journals *, never before given to the
public. Amongft thefe I muft particularly
mention that of Krenitzin and Levamef, which,
* The journal of Krenitzin and Levafhef, the fliort ac-
count of Synd's voyage, and the narrative of ShalauroPsex-
Kdition, Part II. Chapters I. VII. VIII.
a 4 to-
viii PREFACE.
together with the chart of their voyage, 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, permitted me to make ufe
of in this collection. This voyage, which re-
dounds 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 merchants.
As a farther illuftration of this fubject, I
collected the beft charts which could be pro-
cured at Peterfburg, and of which a lift will
be given in the following advertifement. From
all thefe circumftances, I may venture, per-
haps, to hope that the curious and inquifitive
reader will not only find in the following pages
the moft authentic and circumftantial account
of the progrefs and extent of the Ruffian dif-
coveries, which has hitherto appeared in any
language ; but be enabled hereafter to com-
pare them with thofe more lately made by
that great and much to be regretted naviga-
tor, Captain Cooke, when his journal mall
be communicated to the public.
As
PREFACE. ix
As all the furs which are brought from,
the New-difcovered Iflands are fold to the
Chinefe, I was naturally led to make en-
quiries concerning the commerce between
Ruffia and China ; and finding this branch
of traffic much more important than is com-
monly imagined, I thought that a general
(ketch of its prefent ftate, together with a
fuccincl: view of the tranfadtions between the
two nations, would not be unacceptable.
The conqueft of Siberia, as it firft opened
a communication with China, and paved the
way to all the interefting difcoveries related
in the prefent attempt, will not appear un-
connected, I truft, with its principal de-
figtt.
The materials of this fecond part, as alfo
of the preliminary obfervations concerning
Kamtchatka, and the commerce to the New-
difcovered Iflands, are drawn from books of
eftablilhed and undoubted reputation. Mr.
Muller and Mr. Pallas, from whofe intereft-
ing works thefe hiftorical and commercial
fubje&s are chiefly compiled, are too well
known in the literary world to require any
other vouchers for their judgement, exa&nefs,
and
x PREFACE.
and fidelity, than the bare mentioning of their
names. I have only farther to apprize the
reader, that, befides the intelligence ex-
tracted from thefe publications, he will find
fome additional circumftances relative to the
Ruffian commerce with China, which I col-
lected during my continuance in Ruffia.
I CAN-
I CANNOT clofe this addrefs to the
reader without embracing with peculiar fa-
tisfa&ion the juft occaiion, which the enfuing
treatifes upon the Ruffian difcoveries and com-
merce afford me, of joining with every friend
of fcience in the warmeft admiration of that
enlarged and liberal fpirit, which fo ftrikingly
marks the character of the prefent Emprefs of
Ruffia. Since her acceffion to the throne, the
inveftigation and difcovery of ufeful know-
ledge has been the conftant object of her ge-
nerous encouragement. The authentic re-
cords of the Ruffian hiftory have, by her ex-
prefs orders, been properly arranged ; and
permiffion is readily granted of infpecting
them. The moft diftant parts of her vaft do-
minions have, at her expence, been explored
and defcribed by perfons of great abilities and
exteniive learning ; by which means new and
important lights have been thrown upon the
geography and natural hiftory of thofe remote
regions. In a word, this truly great princefs
has contributed more, in the compafs of only
a few years, towards civilizing and informing
the minds of her fubjects, than had been ef-
fected by all the fovereigns her predeceflbrs
fiiice the glorious asra of Peter the Great.
la
C adi ]
In order to prevent the frequent mention of
the full title of the books referred to in the
courfe of this performance, the following
catalogue is fubjoined, with the abbre-
viations.
Miiller's Samlung Ruffifcher Gefchichte, IX vo-
lumes, 8vo. printed at St. Pcterfburg 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 colleftion 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 Fleuve Amur, 1 21110, Amfter-
dam, 1776.
vol. III. p. i, Sec. Nachrichten von SeeReifen, &c.
There is an Englifh and a French translation of
this work ; the former is called " Voyages from
Alia to America for completing the Difcoveries of
the North Weft Coaft of America," 4to, London,
1764. The title of the latter is " Voyages et
Decouvertes faites par les Ruffes," &c. 12010,
Amfterdam, 1766. p. 413. Nachrichten Von der
Handlung in Sibirien.
Vol. VI. p. 109, Sibirifche Gelhichte.
Vol. VIII. p. 504, Nachricht Von der Ruffif-
chen Handlung nach China.
4 Pallas
[ xiii ]
Pallas Reife durch verchiedne Provinzen des
Ruffifchen Reichs, in Three Parts, 410, St. Pe-
terfburg, 1771, 1773, and 1776, thus cited, Pair
las Reife.
Georgi Bemerkungcn einer Reife im Ruffifchen
Reich in Jahre, 1772, III volumes, 4to, St. Pe-
tersburg, 1775, cited Georgi Reife.
Fifcher Sibirifche Gefchichte, 2. volumes, 8vo,
St. Petersburg, cited Fif. Sib. Gef.
Gmelin Reife durch Sibirien, Tome IV. 8vo,
Gottingen, 1752, cited Gmelin Reife.
There is a French tranflation of this work, called
" Voyage en Siberie/' &c. par Gmelin. Paris,
1767.
Neuefte Nachrichten von Kamtchatka aufgefetJd
im Junius des I773 sten Yahren von dem dafigen
Befehls-haber Herrn Kapitain Smalew.
Aus dem abhandlungen der freyen Ruffifchen
Gefellfchaft Mofkau.
In the journal of St. Petersburg, April, 1776 .
cited Journal of St. Petersburg.
Ex.
Explanation of fome Ruffian words made ufc
of in the following work.
Baidar, a fmall boat.
Guba> a bay.
Kamen, a rock.
Kotche, a veflel.
Krepqfl, a regular fortrefs.
Nofs, a cape.
OJlrog t a fortrefs furrounded with palifadoes*
Oftroff, an ifland.
Ojlrova, iflands.
%uafs, a fort of fermented liquor.
Reka, a river.
The Ruffians, in their proper names of perfons,
make ufe of patronymics ; thefe patronymics are
formed in fome cafes by adding Vitcb to the Chrif-
tian name of the father ; in others Off 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 ~\ . ^
f j. . f Ivantvanovitcbj Ivan the fon
of condition J r
of inferior rank, Ivan Ivanoff,
Michael Ale xievitch, "j Michael the
Michael Akxeef, J fon of Alexey.
Sometimes a furname is added, Ivan foanwitch
Romanoff^
Table
[ XV ]
Table of Ruffian Weights, Meafures of
Length, and Value of Money.
WEIGHT.
A pood weighs 40 Ruffian pounds = 36 Englifh.
MEASURES OF LENGTH.
1 6 verftiocks = an arlheen.
An arlheenrzzS inches.
Three arfheens,, or feven feet, = a fathom *, or
fazlhen.
500 fazfliensrra verft.
A degree of longitude comprifes 104! verfts 69!
Englifh miles. A mile is therefore 1,515 parts
of a verft ; two miles may then be eftimated
equal to three verfts, omitting a fmall f ration.
VALUE OF RUSSIAN MONEY.
A roubles i oo copecs : Its value varies according
to the exchange from 35. 8d. to 45. 2d. Upon
an average, however, the value of a rouble is
reckoned at four Ihillings.
* The fathom for meafuring the depth of water is the
fame as the Englifli fathom, n6 feet.
ADVER-
[ xvii ]
ADVERTISEMENT, 3
To the Edition of 1780.
AS no agronomical obfervations have beeil
taken in the voyages related in this col-
lection, 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 dif-
ferent from that affigned to them upon the
chart of Krenitzin and Levamef* Without
endeavouring to clear up any difficulties which
may arife from this uncertainty, I thought it
would be moft fatisfa&ory to have the bed
charts engraved : the reader will then be able
to compare them with each other, and with
the feveral journals. Which reprefentatioii
of the New-difcovered Iflands deferves the
preference, will probably be afcertained upon
the return of captain Clerke from his prefent
expedition.
* See p. 383.
b Lift
[ xviii ]
Lift of the CHARTS, and Dire&ions for
placing them.
CHART I. A reduced copy of the general
map of Ruffia, publiihed by
the Academy of Sciences at
St. Petersburgh, 1776,
to face the title-page.
II. Chart of the voyage made by
Krenitzen and Levafhef to
the Fox Iflands, communi-
cated by Dr. Robertfon,
to face p. 205.
III. Chart of Synd's Voyage to-
wards Tfchukotfkoi-Nofs, p. 223.
IV. Chart of Shalaurof's Voyage
to Shelalfkoi-Nofs, with a
fmall Chart of the Bear-
Iflands, p. 263,
View of Maimatfchln, p. 311*
Communicated by a gentleman
who has been upon the fpot.
CON-
CONTENTS.
Advertlfement to this Rdition, p. Hi.
Dedication, p. in.
Preface, p. v.
Catalogue of books quoted in this work, p. xii.
Explanation offome Ruffian words, p. xiv.
lable 0/" Ruffian Weights, Meafttres of Length,
and Value of Money, p. xv.
Advfrtifement of 1 780, p. xvii*
Lift of Charts y and Directions for placing them,
p. xviii.
/
.PART I.
Containing Preliminary Obfervations con.
cerning KAMTCHATKA, and Account of
the NEW DISCOVERIES made by the RUS-
SIANS, p. 3 16.
Chap. I. Firjl Difcovery of Kamtchatka.
'That Peninfula conquered and colonifed by the
Ruffians Prefent State of Kamtchatka
Government Population Tribute Pole a -
nos 9 p. q.
b 2 Chap.
xx CONTENTS.
Chap. II. General idea of the commerce earned
on to the Neiv-difcovered IJlctnds Equipment
of the vejjeh Risks of the trade, projits,&c*
p. 8.
Chap. III. Furs and Jkins procured from Kamt-
chatka and the New -discovered IJlands*"**
Sea-Otters. Differ entfpecies of Foxes, p. 12.
Account of the RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, p. 19.
Chap. I. Conqueft of Siberia Commencement of
the New Difcoveries Their Progrefs The
Emprefs promotes, all Attempts towards NCIM
Dijcoveries Pojltton of the New- dif covered
I /lands, p. 19.
Chap. II. Voyages in 1745. Firjl difcovery of
the Aleutian Ifles by Michael Nevodtfikof,
p. 29.
Chap. III. Succejffoe Voyages, from 1747 to
1753, /oBeering's and Copper Ifland, and to
the Aleutian Ifles. Voyage 0/Emilian Yu-
gof. Voyage of the Boris- and Glebb. Voy-
age of Andrew Tolftyk to the Aleutian Ifles,
1749. Voyage o/'Vorobief, 1750. Voyage
of Novikof and Baccof/m Anadyrfk.
Shipwreck upon Beering's Ifland. Voyage
of Durnef, in tbe St. Nicholas, 1754.
Narrative of the Voyage* Defcription of'
the
3
CONTENTS. xxi
the Aleutian Ifles. Some account of the
inhabitants. P* 39*
Chap. IV. Voyages from 1753 to 1756.
Kolodilof *sfoip fails from Kamtchatka, 1 75 3.--
Departure of Serebranikoff's VeffeL Ship-
wrecked upon one of the more dijlant I/lands.
Account of the Inhabitants. The Crew
conjlruft another Vejfel, and return to Kamt-
chatka. Departure of KraffilnikoPs Veffel.
Shipwrecked upon Copper Ifland. The
rew reach Beering's Ifland In two Eaidars^
p. 52.
Chap. V. Voyages from 1756/3 1758. Voyage
0/'Andrean Tolftyk in 1756 to the Aleutian
Ifles* Voyage of Ivan Shilkin/;z the Capiton,
1757. Shipwrecked upon one of the Fox-
I (lands. The Crew conjlrucl a f mall VeJJel,
and are again Jliip- wrecked, P- 59'
Chap. VI. Voyages in 1758, 1759, rfW 1760
to the Fox Iflands in the St. Vlodimir, jfrW
out by Trapefnikof, and commanded by Paikof,
1758 and in /& Gabriel, by Betfhevin
*fbe latter under the command of Pufhkaref
fails to Alakiu or Alachfkak, one of the
remotejl Eajlern I/lands hitherto vijited
Some account of its inhabitants and produc-
tions, which latter are different from tboje
b 3 of
xxii CONTENTS.
of the more Wejlern JJlands. Voyage of the
Peter and Paul to the Aleutian Ifiands,
1759- p. 67.
Chap. VII. Voyage <?/~Andrean Tolftyk In the
St. Andrean and Natalia 1 760 Dtfcovery of
fome new I/lands called Andreanofskye Oftro-
va Defcription of fix oftbofe I/lands, Ay ugh,
Kanaga, Tfetchina, Tagalak, Atchu, and
Amlak ; Auccount of their inhabitants.
The Vejjel wrecked upon the coaft of Kamt-
chatka. p. 79.
Chap. VIII. Voyage of the Zacharias and Eliza-
beth, fated out ^yKulkof, and commanded by
Drufinin, 1762 They fail to Umnak and
Unalalhka, and 'winter upon the latter ijland
-The vejfel dejlroyed ; and all the crew,
except four, murdered by the ijlanders The
adventures of ihefe jour Ruffians, and their
/ */ */
wonderful efcape. p. 90.
Chap. IX. Voy age of the veffel called the Trinity,
under the command o/"Korovin, 1 762 Sails
to the Fox Ifiands Winters at Unalaihka
Pitts tofea the fpring following Tbevejel is
Jlranded in a bay of the ijland Umnak, and the
crew attacked by the natives Many of them
killed Others carried off by Jick riffs They
are reduced to great freights Relieved by
Glot-
CONTENTS. xxut
Giotto f, twelve of the whole company only
remaining Defcription of Umnak and Una-
lailika and account of the Inhabitants^
p. lor.
Chap. X. Voyage o/"Stephen Glottof in the Au-
drean and Natalia, 1762 He reaches the
Fox-Iilands Sails beyond Unalafhka to Ka-
dyak Hunters upon that Ifland Repeat-
ed attempts of tht Natives to dejlroy the
Cre f w They are reputed, reconciled ^ and
prevailed upon to trade with the Ruffians
Account of Kadyak Its inhabitants ani-
mals productions Glottof fails back ts
Umnak Winters there Returns to Kamt-
chatka Journal of his voyage, p. 122.
Chap. XI. Voyage of Soloviof in the St. Peter
<iWPaul, 1764 be reaches UnalalKka, and
faj/es two 'winters upon that ijland relation of
what pajftd there -fruitlefs attempts of the na-
tives to dejlroy the crew Return of Soloviof
to Kamtchatka -journal of his voyage In re-
turning defcrlption of the ijlands Umnak
and Unalafhka productions inhabitants
their manners cujlom^ &c. &c, p. 152.
Chap. XII. Voyage of Otcheredin in the St.
Paul 1 765 He winters upon Umnak Ar-
i rival
xxiv CONTENTS.
rival of Levafhef upon Unalafhka. Return
of Otcheredin to Ochotfk, p. 182.
Chap. XIII. Conclujion General pojition and
filiation of the Aleutian and Fox Iflands
their diflance from each other Further de-
fcription of the drefs^ manners^ and cufloms,
of the inhabitants their feajls and ceremo-
nies, &c, p. 191
PART II.
Containing SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS of
the RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
Chap. I. Extraffifrom the journal of a voyage
made by Captain Krenitzin and Lieutenant
Levafhef to the Fox Iflands in 1768, 1 769,
by order of the Emprefs e/^Ruffia they fail
from Kamtchatka arrive at Beeriltg's and
Copper Iflands reach the Fox Iflands
Krenitzin winters at Alaxa Levafhef upon
Unalafhka productions of Unnlafhka de-
fcription of the inhabitants of the Fox Iflands
their m anners and c u/foms, &c. p. 205.
Chap. II. Voyage of Lieutenant Synd to the
North Eajl <?/* Siberia He difcovers a clujler
of ifiands, and a promontory > 'which he fup-
pofes
CONTENTS. xxv
pofes to belong to the continent of America,
lying near the coajl if the Tfchutfki, p. 223.
Chap. III. Summary of the proofs tending to
flew, that Bearing and Tfchirikof reached
America in 1741, or came very near it.
p. 226.
Chap. IV. Pofition of the Andreanoffsky Ifles
afcertained Number of the Aleutian Ifles.
p. 229-
Chap. V. Conjectures concerning the proxi-
mity of the Fox Iflands to the continent of
America, p. 232.
Chap. VI. Of the Tfchutfki Reports of the
vicinity <?/ America to their coaji, frjl pro-
pagated by them, feem to be confirmed by late
accounts from thofe parts, p. 234.
Chap. VII. Lift of the New -difcovered I/lands ,
procured from an Aleutian chief- Catalogue
ofJJlands called by different names in the Ac-
count of the Ruffian Difcoveries, p. 238.
Chap. VIII. Attempts of the Ruffians to dif-
cover a North Eajl paffage Voyages from
Archangel towards the Lena From the Le-
na towards Kamtchatka Rxtracl from
Muller's account cfDefchnef; 's voyage round
TfchukotfkoiNofs Narrative of a voyage
made
CONTENTS.
made by Shalaurof from the Lena to She-
latikoi Nofs, p. 241.
PART III.
Containing the Conqueft of SIBERIA ; and
the Hiftory of the Tranfa&ions and Com-
merce between RUSSIA and CHINA.
Chap. I. Firji irruption 'of 'the Ruffians into Si-
beria -fecond inroad Yermae, driven by the
Tzar of Mufcovyfrom the Volga, retires to
Orel, a Ruffian fettkment Enters Siberia,
with an army ^/"CplTacs- hisprogrefs and ex-
ploits Defeats Kutchum Chan conquers
his dominions- cedes them to the Tzar re~
ceives a reinforcement rf Ruffian troops- is
furpr'rzed by Kutchum Chan his defeat and
death 'veneration paid to his memor}- Ruf-
fian troops evacitaie Siberia -re enter and
conquer the whole country- their progref s
flopped by the Chinefe, p. 275.
Chap. II. Commencement cf bojlilities between
the Ruffians and Chinefe Difputes concern-
ing the limits of the two empires Treaty of
Nerfhinfk EmbaJJies from the court ofRuf-
fia to Pekin Treaty of Kiakta .EftabUfi-
ment
CONTENTS.
went of the commerce between the two na-
tions, p. 297.
Chap. III. Account of the Ruffian rf^Chinefe
fettlements upon the confines of Siberia de-
Jen fti on of the Ruffian frontier town Kiakta
of the Chinefe frontier town Maimatfchin
its buildings, pagodas, &c, p. 3 1 1
Chap. IV. Commerce between the Chinefe and
Ruffians lift of the principal exports and
Imports duties average amount of the Ruf-
fian trade, p. 333.
Chap. V. Defcriptlon of Zurukaitu and its
trade Tranfport of the merchandife through
Siberia, p. 345.
Chap. VI. Tartarian rhubarb brought to Kiakta
by the Bucharian Merchants Method of ex-
amining and purcbajing the roots Different
Jpecles of rheum which yield the fnefi rhubarb
Price of rhubarb in Ruffia Exportation
Superiority of the Tartarian over the In-
dian rhubarb, p. 351
APPENDIX, N I.
Concerning the longitude 0/"Kamtchatka, and of
the Eaftern extremity of Afia, as laid down
by the Ruffian Geographers, p. 367.
APPEN-
CONTENTS.
APPENDIX, N II.
Lift of the principal charts reprefenting the
Ruffian difcowriei, p. 378
APPENDIX, N III.
Specimen of the Aleutian language, p. 386
APPENDIX, N IV.
Table of Longitude and Latitude, p. 387
PART I.
CONTAINING
I. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA.
AND
I
II. ACCOUNT OF THE NEW DISCOVERIES
MADE BY THE RUSSIANS.
B
t 3 ]
/
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
CONCERNING
K A M T C H A T K A, &c.
CHAP. I.
F/Vy? Difcovery of Kamtchatka. Tbat Penin-
fula conquered and colonifed by the Ruffians*
Prefent State of Kamtchatka Government
Population Tribute Volcano*.
THE Peninfula of Kamtchatka was not
difcovered by the Ruffians before the
latter end of the laft century. The firft ex-
pedition towards thofe parts was made in
1696, by (ixteen Coflacs, under the com-
mand of Lucas Semaenof Morolko, who was
fent againft the Koriacs of the river Opooka
by Vlodimer Atlaflbf commander of Anadirfk.
Morofko continued his march until he came
within four days journey of the river Kamt-
B 2 chatka,
4 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
chatka, and having rendered a Kamtchadel
village tributary, he returned to Anadirfk *.
The following year Atlaflbf himfelf, at the
head of a larger body of troops, penetrated
into the Peninfula ; took pofleffion of the
river Kamtchatka by erecling a crofs upon its
banks ; and built fome huts upon the fpot,
where Upper Kamtchatkoi Oftrog now (lands.
Thefe expeditions were continued during
the following years : Upper and Lower Kamt-
chatkoi Oftrogs and Bolcheretfk were built ;
the Southern diflricl: conquered and colonifed ;
and in 1711 the whole Peninfula was finally
reduced under the dominion of the Ruffians.
During fome years the pofleffion of Kamt-
chatka brought very little advantage to the
crown, excepting from the fmall tribute of
furs exacted from the inhabitants. The Ruf-
fians indeed occaiionally hunted in that Pe-
ninfula foxes, wolves, ermines, fables, and
other animals, whofe valuable fkins form an
extenfive article of commerce among the
Eaftern nations. But the fur trade carried on
from thence was inconfiderable ; until the
Ruffians difcovered the iflands fituated be-
* S. R. G. V. in. p. 72.
i tween
CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, &C. 5
tween Alia and America, in a feries of voy-
ages ; the journals of which will be exhi-
bited in the fubfequent translation. Since
thefe difcoveries, the variety of rich furs,
which are procured from thole iflands, has
greatly encreafed the trade of Kamtchatka,
and rendered it a very important branch of
the Ruffian commerce.
The Peninfula of Kamtchatka lies between
51 and 62 degrees of North latitude, and
f 73 and 182 of longitude from the ifle of
Fero. It is bounded on the Eaft and South
by the fea of Kamtchatka, on the Weft by the
feas of Okotik and Penfhinik, and on the North
by the country of the Koriacs.
It is divided into four diftri&s, Bolcherefk,
Tigilfkaia Krepoft, Verchnei or Upper Kamt-
chatkoi Oftrog, and Nifhnei or Lower Kamt-
chatkoi Oftrog. The government is vefted
in the chancery of Bolcheretik, which de-
pends upon, and is fubjecl to, the infpec"lion
of the chancery of Ochotfk. The whole Ruf-
fian force, ftationed in the Peninfula, confifts
of no more than three hundred men *.
The prefent population of Kamtchatka is
very fmall, amounting to fcarce four thou-
* Journal of St. PeterfourgYor April, 1777.
B 3 fand
6 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
fand fouls. Formerly the inhabitants were
more numerous ; but, in 1768, that country
was greatly depopulated by the ravages of the
fmall-pox, which diforder carried off five
thoufand three hundred and fixty-eight per-
fons. In 1776 there were only feven hundred
and fix males in the whole Peninfula who are
tributary, and an hundred and fourteen in the
Kuril Ifles, which are fubjec~l to Ruffia.
The fixed annual tribute confifts in 279
fables, 464 red foxes, 50 fea-otters with a
dam, and 38 cub fea-otters. All furs export-
ed from Kamtchatka pay a duty of 10 per
cent, to the crown ; the tenth of the cargoes
brought from the new-difcovered iflands is
alfo delivered into the cuftams.
Many traces of volcanos have been obferved in
this Peninfula ; and there are fome mountains,
which are at prefent in a burning flate. The
moft confiderable of thefe volcanos is fituated
near the Lower Oftrog. In 1762 a great
noife was heard iffuing from the iniide of that
mountain ; and flames of fire were feen to
burfl from different parts. Thefe flames were
immediately fucceeded by a large ftream of
melted fnow-water, which flowed into the
neighbouring vajley, and drowned two Kamt-
chadels,
CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, &C. j
chadels, who were at that time upon an
hunting party. The afhes, and other com-
buftihle matter, thrown from the mountain,
fpread to the circumference of two hundred
miles. In 1 767 there was another difcharge,
but lefs confiderable. Every night flames of
re were obferved ftreaming from the moun-
tain ; and the eruption, which attended them,
did no fmall damage to the inhabitants of the
Lower Oftrog. Since that year no flames
have been feen ; but the mountain emits a
conftant fmoak. The fame phenomenon is
alfo obferved upon another mountain, called
Tabaetminlkian.
The face of the country throughout the
Peninfula is chiefly mountainous. It produces
in fome parts birch, poplars, alders, willows,
underwood, and berries of different forts.
Greens and other vegetables are raifed with
great facility ; fuch as white cabbage, tur-
neps, radimes, 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 f roils : for though
fome trials have been made with refpect to
the cultivation of oats, barley, and rye ; yet
no crop has ever been procured fufficient in
B 4 quantity
8 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
quantity or quality to anfwer the pains and
cxpence of railing it. Hemp however has of
late years been cultivated with great fuc-
cefs *.
Every year a veflel, belonging to the crown,
fails from Okotlk to Kamtchatka, laden with
fait, provifions, corn, and Ruffian manufac-
tures ; and returns in June or July of the fol-
lowing years with ikins and furs.
CHAP. II.
General Idea of the commerce carried on to the
New-difcovered I/lands Equipment of the
vejft/s Rifts of the trade, profits, &c.
CINCE the conclufion of Beering's Voyage,
which was made at the expence of the
crown, the profecution of the New Difcove-
ries begun by him has been almoft entirely
carried on by individuals. Thefe perfons
were principally merchants of Irkutfk, Ya-
kutik, and other natives of Siberia, who
formed themfelves into fmall trading com-
panies, and fitted out veflels at their joint
expence.
* Journal of St. Peterfburg.
Mofi
CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, &C. 9
Moft of the veflels which are equipped for
thefe expeditions are two-mafted ; are com-
monly built without iron, and in general fo
badly conftructed, that it is wonderful how
they can weather fo jftormy a fea. They are
called in Ruffian Shitiki, or fewed veflels, be-
caufe 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
conftruted at the haven of Okotfk. The
largeft are manned with feventy men, and
the fmalleft with forty. The crew generally
confifts of an equal number of Ruffians and
Kamtchadals. The latter occafion a conli-
derable faving, as their pay is fmall ; they alfo
refift, more eafily than the former, the attack
of the fcurvy. "But as Ruffian mariners are
more enterprifing, and more to be depended
upon in time of danger than the others, fome
are unavoidably neceflary.
The expences of building and fitting out
the veflels are very confiderable : for there is
nothing at Okotfk but timber for their con-
ftruclion. Accordingly cordage, fails, and
fome provifions, mufl be brought from Ya-
kutlk upon horfes. The dearnefs of corn and
flour, which muft be tranfported from the
diftrids
JO PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
.diftrifts lying about the river Lena, renders
it impoflible 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
neceflary to fupply the Ruffian mariners with
quafs and other fermented liquors.
From the exceflive fcarcity of cattle both
at Okotfk and * Kamtchatka, very little pro-
vifion is laid in at either of thofe places : but
the crew provide themfelves with a large {tore
of the flefh of fea animals, which are caught
and cured upon Beertng's Ifland, where the
veflels for the mofl part winter.
After all expences are paid, the equipment
of each veflel ordinarily cofts from 15,000 to
20,000 roubles : and fometimes the expences-
amount to 50,000. Every veflel is divided
into a certain number of mares, generally
from thirty to fifty ; and each fhare is worth
from 500 to 500 roubles.
The rifk of the trade is very great, as fhip-
wrecks are common in the fea of Kamtchatka,
* In 1772, there were only 570 head of tattle upon the
whole Peniufula. A cow fold from 50 to 60 roubles, an
ox from 60 to 100. A pound of frefh beef fold upon an
average for 12^ copecs. The exceflive dearnefs of this
price will be eafily conceived, when it is known, that at
Mofcow a pound of beef fells for about three copecs.
Journ. St Peterfb,
which
CONCERNING KAMTCHATK A, &C. H
which is full of rocks and very tempeftuous.
Befides, the crews are frequently furprifed
and killed by the iflanders, and the veflels
deftroyed. In return the profits arifing from
thefe voyages are very confiderable, and
compenfate the in conveniences and dan-
gers attending them. For if a fhip comes
back after having an advantageous voyage,
the gain at the moft moderate computation
amounts to cent, per cent, and frequently to
as much more. Should the veflel be capable
of performing a fecond expedition, the ex-
pences are coniiderably leflened ; and the pro-
fits of courfe encreafed.
Some notion of the general profits arifing
from this trade (when the voyage is fucceff-
ful) may be deduced from the fale of a rich
cargo of furs, brought to Kamtchatka, on the
3d of June, 1772, from the New- difcovered
iflands, in a veflel belonging to Ivan Popof.
The tenth part of the {kins being delivered
to the cuftoms, the remainder was diftributed
in fifty-five (hares. Each mare 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 fpot from
Joo to jooo roubles: fo that according to
this
12 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
this price the whole lading was worth about
50,000 roubles *.
CHAP. III.
Furs and Jk'ns procured from Kamtchatka
and the Neiv-dif covered J/lands. Sea-Otters.
Different Jpeices of Foxes.
TH E principal furs and Ikins procured
from the Peninfula of Kamtchatka and
the New-difcovered Jflands are fea- otters,
foxes, fables, ermines, wolves, bears, &c.
Thefe furs are tranfported to Gkotik by fea,
and from thence carried to -f Kiadla upon, the
frontiers of Siberia ; where the greateft part
are fold to the Chinefe at a very confiderable
profit.
Of all thefe furs the fkins of the fea-otters
are the richefl and moft valuable. Thofe
animals refort in great numbers to the Aleii-
tian and Fox Iflands : they are called by the
Ruffians BobriMorJki, or fea-beavers, and fome-
times Kamtchadal beavers, on account of the
refemblance of their fur to that of the com-
* Georgi Reife Tom. I. p. 23, & feq. Journal of St.
Peterlburg.
f See Fart III. Chap. III.
mou
CONCERNING KAMTCHATKA, &C. 13
mon beaver. From thefe circumftances fe-
veral authors have been led into a miflake,
and have fuppofed that this animal is of the
beaver fpecies ; whereas it is the true fea-ot-
ter*.
The female are called Matka, or dams; and
the cubs till five months old Medviedki, or lit-
tle bears, becaufe their coat refembles that of
a bear ; they lofe that coat after five months,
and then are called Kofchloki.
The fur of the fineft fort is thick and long,
of a dark colour, and a fine glofly hue. The
methods of taking thefe fea-otters are, by
ftriking them with harpoons as they are fleep-
ing upon their backs in the fea ; by hunting
them down in boats ; by furprifing them in
caverns ; or taking them in nets.
Their fldns bear different prices, according
to their quality.
At Kamtchatka f the beft fell for
per fkin from 30 to 40 roubles*
Middle fort 20 to 30
Worft fort 15 to 25
* S. R. G. III. p. 530. For a defcription of the fea-
otter, Lutra Marina, called by Linnzus Muftela Lutris,
fee Nov. Comm. Pet. Vol. II. p. 367, &<p,
t Journal St. Peterfburg.
At
*4 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
At Kiachta * the old and middle-
aged fea- otter ikins are fold
to the Chinefe per {kin from 80 to 140
The worft fort 30 to 40
As thefe furs are fold at fo great a price to the
Chinefe, they are feldom brought into Ruffia
for fale : and feveral, 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 dif-
pofed of at a very high Interefr, f.
There are feveral fpecies of Foxes, whofe
ikins are fent from Kamtchatka into Siberia
and Ruffia. Of thefe the principal are the
black foxes, the Pet ft or Ardic foxes, the red
and ftone foxes.
The fmeft black foxes are caught in dif-
ferent 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 dif-
covered by the Ruffians, or theLyffie Oftrova,
are not fo valuable. They are very black and
large; but the coat for the moil part is as
coarfe as that of a wolf. The great difference
in the fmenefs of the fur, between thefe foxes"
. * Pallas Reife, Part III. p. 137.
t S.R. G. V. HI. Pallas Reile.
and
CONCERNING KAMTCH A TKA X , &C. 15
and thofe of Siberia, arifes probably from the
following circumftances. In thofe iflands
the cold is not fo fevere as in Siberia ; and, as
there is no wood, the foxes live in holes and
caverns of the rocks ; whereas in the above-
mentioned parts of Siberia, there are large
tracls of forefts in which they find melter.
Some black foxes, however, are occafionally
caught in 'the remoteft Eaftern Iflands, not
wholly deflitute cf 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-difcover-
ed iflands than from 20 to 30 roubles per
fkin.
The Arftic or ice foxes are very common
upon fome of the New-difcovered Iflands.
They are called Petji by the Ruffians, and
by the Germans blue foxes *. Their natural
colour is of a bluifh-grey or afh colour ; but
they change their coat at different ages, and
in different feafons of the year. In general
they are born brown, are white in winter,
and brown in fummer ; and in fpring and au-
tumn, as the hair gradually falls off, the coac
is marked with different fpecks and crofles.
* Pennant's Synopfis.
6 At
l6 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
At Kiafta * all the feveral varieties fell upon
an average to the Chinefe per ikin from 50
copecs to 2 f roubles.
Stone foxes at Kamtchatka per Ikin
from i to 2 f
Red foxes from 80 copecs to i rouble,
80 copecs.
At Kiadta from So copecs to 9 roubles.'
Common wolves ikins at per {kin 2
Beft fort per fkin from 8 to 16
Sables per ditto 2| to 10
A pood of the beft fea-horfe teeth f fells
At Yakutfk for 10 roubles.
Of the middling - 8
Inferior ditto 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.
* Pallas Reife.
f S. R.G. V. III.
CHAP.
ACCOUNT
O F T H E
NEW DISCOVERIES
MADE BY THE
RUSSIANS
IN THE EASTERN OCEAN,
BETWEEN KAMTCHATKA AND AMERICA.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.
WITH NOTES BY THE TRANSLATOR.
<9
ACCOUNT
CHAP. I.
Conqueft of Siberia Commencement of the New
Difcoveries Their Progrefs The Emprefs
promotes all Attempts towards New Difto~
veriesPoftion of the New-difcovered
I/lands.
AThirft after riches was the chief mo-
tive 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 and conquefl of
Northern Afia, a country, before that time
unknown to the Europeans. The firft foun-
dation of this conqueft was laid by the cele-
brated Yermac *, at the head of a band of
* The reader will find an account of this conqueft by
Yermac in Part III. Chap. I.
C 2 adven-
2O ACCOUNT OF THE
adventurers, lefs civilized, but at the fame
time not fb inhuman as the conquerors of
America. By the acceffion of this vaft ter-
ritory, now known by the name of Siberia,
the Ruffians have acquired an extent of empire
never before attained by any other nation.
The firft project * for making difcoveries
in that tempeftuous fea, which lies between
Kamtchatka and America, was conceived and
planned by Peter I. the greateft fovereign who
ever fat upon the Ruffian throne, until it was
adorned by theprefentemprefs. The nature
and completion of this project under his imme-
diate fucceflbrs are well known to the public
from the relation of the celebrated Muller,
No fooner had -j- Beering and Tfchirikof, in
the
* There feems a want of connection in this place, which
will be cleared up by confidering, thar, by the conqueft of
Siberia, the Ruffians advanced to the fhores of the Eaftern
Ocean, the fcene of the discoveries here alluded to.
f- Beering had already made feveral expeditions in the
fea of Kamtchatka, by orders of the crown, before he
undertook the voyage mentioned in the text.
In 1728, he departed from the mouth of the Kamtchata
river, in company with Tichirikof. The objed: of this voy-
age was to afcertain, whether the two Continents of Alia
and America were feparated ; and Perer I. a fhort time be-
fore his death, had drawn up inftruftions with his own
hand for that purpofe. Beering coafted the Eaftern fliore
of Siberia as high as latitude 67 18' ; but made no dif-
covery of the oppofite Continent.
in
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 21
the profecution of this plan, opened their
way to iflands abounding in valuable furs, than
private merchants immediately engaged with
ardour in firnilar expeditions ; and, within a
period of ten years, more important difco-
veries were made by thefe individuals, at their
own private coft, than had been hitherto ef-
fected by all the expennVe efforts of the
crown.
Soon after the return of Peering* s crew
from the ifland where he was (hip wrecked
and died, and which is called after his name ;
the inhabitants of Karntchatka ventured over
to that ifland, to which the fea-otters and
other fea-animals were accuftomed to refort
in great numbers. Mednoi OJlrof, or Copper
Ifland, which takes that appellation from large
mafles of Native copper found upon the
In 1729, he fet fail again for the profecution of the fame
defign ; but this fecond attempt equally failed of iuccefs.
In 1741, Beering and Tfchirikof went out upon the
celebrated expedition (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 Tfchirikof landed at Kamtchatka on the gth of
O&ober, 1742.
S. R. G. III. Nachrichtenvon See Reifen, &c. and Robert-
foil's Hiftory of America, Vol. I. p. 273, & feq.
C 3 beach>
22 ACCOUNTOFTHE
beach, and which lies full in fight of Beering's
Jfle, was an eafy and fpeedy difcovery.
Thefe two fmall uninhabited fpots were
for fome time the only iflands that were
known ; until a fcarcity of land and fea-ani-
rnals, whofe numbers were greatly dimi-
nimed by the Ruffian hunters, occafioned other
expeditions. Several qf the veffels which
were fent out upon thefe voyages were driven
by ftormy weather to the South- eaft ; by
which means the Aleutian ifles, fituated about
the J95th* degree of longitude, and but
moderately peopled, were difcovered.
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 Okotfk, the government appears
not to have been fully informed of their dif-
covery. In the laft- mentioned year, one Le-
bedef was commander of Kamtchatka, From
1755 to I 7^ Captain Tberedof and Lieu-
* The author reckons, throughout this treatife, the
longitude from the firft meridian of the ifle of Fero. The
Jongitude and latitude, which he gives to the Fox Iflands,
correfponds exactly with thole in which they are laid down
xipon the General Map of Ruflia. The longitude of Beering's
Copper Ifland, and of the AleUtian Ifles, are fomcwhat
different. See Advertifement relating to the Charts, and
alfo Appendix N. II,
tenant
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 23
tenant Kafhkaref were his fuccefibrs. In
1760, Feodor Ivanovitch Soimonof, governor
of Tobolfk, turned his attention to the above-
mentioned iflands ; and, the fame year, Cap-
tain Rtiftfhef, at Okotfk, infcrucled Lieu-
tenant Shamalef, the fame who was after-
wards commander in Kamtchatka, to pro-
mote and favour all expeditions in thofe feas.
Until this time, all the difcoveries fubfequent
to Beering's voyage were made, without the
interpontion of the court, by private mer-
chants in fmall veflels fitted out at their own
expence.
The prefent Emprefs (to whom every cir-
cumftance which contributes to aggrandize
the Ruffian empire is an object of attention)
has given new life to thefe difcoveries. The
merchants who engaged in them have been
animated by recompences. The importance
and true petition of the Ruflian iflands have
been afcertained by an expennve voyage *,
made by order of the crown ; and much ad-
ditional information will be derived from the
* The author here alludes to the fecret expedition of
Captain Krenitzin and Lcvaflief, whofe journal and chart
werefent, by order of the Err.prds of Rulfia, to Dr. Robert-
Ion. See Rob^rtfon's Hiftory of America, Vo.l. I. p. ^76.
and 460. See Appendix, N. I.
C 4 journals
24 ACCOUNTOFTHE
journals and charts of the officers employed
in that expedition, whenever they (hall be
published.
Meanwhile, we may reft aflured, that fe-
veral modern geographers have erred in ad-
vancing America too much to the Weft, and
in queftioning the extent of Siberia Eaft-
vvards, as laid down by the Ruffians. It ap-
pears, indeed, evident, that the accounts
and even conjectures of the celebrated Muller,
concerning the pofition of thofe diftant re-
gions, are more and more confirmed by fads ;
in the fame manner as the juftnefs of his fup-
pofition concerning the form of the coaft of
the fea of Okotlk * has been lately eftablifhed.
With refped to the extent of Siberia, it ap-
pears almoft beyond a doubt, from the moft
recent obfervations, that its Eaftern extremity
is (ituated beyond f 200 degrees of longitude.
In regard to the Weftern coaft of America,
all the navigations to the New-difcovered
Iflands evidently (hew, that between 50 and
60 degrees of latitude, that Continent ad-
* Mr. Muller formerly conjectured, that the coaft of the
fea of Okotfk 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 fmce confirmed by
a coafling voyage made by Captain Synnd,
t Part II. Chap. I.
7 vance s
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 25
vances no where nearer to Alia than the *
coafts touched at by Bearing and Tfchirikof,
or about 236 degrees of longitude.
As to the New-diicovered Iflands, no credit
muft be given to a chart published in the Geo-
graphical Calendar of bt. Peterfburg for
1 774 ; in which they are inaccurately laid
down. Nor is the antient chart of the New
Difcoveries, publifhed by the Imperial Aca-
demy, and which feems to have been drawn
up from mere reports, more deferving of at*
tention -f-.
The late navigators give a far different de-
fcription of the Northern Archipelago. From
their accounts we learn, that Beering's Ifland
is fituated due Eaft from Kamtchatkoi Nofs,
in the iSjth degree of longitude. Near it is
Copper Ifland ; and, at fome diftance from
them, Eaft-fouth-eaft, there are three fmall
iflands, named by their inhabitants, Attak,
Semitmi, and Shemiya : thefe are properly
the Aleutian Ifles ; they ftretch from Weft-
north- weft towards Eaft-fouth-eaft, in the
fame direction asBeering's and Copper Iflands,
in the longitude of 195, and latitude 54.
* Appendix, N I.
f Appendix, N II.
To
26 ACCOUNT OF THE
To the North-eaft of thefe, at the diftance
of 600 or 800 verfls, lies another group of
fix or more iflands, known by the name
of the AndreanofHkie Oflrova.
South- eaft, or Eaft-fouth, of thefe, at thedii-
tance of about fifteen degrees, and North by
Eaft of the Aleutian, begins the chain of Lyffie
Oftrova, or Fox Iflands : this chain of rocks
and ifles ftretches Eaft-north-eaft between 56
and 6 1 degrees of North latitude *, from 211
degrees of longitude moft probably to the Con*-
tinent of America ; and in a line of direction,
which crofles with that in which the Aleutian
ifles lie. The largeft and mod remarkable of
thefe iflands are Umnak, Aghunalamka, or,
as it is commonly Shortened, Unalamka,
Kadyak, and Alagfhak.
Of thefe and the Aleutian Ifles, the diftance
and petition are tolerably well afcertained by
fliips reckonings, and latitudes taken by pi-
lots. But the fituation of the AndreanorF-
Iky Ifles -f- is ftill fomewhat doubtful, though
probably their direction is Eafl and Weft ;
and fome of them may unite with that part
* See p. 286.
f Thefe are the fame iflands which are called, by Mr.
Strsehlin, Anadirfky Jflands, from their fuppofed vicinity
to the river Anadyr. See Part II. Chap. IV.
Of
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 2J7
of the Fox iflands which are moft con-
tiguous to the oppofite Continent.
The main land of America has not been
touched at by any of the veffels in the late
expeditions ; though poffibly the time is not
far diftant when fome of the Ruffian adven-
turers will fall in with that conft *. More
to the North perhaps, at leaft as high as
jo degrees latitude, the Continent of America
may ftretch out nearer to the coaft of the
Tfchutfki ; and form a large promontory,
accompanied with iflands, which have no
connection with any of the preceding ones.
That fuch a promontory really exifts, and
advances to within a very fmall diftance from
Tfchukorfkoi Nofs, can hardly be doubted ;
at leaft it leems to be confirmed by all the
lateft accounts which have been procured from
thofe parts -f-. That prolongation, there-
fore, of America, which by Delifle is made
to extend Weft ward, 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 col-
lection lay through that part of the ocean
* Part II. Chap. V.
f Ibid. Chap. VI.
where
28 ACCOUNT OF THE
where this imaginary Continent was marked
down.
It is even more than probable, that the Aleu-
tian, and fome oT the Fox Iflands, 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 expedition *.
As the fea of Kamtchatka is now fo much
frequented, thefe conjectures cannot remain
long undecided ; and it is only to be wiflied,
that fome expeditions were to be made North-
eaft, in order to difcover the neareil coafts
of America. For there is no reafon to ex-
pect a fuccefsful voyage by taking any other
direction ; as all the veflels, which have
fleered a more foutherly courfe, have failed
through an open fea, without meeting with
any figns of land.
A very full and judicious account of all the
difcoveries hitherto made in the Eaftern ocean
* This error is however fo fmall, and particularly with
refpeft 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, that if
they were to be placed upon the general map of Ruffia,
which is prefixed to this work, they would coincide with
the very chain of the Fox Iflands.
may
R U S S I A H DI S C O V E R IES. 29
may be expected from the celebrated Mr.
Muller *. Meanwhile, I hope the follow-
ing account, extracted from the original pa-
pers, and procured from the.beil: intelligence,
will be the more acceptable to the public ;
as it may prove an inducement to the Ruffians
to publim fuller and more circumftantial
relations. Befides, the reader will find here
a narrative more authentic and accurate, than
what has been published in the abovemen-
tioned calendar -f ; and feveral miflakes in
that memoir are here corrected.
CHAP. II.
Voyages in 1 745. Firft difcovery of the Aleu-
tian Ifles by Michael Nevodtfikof.
A Voyage made in the year 1745 by
Emiiian Baflbf is fcarce worth men-
tioning ; as he only reached Beering's Ifland,
and two fmaller ones, which lie South of the
former,
* Mr, Muller has already arranged and put in order fe-
Teral of the journals, and fent them to the board of ad-
miralty at St. Peterfburg, where they are at prefent kept,
together with the charts of the refpe&ive voyages.
f A German copy of the treatife alluded to in the text,
was fent, by its author, Mr. Strsehlin, Counfellor of State
to the Emprefs of RuiEa, to the late Dr. Maty; and it i
men*
30 ACCOUNT OF THE
former, and returned on the 31 ft of July,
1746.
The firft voyage which is in any wife re-
markable was undertaken in the year 1745.
The veflel was a Shitik named Eudokia, fit-
ted out at the expence of Aphanaflei Tfebaef-
fkoi, Jacob Ttiuprof, and others ; (he failed
from the Kamtchatka river Sept. 19, under
the command of Michael Nevodtfikof, a na-
tive of Tobolfk. Having difcovered three un-
known iflands, they wintered upon one of
them, in order to kill fea-otters, of which
there was a large quantity. Thefe iflands
were undoubtedly the neareft * Aleutian
Iflands : the language of the inhabitants 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 Bolcheretik, with a falfe ac-
mentioned, in the Philosophical Tranfadlions for 1774, un-
der the following title : * A New Map and Preliminary
Defcription of the New Archipelago in the North, dif-
covered a few Years go hy the Ruffians in the N. E, beyond
Kamtchatka." A tranflation of this treadle was publiflied
the fame year by Heydinger.
* The i'mall group of iflands lying S. E. of Beering's
Ifland, are the real Aleutian ifles : they are fometimes
called the Neareft Aleutian Iflands j and the Fox Iflands,
the Furtheft Aleutian Ifles.
count
R U S S I A N D I SCO VER I E S. 3!
count of their proceedings. This iflander
was examined as foon as he had acquired a
flight knowledge of the Ruffian language ;
and, as it is faid, gave the following report.
He was called Temnac, and the name of the
ifland of which he was a native was Att. At
fome diftance from thence lies a great ifland
called Sabya, of which the inhabitants are
denominated Kogii ; who, as the Ruffians un-
derftood or thought they underftood him,
made croftes, had books and fire arms, and
navigated in baidars or leathern canoes. At
no great diflance 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 Eafl and Eaft by South.
The above-mentioned iflander was baptifed
under the name of Paul, and lent to Ok-
otik.
As the mifconduft of the (hip's crew to-
wards the natives was fufpected, partly from
the lofs of ieveral men, and partly from
the report of thofe Ruffians, who were not
concerned in the diforderly conduct of their
companions, a ftridT: enquiry was inilituted ;
in confequence of which the following cir-
cumftances were brought to light.
Ac-
32 ACCOUNT OF THE
According to the account of fomeof the crew,
and particularly of the commander, after fix
days failing they came in fight of the firfl
ifland on the 24th of September, at mid-day.
They pafled it, and towards evening they
difcovered the fecond ifland ; where they lay
at anchor until the next morning.
The zfth feveral inhabitants appeared on
the coaft, and the pilot was making towards
fhore in the fmall boat, with an intention of
landing; but, obferving their numbers in-
creafe to about an hundred, he was afraid of
venturing among them, although they bec-
koned to him. He contented himielf 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 attempted to row the veflel out to fea ;
but the wind being contrary, they were dri-
ven to the other fide of the fame ifland, where
they caft anchor.
The 26th, Tfiuprof, having landed with
fome of the crew in order to look for water,
met feveral inhabitants : he gave them fome
tobacco
ft U SSI AN DISCOVERIES. 33
tobacco and fmall Chinefe pipes ; and recei-
ved in return a prefent of a fHck, upon which
the head of a feal was carved. They en-
deavoured to wreft his hunting gun from
him ; but, upon his refilling to part with it
and retiring to the fmall boat, they ran after
him, and feized the rope by which the boat
was made fair, to fhore. This violent attack
obliged Tfiuprof to fire ; and having wound-
ed one perfon in the hand, they all let go
their hold ; and he rowed off to the (hip.
The Savages no fooner faw that their com-
panion was hurt, than they threw off their
cloaths, carried the wounded perfon naked
into the lea, and walhed him. In confe-
quence of this encounter the (hip's crew
would not venture to winter at this place ;
but rowed back again to the other ifland,
where they came to an anchor.
The next morning Tfiuprof and one Shaf-
fyrin landed with a more conliderable party :
they obferved feveral traces of inhabitants ;
but meeting none, they returned to the fhip,
and coafted along the ifland. The following
day the Coflac Shekurdin went on fhore,
accompanied by five faile r s : two he fent
back with a fupply of water ; and remained
D himfelf
34- ACCOUNT OF THE
himfelf with the others, in order to hunt fea-
otters. At night they came to fome dwel-
lings inhabited by five families : upon their
approach the natives abandoned their huts
with precipitation, and hid themfelves among
the rocks. Shekurdin no fooner returned to
the (hip, than he was again fen ton more with
a larger company, in order to look out for a
proper place to lay up the veffel during win-
ter. In their way they obferved fifteen iflan-
ders upon an height ; and threw them fome
fragments of dried filh, in order to entice
them to approach nearer. But as this over-
ture did not fucceed, Tfiuprof, who was one
of the party, ordered fome of the crew to
mount the height, and to feize one of the
inhabitants, for the purpofe of learning their
language : this order was accordingly exe-
cuted, notwithftanding the refinance which
the iflanders made with their bone-fpears ;
and the Ruffians immediately returned with
their prifoner to the mip. They were foon
afterwards driven to fea by a violent ftorm,
and beat about from the 2d to the pth of Oc- .
tober, during which time they loft their
anchor and boat : at length they came back
to
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 35
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 in-
habitantSj who had probably been killed in
the laft encounter. In their way the Ruf-
fians 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
prefent of coloured earth. Pieces of cloth,
thimbles, and needlesj were didributed a-
mong them in return ; and they parted ami-
cably. Before the end of October, the fame
perfons, together with the old woman and
feveral children, returned dancing as before ;
and brdught birds, fifh, and other provifion.
Having pafled the night with the Ruffians,
they took their leave. Soon after their de-
parture, Tfiuprof, ShafFyrin, and Nevodt-
iikof, 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
D 2 ftone,
56 ACCOUNT OFTHE
{lone, 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, Tfiuprof
had fent ten perfons, under the command of
Larion Belayef, upon a reconnoitring party.
The latter treated the inhabitants in an hof-
tile manner ; upon which they defended
themfelves as well as they could with .their
bone- lances. This refinance gave him a pre-
text for firing ; and accordingly he (hot the
whole number, amounting to fifteen men,
in order to feize their wives.
Shekurdin, mocked at thefe cruel proceed-
ings, retired unperceived to the fhip, and
brought an account of all that had pafled.
Tiiuprof, inftead of punifhing thefe cruel-
ties as they deferved, was iecretly pleafed
with them ; for he himfelf was affronted at
the iflandcrs for having refufed to give him
ail. iron bolt, which he faw in their poflcf-
fion. He had, in confequence of their refufal.
committed feveral ads of hoftilities againft
them; and had. even formed the horrid de-
(ign of poifoning them with a mixture of
cor roll vc iublimate. In order however to
prelerve appearances^ .he 'difpatched Shekur-
din
R USSI A N D I SCO VE R IES. 37
din and Nevodtfikof to reproach Belayef for
his disorderly conduct ; but fent him at the
fame time, by the abovementioned perfons,
more powder and ball.
The Ruffians continued upon this Jfland,
where they caught a large quantity of fea-
otters, until the I4th of September, 1746;
when, no longer thinking themfelves fecure,
they put to fea with an intention of looking
out for fome uninhabited iflands. Being
however overtaken by a violent florm, they
were driven about until the joth of October,
when their veflel ftruck upon a rocky more,
and was fhipwrecked, with the lofs of almoft
all the tackle, and the greateft part of the
furs. Worn out at length with cold and
fatigue, they ventured, the firfr. of Novem-
ber, to penetrate into the interior part
of the country, which they found rocky
and uneven. Upon their coming to fome
huts, they were informed, that they were
caft away upon the ifland of Karaga, the in-
habitants of -which were tributary to Ruflia,
and of the Koriac tribe. The iflanders be-
haved to them with great kindnefs, until
Belayef had the imprudence to make propo-
fals to the wife of the chief. The woman
D 3 gave
38 ACCOUNT OF THE
gave immediate intelligence to her hufband;
and the natives were incenfed to fuch a de-
gree, that they threatened 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.
The ^oth of May, 1 747, a party of Qlo-
torians made a defcent upon the ifland in
three baidars, and attacked the natives ; but,
after fome lofs on both fides, they went a-
way. They returned foon after with a larger
force, and were again compelled 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 fea the a^th of June, and landed
the 2 1 ft of July at Kamtchatka, with the
reft of their cargo, confifting of 320 fea-
otters, of which they paid the tenth into
the cuftoms. During this expedition twelve
jnen were loft.
CHAP.
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 39
CHAP. III.
Syccfjfive Voyages, from 1747 to 1753, to
Beering's and Copper Ifland, and to the
Aleutian Ifles. Voyage of Emilian Yugof.
Voyage of the Boris and Glebb. Voyage
of Andrew Tolftyk to the Aleutian Ifles,
1749. Voyage o/"Vorobief, 1/50. Voyage
of Novikof and Baccoffrom Anadyrfk.
Shipwreck upon Beering's Ifland. Voyage
of Durnef, in tbe St. Nicholas, 1754.
Narrative of the Voyage. Defcription of
the Aleutian Ifles. Some account of the
Inhabitants.
IN the year 1 747 * two veflels failed from
the Kamtchatka river, according to a
permiffion granted by the chancery of Bolc-
keretik for hunting fea-otters. One was
fitted out by Andrew Wfevidof, and carried
forty-fix men, befidts eight Cofiacs : the
* It may be neceflry to inform the reader, that, in this
and the two following chapters, fome circumftances are oc-
cnfionally omitted, which are to be fcund in the original.
Thefe omiffions relate chiefly to the names of fome of the
partners engaged in the equipments, and to a detail of im-
material occurrences prior to the actual departure of the
veflels.
D 4 other
40 ACCOUNTOFTHE
ther belonged to Feodor Kolodilof, Andrew
Tolftyk, and company ; and had on board
a crew, confifting of forty-one Ruffians and
Kamtchadals, with fix Coflacs.
The latter veliel failed the 2oth of October,
and was forced, by ftrefs of weather and
other accidents, to winter at Beering's Ifland.
From thence they departed May the 31 ft,
1748, and touched at another fmall ifland,
in order to provide themfelves with water
and other peceflaries. They then fteered
S. E. for a confiderable way without dif-
covering any new iflands ; and, being in
great want of provifions, returned into
Kamtchatka River, Auguft 14, with a cargo
of 250 old fea-otter-fkins, above 100 young
ones, and 148 petfi sv arclic fox-fkins, which
were all killed upon Beering's Ifland.
We have no fufficient account of Wfevi-
dof 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 uninhabited : his cargo confifted of the
ikins of 1040 fea- otters, and 2p:q arclic
foxes,
X
3 Emilian
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 41
Emilian Yugof, a merchant of Yakutlk,
obtained from the fenate of St. Petersburg
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 cufloms
the third part of the furs.
October 6, i 750, he put to fea from Bol-
cherefk, in the (loop John, manned with
twenty-five Ruffians and Kamtchadals, and
I
two Coflacs : he was foon overtaken by a
ftorm, and the vefiH driven on more be-
tween the mouths of the rivers Kronotik and
Tfchafminfk.
October 1751, he again fet fail. He had
been commanded to take on board fome of-
ficers of the Ruffian navy ; and, as he .dif-
obeyed this injunction, the chancery of
Irkutfk ifiued an order to confifcate his fliip
and cargo upon his return. The (hip returned
on the 22d of July, 1754, to New Kamt-
chatkoi Oftrog, laden with the fkins of
7*55 old fea-otters, of .^5 cub fea-otters,
of 4^7 cubs of fea-bears, and of 7044 arclic
fox-lkins : of the latter 2000 were white,
and
42 ACCOUNT 07 THE
and 1765 black. Thefe furs were pro-
cured upon Beering's and Copper Ifland.
Yukof himfelf died upon the laft- menti-
oned ifland. The cargo of the (hip was,
according to the above-mentioned order,
fealed and properly fecured. But as it ap-
peared that certain perfons had depofited
money in Yugof's hand, for the purpofe of
equipping a fecond veflel, the crown delivered
up the confifcated cargo, after relerving the
third part according to the original ftipula-
tion.
This kind of charter-company, if it may
be fo called, being foon diflblved for mifcon-
duct and want of fufficicnt flock, other mer-
chants were allowed the privilege of fitting
out veflels, even before the return of Yugof s
{hip ; and thefe perfons were more fortunate
in making new difcoveries than the above-
mentioned monopolift.
Nikiphor Trapefnikof, a merchant of Ir-
kutfk, obtained the permiffion of fending
out a {hip, called the Boris and Glebb, upon
the condition of paying, befide the tribute
which might be exacted, the tenth of all the
furs. The CofTac Sila ShefFyrin went on
board
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 4.3
board this veflel for the purpofe of colle&ing
the tribute. They failed in Auguft, 1749,
from the Kamtchatka river ; and re-entered
it the 1 6th of the fame month, 1753,
with a large cargo of furs. In the fpringof
the fame year, they had touched upon an un-
known ifland, probably one of the Aleutians,
where feveral of the inhabitants were pre-
vailed upon to pay a tribute of fea-otter
(kins. The names of the iflanders, who had
been made tributary, were Igya, Oeknu,
Ogogoektack, Shabukiauck, Alak, Tutun>
Ononufhan, Rotogei, Tfchinitu, Vatfch*
Afhagat, Avyjanimaga, Unafhayupu, Lak,
Yanfhugalik, Umgalikan, Shati, Kyipago,
and Olomkot * ; another Aleutian had con-
tributed three fea-otters. They brought with
them 320 of the beft fea-otter (kins, 480 of
the fecond, and 400 of the third fort, 500
female and middle aged, and 220 medwedki
or young ones.
Andrew Tolftyk, a merchant of Selenginfk,
having obtained permiffion from the chancery
of Bolmeretfk, refitted the fame (hip which
* The author here remarks in a note, that the proper
names of the iflanders mentioned in this place, and in other
parts, bear a lurpriling refemblance, both in their found
and termination, to thole of the Grecnlanders.
had
44 ACCOUNTOFTHE
had made a former voyage ; he failed from
Kamtchatka Auguft the J^th, 1749, and re-
turned July the ^d, 1752.
According to the commander's account,
the (hip lay at anchor from the 6th of Sep-
-tember, 1749^ to the 2oth of May, 1750,
before Beering's Iftand, where they caught
only 47 fea-otters. From thence they made
to thofe Aleutian Iflands, which were * firfl
difcovered by Nevodtfikof, and flew there
1662 old and middle-aged fea-otters, and 1 19
cubs ; befide which, their cargo confuted of
the fkins of 720 blue foxes, and of 840
young fea- bears.
The inhabitants of thefe iflands appeared
to have never before paid tribute ; and feemed
to be a-kin to the Tfchutfki tribe, their wo-
men 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 fmall holes cut through the bottom of
their under-lips, through eiich of which they
pais a- bit of the iea-horfe turn, worked into
the form of a tooth, with a fmall button at
one end, to keep it within the mouth when
* See Chap. II.
it
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 45
it is placed in the hole. They had killed,
without being provoked, two of the Kamt-
chadals who belonged to the (hip. Upon
the third Ifland fome inhabitants had payed
tribute ; their names were reported to be
Anitin, Altakukor, and Alefhkut, with his
fon Atfchelap. The weapons of the whole
ifland confided of no more than twelve fpears
and one dart of bone, all pointed with flint,
and the Ruffians obiefved in the pofleffion of
the natives two figures carved in wood, refem-
bling fea- lions.
Auguft 3, 1750, the vefiel Simeon and
John, fitted out by the above-mentioned
Wfevidof, agent for the Ruffiau merchant
R. Rybenikoi, and manned with fourteen
Ruffians (who were partly merchants, and
partly hunters), and thirty Kamtchadals,
failed out for the difcovery of new iflands,
under the command of the- Coflac Vorobief.
They were driven by a violent current and
tempeiluous weather to a fmall defert ifland,
the pofition whereof is not determined, but
which was probably one of thofe that lie near
Beering's Ifland. The Ihip being fo fhat-
tered by the dorm, that it. was no longer in
a condition to keep the fea, . Vorobief builc
another
46 ACCOUNT OF THE
another fmall veflel 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 1 20 cub lea-otters, 1900
blue foxes, 5700 black fea- bears, and 1310
Kotiki, or cub fea-bears.
A voyage made about this time from Ana-
dyrlk deferves to be mentioned.
Aug. 24, i 749, Simeon Novikofof Yakutfk
and Ivan Baccof of Uftyug, agents for Ivan
Shilkin, failed from Anadyrlk into the mouth
of the Kamtchatka river. They affigned the
inlecurity of the roads as their reafon for
coming from Anadyrfk to Kamtchatka by fea ;
on this account, having determined to rifk alt
the dangers of a fea voyage, they built a
veflel one hundred and thirty verfts above
Anadyr, after having employed two years
and five months in its conftruclion.
The narrative of their expedition rs as fol-r
lows. In 174^, they failed down the river
Anadyr, and through two bays, called
Kopeikina and Onemenfkaya, where they
found many (and banks, but paffed round
them without difficulty. From thence they
fleered into the exterior gulph, and waited
for
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 47
for a favourable wind. Here they faw feveral
Tfchutfki, who appeared upon the heights
fingly and not in bodies, as if to reconnoitre ;
which made them cautious. They had de-
fcended the river and its bays in nine days.
In pafling the large opening of the.exterior
bay, they fleered 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 fleered
E. S. E. about 50 verfls, in about four fa-
thom water; then doubled a fandy point,
which runs out direlly againfl the Tfchu-t-
fki coafr, and thus reached the open fea.
From the loth of July to the 3Oth, they
Were driven by tempefiuous winds, at no
great diflance from the mouth of the Anadyr ;
and ran up the fmall river Katirka, upon
whofe banks dwell the Koriacs, a people
tributary to Ruffia. The mouth of the ri-
ver is from fixty to eighty yards broad, from
three to four fathoms deep, and abounds in
fifli. From thence they again put to fea ;
and after having beat about for fome time,
they at length reached Beering's Ifland.
Here they lay at anchor from the I5th of
7 Septem-
48 ACCOT7KTOFTHE
September to the ^oth of October, when a
violent ftorm drove the veflH upon the rocks,
and dafhed her to pieces. The crew however
being faved, they looked out for the remains of
Beering's wreck, in order to employ the ma-
terials for the purpofe cf conftruclinga boat.
They found indeed fome remaining materials*
but almoft entirely rotten, and the iron-
work corroded with ruft. Having felected
however the bed cables, and what iron-work
was immediately neceilary, and collected
drift-wood during the winter, they built with
difficulty a fmall boat, whofe keel was only
feventeefi Ruffian 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
tying North-call ; but finding themfelves
miftaken, they tacked about, and flood for
Copper Ifland : from thence they failed to
Kamtchatka, where they arrived at the time
above-mentioned.
The new-conftruc~ted veiTel was granted in
property to Ivan Shilkin as fome compenfa-
tion for his lofles, and with the privilege of
employing it in a future expedition to the
New-difcovered Iflands.* Accordingly he
failed
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 49
failed therein on the ^th of October, 1757,
with a crew of twenty Ruffians, and the
fame, number of Kamtchadals : lie was ac-
companied by Studentzof a CofTac, who was
fent to collect the tribute for the crown. An
account of this expedition will be given
hereafter *.
Auguft, 1754? Nikiphor Trapefnikof fit-
ted out the Shitik St. Nicholas, which failed
from Kamtchatka under the command of the
Cofiac Kodion Durnef. He firfl touched at
two of the Aleutian Ifles, and afterwards
upon a third, which had not been yet dif-
covered. He returned to Kamtchatka in 1757.
His cargo confifted of the (kins of 1220 fea-
otters, of 410 female, and 665 cubs ; be-
tide which, the crew had obtained in barter
from the iflanders the ikins of 652 fea-otters,
of 30 female ditto, and 50 cubs.
From an account delivered in the- 3d of
May, 1758, by Durnef and Sherlyrin, who
was fent as collector of the tributes, it appears
that they failed in ten days as far as Ataku,
one of the Aleutian Iflands ; that they re-
mained there until the year 1757, anc ^ ^ V d
upon amicable terms with the natives.
* See Chap,V.
E The
50 ACCOUNTOFTHE
The fecond ifland, which is nearefr. to
Ataku, and which contains the greateft num-
ber of inhabitants, is called Agatakuj and
the third Shemya : they lie from forty to
fifty verfts aiunder. Upon all the three iflands
there are (exclufive of children) but fixty
males, whom they made tributary. The in-
habitants live upon roots which grow wild,
and fea animals : they do not employ them-
felves in catching nfh, although the rivers
abound with all kinds of falmon, and the
fea with turbot. Their cloaths are made of
the (kins of birds and of fea-otrers. The
'Toigon or chief of the firft ifland informed
them, by means of a boy who underfrood
the Ruffian language, that Eaftward there
are three large and well-peopled iflands,
Ibiya, Kickfa, and Olas, whofe inhabitants
fpeak a different language. Sheftyrin and
Durnef found upon the ifland three round
copper plates, with fome letters engraved up-
on them, and ornamented with foliage,
which the waves had caft upon the more :
they brought them, together with other
trifling curiofities, which they had procured
from the natives, to New Kamtohatkoi
Ourog.
Another
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 51
Another (hip built of larch wood by the
fame Trapefnikof, which failed in 1752 un-
der the conduit of Alexei Drufinin a mer-
chant of Kurlk, had been wrecked at Beer-
ing's Ifland, where the crew conftructed an-
other veffel out of the wreck, which they
named Abraham. In this veffel they bore
away for the more diftant iflands ; but being
forced back by contrary winds to the fame
ifland, and meeting with the St. Nicholas
upon the point of failing for the Aleutian Ifles,
they embarked on that fhip, after having left
the new-con ft rufted veffel under the care of
four of their own failors. The crew had
flain upon Beering's Ifland five fea-otters,
1222 arctic foxes, and 2500 fea-bears : their
fhare of the furs- during their expedition in
the St. Nicholas, amounted to the (kins of
500 fea-otters, and of 300 cubs, exclufive of
200 fea-otters-lkins, which they procured by
barter.
2 CHAP.
52 ACCOUNT OF THE
CHAP. IV.
Voyages from 1753 to 1756.
Kamtchatka, 1 7 jj---
Departure of Serebranikoff's VeffeL Ship'
wrecked upon one of the more dijlant I/lands.
Account of the, Inhabitants. 'The Crew
ccnjlruft another Veffd, and return to Kamt-
chatka. Departure ofKraffilnikofFs VeJfeL
Shipwrecked upon Copper Ifland. The
Crew reach Beering's Ifland In two Baidars.
THREE vefTels were fitted out for the
f
Iflands in 1753, one by Kolodilof, a
fecond by Serebrenikof agent for the mer-
chant Rybenikoy, and the third by Ivau
Kraflilnikof a merchant of Kamtchatka.
Kolodilof's fhip failed from Kamtchatka
the i pth of Augufr., the crew whereof con-
fifted of thirty- four perfons ; and anchored
the 28th before Beering's Ifland, where they
propofed to winter, in order to lay-in a ftack
of provisions; but, as they were attempting ta
land, the boat overfet, and nine of the crew
were drowned.
June
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 53
June 30, 1754, they flood out to fea in
qneft of new difcoveries : the weather how-
ever proving ftormy and foggy, and the (hip
Springing a leak, they were all in danger of
perifhing ; but in this fituation they unex-
pe&edly reached one of the Aleutian Iflands,
where they lay from the I5th of September
until the 9th of July, 1755. In the autumn
of i 754 they were joined by a Kamtchadnl,
and a Koriac : thefe perfons, together with
four others, had deferted from Trapefnikof s
crew ; and had remained upon the ifland in
order to catch fea-otters for their own profit.
Four of thefe deferters were killed by the
iflanders for having feduced 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 beft terms. The
crew killed upon this ifland above 1600 fea-
otters, and came back fafe to Kamtchatka
in autumn 1755.
SerebranikoFs veffel failed in July 1753,
manned alfo with thirty-four Ruffians and
Kamtchadals : they diicovered feveral new
iflands, whch were probably fome of the
more diftant ones ; but were not fo fortunate
E 3 in
54 ACCQUNTOFTHE
in hunting fea-otters as Kolodilof s crew,
They fleered S. E. and on the i7th of Au-r
guft anchored under an unknown ifland ;
\vhofe inhabitants fpoke a language they did
not underftand. Here they propofed look-
ing out for a fafe harbour ; but were pre-
vented by the coming on of a fudden ftorm,
which carried away their anchor. The fhip
being toft about for feveral days towards the
Eait, they difcovered not far from the firft
ifland 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, and was confiderably mattered,
when they fortunately came near an ifland
and caft anchor before it : they were how-
ever again forced from this ftation ; the veffel
wrecked upon the coaft ; and the crew with
difficulty reached the more.
This iflazicl feemed to be oppofite to Katy-
ikoi Nofs in the peninfula of Kamtchatka,
and near it they faw three others. Towards
the end of September, Dmitri Trophin, ac-
companied with nine men, went out in the
boat upon an hunting and reconnoitring par-
ty : they were attacked by a large body of
in f
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 55
inhabitants, who hurled darts from a fmall
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 repulfed without difficulty.
Thefe favages mark and colour their faces
like the Wanders 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 : a prefent the more welcome, as
they had lived for fome time upon nothing
but fmall mell-fim and roots, and had fuf-
fered greatly from hunger. Several toys were
in return diftributed among the favages.
The Ruffians remained until June, 1/54,
upon this ifland : at that time they departed
in a fmall veffel, conftructed from the re-
mains of the wreck, and called the St. Peter
and Paul ; in which they landed at Katyr-
Ikoi Nofs ; where having collected 140 fea-
horfe teeth, they got fafe to the mouth of
the Kamtchatka river.
E 4 During
56 ACCOUNT OJ THE
During this voyage twelve Kamtchadals
deferted ; of whom fix were flaip, together
with a female inhabitant, upon one ,of the
moil: diftant iflands. The remainder, upon
their return to Kamtchatka, were examined;
and from them the following circumftances
were collected. The ifland, where the (hip
was wrecked, is about jo verfts 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 dwel-
lings 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-lkins, and of an upper
garment of intestines ftitched together ;
they wear-wooden caps, ornamented with a
fmall piece of board projecting forwards, as
it feemed, for a defence againft the arrows.
They are all provided with ftone knives, and
a few of them poflcfs iron ones : their only
weapons are arrows with points of bone or
flint, which they {hoot from a wooden iu-
ft rumen t. There are no trees upon the ifland :
* Matten aus einein geviffen Kraut-geflochten.
it
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 57
it produces however the cow-parfnip *, which
grows at Kamtchatka. The climate is by
no means fevere, for the fnow does not lie
upon the ground above a month in the year.
Krafiilnikof' s veflel failed in 1754, and
anchored on the i8th of October before
Beering's Ifland ; where all the fhips which
make to the New-difcovered Iflands are ac-
cuftomed to winter, in order to procure a
ftock of falted provifions from the fea-cows
and other amphibious animals, that are found
in great abundance. Here they refitted the
ve$el, which had been damaged by driving
upon her anchor ; and, having laid in a fuffi-
cient ftore of all neceflaries, weighed the ifl of
Auguft, 1754- The icththey were in fight
of an ifland, the coaft whereof was lined with
fuch a number of inhabitants, that they duril
not venture amore. Accordingly they ftood
out to fea, and being overtaken by a ftorm,
they were reduced to great diftrefs for want
of water : at length they were driven upon
Copper Ifland, 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 an-
* Heraeleum.
chois
58 ACCOUNT OF THE
chors near the more ; but the ftorm increaf-
ing at night, both the cables were broken,
and the fhip dallied to pieces upon the coaft.
All the 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 ex-
pofed to a variety of misfortunes ; three of
them were drowned on the i5th of October,
as they were going to hunt ; others almoft pe^
rimed with hunger,havingnonourimment but
fmall ihell-fifh and roots. On the 2pth of
December great part of the fhip's tackle, and
all the wood, which they had collected from
the wreck, was warned away during an high
fea. Notwithftanding their diflrefles, they
continued their hunting parties ; and caught
103 fea-otters, together with 1390 blue foxes.
In fpring they put to fea for Beering's
Ifland in two baidars, carrying with them all
the ammunition, fire-arms, and remaining
tackle. Having reached that ifland, they found
the fmall veflel Abraham, under the care of
the four failors who had been left afhore by
the crew of Trapefnikof's fhip * : hut as that
* See the preceding chapter.
veflel
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 59
Yefiel was not large enough to contain the
whole number, together with their cargo of
furs, they ftaid until Serebranikof 's and Tol-
ftyk' s veffels arrived. Thefe took in eleven of
the crew, with their part of the furs. Twelve
remained at Bearing's Ifland, where they kil-
led great numbers of arcVic foxes, and re-
turned to Kamtchatka in the Abraham, ex-
cepting two, who joined Shilkin's crew.
CHAP. V.
Voyages from 1756 to 1758. Voyage of
Andrean Tolftyk In 1756 to the Aleutian
Ifles* yoyageoflvau Shilkin/tf the Capiton,
1757. Shipwrecked upon one of the Fox
Iflands. *The Creiv conjlruft a f mall Vejfel^
and are again flip -wrecked*
SEPTEMBER 17, 1756, the veffei
Andrean and Natalia, fitted out by An-
drean Tolftyk, merchant of Selenginfk, and
manned with thirty-eight Ruffians and
Kamtchadals, failed from the mouth of the
Kamtchatka river. The autumnal ftorms
coming on, and a fcarcity of provifions en-
fuing, they made to Beering's Ifland, where
they continued until the 14th of June,
^757. As no fea-otters came on more that
winter,
60 ACCOUNTOFTHE
winter, they killed nothing but feals, fea-
lions, and fen-cows ; whofe flefh ferved them
for provifioii, and their fkins for the cover-
ings of baidars.
June 13, 1757, they weighed anchor,
and after eleven days failing came to Ataku,
one of the Aleutian Hies difcovered by Ne-
Vodtfikof. Here they found the inhabitants,
as well of that as of the other two iflands,
aflembled ; thefe iflanders had juft taken
leave of the crew of Trapefnikof 's veflel,
which had failed for Kamtchatka. The Ruf-
fians feized this opportunity of perfuading
them to pay tribute ; with this view they
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 fomewhatof
their language. A copper kettle, a fur and cloth
coat, a pair of breeches (lockings, and boots,
were beftowed upon this chief, who was pre-
vailed upon by thefe prefents to pay tribute.
Upon his departure for his own ifland, he
left behind him three women and a boy, in
order to be taught the Ruffian language,
which the latter very foon learned.
The Ruffians wintered upon this Ifland,
$nd divided themfelves, as ufual, into dif-
7 ferent
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 6 I
ferent hunting parties : they were compel-
led, by flormy weather, to remain there un-
til the 1 7th of June, 1/58 : before they went
away, the above-mentioned chief returned
with his family, and paid a year's tribute,
This veffel brought to Kamtchatka the
mod circumflantial account of the Aleutian
iiles which had been yet received.
The two largefl contained at that time
about fifty males, with whom the Ruffians
had lived in great harmony. They heard of
a fourth ifland, lying at fome diflance from
the third, called by the natives Iviya, but
which they did not reach on account of the
tempefluous weather.
The firfl ifland is about an hundred verfts
long, and from five to twenty broad. They
eftimated the diflance from the firfl to the
fecond, which lies Eaft by South, to be about
thirty verfls, and about forty from the latter
to the third, which {lands South Eaft. The
original drefs of the ifianders was made of
the fkins of birds, fea-otters, and feals, which
were tanned ; but the greatefl part had pro-
eured from the Ruffians dog-fldn coats, and
under-garments of (beep-lkin^ which they
were very fond of. They are reprefented as
naturally talkative, quick of appreheniion,
and
62 ACCOUNT OF THE
and much attached to the Ruffians. Their
dwellings are hollowed in the ground, and
covered with wooden roofs refembling 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 fpecies of roots
and berries : namely * cloud-berries, crake-
berries, bilberries, and fervices. The rivu-
lets abound with falmon, and other fifh of
the trout kind fimilar to thofe of Kamt-
chatka ; 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 larch,
fufficient for the conftru&ion of their huts*
There are a great number of arctic foxes
upon the firft ifland, as well as fea-otters ;
and the (hores, during ftormy weather, are
covered with wild geefe and ducks.
The Ruffians, according to the order of
the chancery of Bolcheretlk, endeavoured to
perfuade the Toigon of thefe iflands to ac-
company them to Kamtchatka, but without
fuccefs : upon their departure they diftri-
* Rubus Chamaemorus Empetrum Myrtiilus
Sorbus.
c buted
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 6**
buted among the iflanders fome linen, and
thirteen nets for the purpofe of catching fea-
otters, which were very thankfully received*
This veflel brought to Kamtchatka the fkins
of 5030 old and young fea-otters, of 1040
old and young arclic foxes, and of 330 Med-
wedki or cubs of fea-otters.
In the year 1757, Ivan Nikiphorof, a
merchant of Mofcow, fitted out a veflei :
but we have no further account of this voy-
age, than that (he failed to the Fox Iflands,
at leaft as far as Umnak.
The fmall veflel Capiton, the fame that
was built upon Beering's Illand, and which
was given to the merchant * Ivan Shilkin,
put to fea September 26, 1757, carrying on
board the Coflac Ignatius Studentfof, who
has given the following account of the voyage.
They had not long failed, before they
were driven back to the more of Kamtchatka
by ftrefs of weather, and the veflel ftranded ;
by which accident they loft the rudder and
one of the crew. This misfortune prevented
them from putting to fea again until the fol-
lowing year, with thirty- nine of the original
crew, feveral perfons being left behind on
* See Chap. Ill,
account
6+
account of ficknefs. They made direftly to
Beering's Ifland, where they took up two
of Krafilnikof's crew *, who had been fhip-
wrecked. They again fet fail in Auguft of
the fame year, and touched at the nearefl
Aleutian liles, after fuffering greatly from
ftorms. They then continued their courfe
toth e remoter iflands lying between Eaft and
South Eaft ; and, having pafled by the firfr,
they anchored before the fecond. A boat
being immediately fent out towards the fhore,
the crew was attacked by a numerous body
of Inlanders in fo fudden a manner, that they
had fcarcely time to fecure themfelves by re-
turning to the veflel. 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 be-
came fuddenly thick and foggy ; and under
thefe circumftances the veflel was forced upon
a fmall ifland at no great diftance from the
other, and fhipwrecked. The crew got to
fhore with difficulty, and were able to fave
nothing but the fire arms and ammuni-
tion..
* See Chap. IV;
They
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 65
They had fcarcely landed 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, be-
caufe feveral of the Ruffians were difabled by
cold and wet ; and there remained only fifteen
capable of defending themfelves. They ad-
vanced however without hefitation to the
iflanders ; and one Nicholas Tfiuprof (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 aflailants,
and forced the remainder to retire ; and al-
though 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 {trait.
From the 6th of September to the 23d of
April, they underwent all the extremities of
famine t during that period their beft fare
was (hell-fifh and foots ; and they were even
at times reduced to ftill the cravings of their
appetite with the leather which the waves
F waflied
66 ACCOUNT OF THE
wafhed afhore from the wreck. Seventeen died
of hunger ; and the reft would foon have fol-
lowed their companions, if they had not for-
tunately difcovered a dead whale, which the
lea hnd caft afhore. They remained upon
this ifland another winter, where they killed
230 lea-otters ; and, having built a imall
veflel out of the remains of the wreck, they
put to lea in the beginning of fummer 1760.
They had fcarcely reached one of the Aleu-
tian iflands, where Serebranikof's veflel lay
at anchor, when they were again fhipwreck-
ed, and loft all the remaining tackle and
furs. Only thirteen of the crew now
remained, who returned on board the
above-mentioned veflel to Kamtchatka July
'75 1 '
CHAP.
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 67
CHAP. VI.
Voyages in 1758, 1759, and 1760 to the
Fox Iflands in the St. Vlodimir, fitted out
by Trapefnikof, and commanded by Paikof,
1758 and in the Gabriel, by Betfhevin
I'he latter under the command of Pufhkaref
fails to Alakfu or Alachfkak, one of the
remotejl Eajlern I/lands hitherto vijited
Some account of its inhabitants and produc-
tions, which latter are different from thofe
of the more Weftern Iflands.^ Voyage of the
Peter and Paul to the Aleutian Iflands,
'759'
SEPTEMBER 1758, the merchant Si-
^-J meon Krafilnikof and Nikiphor Trapef-
nikof fitted out two veffels for the purpofe
of catching fea-otters. One of thefe vefiels,
called the St. Vlodimir, failed the 28th un-
der the command of Dmetri Paikof, carry-
ing on board the Coflac Sila Shaffyrin as col-
lector of the tribute, and a crew of forty-
five men. In twenty- four hours they reached
Beering's Ifland, where they wintered. July
16, 1759, they fleered towards the South
Fa in
68 ACCOUNT QF THE
in order to difcover land ; but, being difap-
pointed, they bore away to the North for
the Aleutian Ifles : being prevented how-
ever by contrary winds from reaching them,
they failed ftreight towards thediftant iflands,
which are known at prefent under the name
of Lyffie Oftrova, or the Fox Iflands. Sep-
tember r, they reached the firft of thefe,
called by the natives Atchu, and by the Ruffians
Goreloi, or the Burnt I (land : but, as the coafts
were very jfteep and craggy, they made to Am-
lak, lying at a frnall diftance, where they deter-
mined to pafs the winter. They divided
themfelves accordingly into three parties :
the firft, at the head of which was Alexey
Drufinrn, went over to a fmall ifland called
in the journal Sitkin ; the Coflac Shafryrin
led the feco-nd, confiding of ten perfons, t6
the ifland Atak ; and Simeon Polevoi re-
mained aboard with the reft of the crew. All
thefe iflands were well peopled ; the men had
bones thru-ft through their ears, under the
lips, and griftle of their noles ; and ther
faces of the women were marked with blackifli
ftreaks made with a needle and thread in the
ft in, in the fame manioer as a Caffae, one of
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES 69
the CreW, had obferved before upon fome of
the Tfchutiki. The inhabitants had no iron ;
the points of their darts and lances were tip-
ped with bone and flint.
They at firft imagined, that Amlak was
uninhabited ; but in one of their hunting
parties they found a boy of eight years old,
whom they brought with them : they gave
hint the name of Hermolai, and taught him
the Ruffian language, that he might ferve as
an interpreter. After penetrating further, they
dilcovered an hut, w herein were two women,
four men, and as many boys, whom they
treated kindly, and employed in hunting,
fiming, and in digging roots. 7 his kind
behaviour encouraged others to pay frequent
viiits, and to exchange fim and flem for
goats hair, hories manes, and glafs beads.
They procured alfo four other iflanders with
their wives, who dug roots for them : and
thus the winter parYed away without any dif-
turbance.
In the fpring the hunting parties returned ;
during thete txcurfions one man alone was kil-
led upon the ifland Atak, and his fire-arms ta-
ken away by the natives. June 1 760, the fame
parties were ftnt again to the fame iflands.
$hafry*in, who headed one of the parties, was
F 3 fooa
70 ACCOUNTOFTHE
foon afterwards killed, with eleven men,
by the inhabitants of Atak, but for what
reafon is not known. Drufinin received
the firft information of this maflacre from
fome inhabitants of Sitkin, where he then
was ; and immediately fet out with the re-
maining hunters to join their companions,
who were left on board. Although he fuc-
ceeded in regaining the veffel, their number
was by this time fo confiderably reduced that
their fituation appeared very dangerous : he
was foon however relieved from his appre-
henfions by the arrival of the merchat Bet-
fhevin's veffel at the iiland of Atchu *. The
two crews entered into partnerfhip : the St.
Vlodimir received twenty- two men, and
transferred eleven of her own to the other
veflel. The former wintered at Amlak ;
and the latter continued at anchor before
Atchu.
This veflel, fitted out at the expence of
Betfhevin, a merchant of Irkhutfk, was call-
ed Gabriel ; and put to fea from the mouth
of the Bolmaia Reka July 31 ft, 1760. She
* Atak and Atchu are two names for the fame ifland,
called alfo by the Ruffians Goreloi, or Burnt Ifland. This
ifland and Amlak are probably two of the Andrcanoffsky
Iflcs. See Part II. Chap. IV.
was
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 7 1
was manned with forty Ruffians and twenty
Kamtchadals, and carried on board Gabriel
Pulhkaref, of the garrifon of Ochot(k, An-
drew Shdanof, Jacob Sharypof, Prokopei
Lobafhkof, together with Nikiphor Golodof,
and Aphanaflei Ofkolof, Betfhevin's agents.
Having failed through the fecond ftrait of
the Kurill Ides, they reached the Aleutian
Ifles on the 24th of Auguft. They ftood
out from thence in order to make new dif-
covcries among thofe more remote iflands
which lie in one continued chain to the ex-
tent of 1 5 degrees of longitude.
September 25 they reached Atchu, or
Burnt Ifland, and found the above-mentioned
{hip, the St. Vlodunir, lying twenty verfts
from that ifland, before Amlak, in dange
of being attacked by the iflanders. They
immediately joined crews, in order to enable
the enfeebled company of the St. Vlodimir to
continue hunting ; and, as is it ufnal in fuch
cafes, entered into a contract for the divifion
of the profit. During tbat winter the two
crews killed, partly upon Siguyam, about 800
fea-otters of different fizes, about 100 med-
F 4 wedki
7 Z ACCOUNT OF THE
<wedkl or cubs, fbme river otters, 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 difbibuted equally on board the
two veflels : Kraffilnikof 's remained at Am-
lak, with an intention of returning to Kamt-
chatka ; and Betfhevin's put to fea from
Atchn, in queft of other iilands. They touch-
ed firft at Umnak, where they met Niki-
phorof's veilel. Here they took in wood
and water, and repaired their fails : they
then failed to the mofl remote ifland Alakfu *,
or Alakfhak, where, having laid up the (hip
in a bay, they built huts, and made prepara-
tions for wintering. This ifland was very
well inhabited, and the natives behaved at
firfl in a very friendly manner, for they trafr
ricked with the Ruffians, and even delivered
up nine of their children as hoftages ; but
fuch was the lawlefs and irregular behaviour
of the crew, that the iflanders were foon h>
ritated and provoked to hoiYilities.
In January 1762, Golodof and Pufhka-
ref went with a party of twenty men along
* This is probably the fame ifland which is laid do.wn in
Krenitzin's chart upder the name of Alaxa,
the
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 72
the more ; and, as they were attempting to
violate fome girls upon the ifland Unyumga,
were furprifed by a numerous hody of the
natives : Golodof and another Ruffian were kil-
led, and three were wounded. Not long after-
wards, the watch of the crew was fuddenly
attacked by the iflanders ; four men were
{lain upon the fpot, as many wounded, and
the huts reduced to aihes.
May 3, Lobafchkof 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 dif-
covered in time, were repulfed by means of
the fire arms. At length the Ruffians, find-
ing 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
(hew them other iflands. They were pre-
vented however by tempeftuous weather from
reaching them ; and were driven out to fea
Weflward with fuch violence, that all their
fails were carried away : at length, on the z$d
7 of
74 ACCOUNT OF THE
of September, they {truck againfr. land, which
they took for the peninfula of Kamtchatka ;
and they found it to be the diftrict of Sto-
bolikoi 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-dif-
covered iflands) in order to gather berries.
Mean while the crew endeavoured to ply the
fhip to the windward. When the boat re-
turned, thofe on board were fcarcely able, on
account of the ftorm, to row to the fhip,
and to catch hold of a rope, which was flung
out to them. Two men remained with the
baidars ; and were afterwards carried by fome
Kamtchadals to New Kamtchatkoi Oftrog.
The fhip without one fail remaining was
driven along the coaft of Kamtchatka to-
wards Avatcha, and about feventy verfts
from that harbour ran into the bay of Ka-
latzoff on the 25th of September. Their
cargo confifted of the fkins of 900 old and
young fea-otters, and of 350 foxes.
Pufhkaref and his crew had during this
voyage behaved with fuch inhumanity to-
wards the iflanders, that they were brought
to
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 75
to trial in the year 1764 ; and the above-
mentioned account is taken from the concur-
ring evidence of feveral witnefles. It ap-
pears alfo, that they brought away from
Atchu and Amleg two Aleutian men and
three boys, Ivan an Aleutian interpreter, and
above twenty women and girls whom they
feduced. 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 remaining
Aleiitians, excepting the two perfons above-
mentioned, were immediately thrown over-
board by Pufhkaref 's order. The account
which follows, although it is found in the
depofitions, does not deferve to be entirely
credited in all particulars.
The natives of the above-mentioned ifiands
are very tall and ftrongly made, They
make their cloaths of the fkins of birds ;
and
76 ACCOUNTOFTHE
and thruft bones through their under-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 blocd thus
drawn from themfelves was intended for other
purpofes *. They were accufed even of mur-
dering their own children, in order to drink
their blood ; but this is undoubtedly an in-
vention of the criminals, who reprefented
the iflanders in the moft hideous colours, in
order to excufe their own cruelties. Their
dwellings under-ground are iimilar to thofe
of the Kamtchadals ; and have feveral open-
ings on the fides, through which they make
their efcape when the principal entrance is
befet by an enemy. Their weapons coniift
of arrows and lances pointed with bone,
which they dart at a confide rable diftance.
The id and 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
* It 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
praftice mentioned in the text.
thofe
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 77
thofe Foxlflands which lie nearer to the weft,
this circumftance feems to prove that Alakfu
is fituated at no great diftance from the Con-
tinent 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 a time.
Wood is driven upon the coaft in great abund-
ance. 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 Penfhinik.
Auguft 4, 1/59, the Peter and Paul, fit-
ted out at the expence of the merchant Ry-
benikoi by his agent Andrew Serebranikof,
and manned with thirty-three perfons, fet
fail from the mouth of the Kamtchatka river.
They fleered fouthwards until the 2Oth of
September without feeing any land, when
they flood for the Aleiitian Ifles, one of which
they reached the zyth of September. They
remained there until the 24th of June, 1761 ;
during which time they killed upon this and
the two other iflands 1 900 old and young
fea-otters, and obtained 450 more by barter-
ing
78 ACCOUNT OF THE
ing with the iflanders. The Coffac Minya-
chin, 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 verfts from the latter, and is
forty in circumference. Thefe three iflands
contain feveral high rocky mountains. The
number of inhabitants were computed to be
about forty* two men, without reckoning wo-
men and children.
CHAP.
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 79
CHAP. VII.
Voyage <?/"Andrean Tolftyk in the St. Andrean
and Natalia 1760 Difcovery of feme new
I/lands called Atidreanofskye Oftrova De-
Jcrlption of Jix of tbofe I/lands, Ay ugh,
Kanaga, Tfetchina, Tagalak, Atchu, and
Amlak ; Auc count of their inhabitants.
The Veffel wrecked upon the coajl of Kamt-
chatka.
TH E mod remarkable voyage hitherto
made is that of the St. Andrean and
Natalia, of which the following extract is
drawn from the Journals of the two Coflacs,
Peter Wafyutinikoi and Maxim Lafarof.
This veflel, fitted out by the above-men-
tioned merchant Andrean Tolftyk, weighed
from the mouth of the Kamtchatka river
September 27, 1760; ilood out to fea right
Eaftwards ; and on the 2pth reached Beer-
ing's Ifland. There me lay at anchor in a
bay, from whence the crew brought all the
tackle and lading amore. Soon afterwards
they were driven upon the more by a violent
autumnal ftorm, without any otljer damage
than
80 ACCOUNT OF THE
than the lofs of an anchor. Here they paf-
fed the winter ; and, having refitted their
veflel, put to fea June 24, 1761 : they paf-
fed by Copper Ifland, which lies about an
hundred and fifty verfls from the former ;
and lleered S. E. towards the Aleutian Ifles*
which they did not reach before the 6th of
AugufL They cafb anchor in an open bay
near Attak, in order to procure an interpreter
from the Toigon Tunulgafen ; but the latter
being dead, they fent prefents to the Toigon
Bakutun. As there were already three (hips
lying at anchor before this ifland, on the ipth
they again flood out to fea in queft of the
more diftant iflands, for the purpofe of ex-
acling a tribute. They carried on board a
relation of the Toigon Bakutun, who had a
flight knowledge of the Ruffian language.
They fleered N. E. and N. E. by E. and were
driven, on the 28th, by an high gale of
wind towards an ifland, before which they
immediately caft anchor. The following
morning the two Coflacs, with a party of
eight perfons, went afriore to reconnoitre the
ifland ; but faw no inhabitant's. Auguft
0, the veflel was brought into a fafe-
bay.
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. Si
bay. The next day fome of the crew were
fent afhore to procure wood, that the fhip
might be refitted ; but there were no large
trees to be met with upon the whole ifland-
Lafarof, who was one of the party, had been
there before in Serebranikof 's veffel : he
called the ifland Ayagh or Kayaku ; and
another, which lay about the diftance of
twenty verfts, Kanaga. As they were r&r
turning to the (hip, they faw two iflanders
rowing in fmall canoes towards Kanaga,
one of whom had ferved as an interpreter,
and was known to Lafarof. The latter ac-
cordingly made them a prefent of fome frefh
provifion, which the others gratefully ac-
cepting continued their courfe acrofs the
{trait to Kanaga. Soon afterwards Lafarof
and eight men rowed over to that ifland ;
and having invited the Toigon, who was a
relation of the above-mentioned intrepreter,
to pay them a viiit at Kayaku, they immedi-
ately 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 cir-
cumference, and which is formed from a
number of fmall fprings. Its courfe is about
G eight
82 ACCOUNT OF THE
eight verfts long ; and in Cummer feverat
fpecies of falmon and other fifh, fimilar to
thofe which are found at Kamtchatka, afcend
the ftream as far as the lake.
Lafarof was employed in fifhing in this
rivulet, when the Toigon of Kanaga, ac-
companied with a confiderable number of
the natives in fifteen baidars, arrived at the
fhip : he was hofpitably entertained, and re-
ceived feveral prefents. The Ruffians feized
this opportunity of perfuading the iflanders
to acknowledge thernfelves fubjeft to the
Emprefs, and to pay a regular tribute ; to
which they made no great objection. By
means of the interpreter, the folio-wing in-
formation 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 faflen bladder?.
They fi(h for cod with bone hooks, and lines
made of a long and tough fpecies of fea- weed,
which they dip in frefh water, and draw out
to the lize of a fine packthread.
As foon as the veflel was laid up in a fe-
cure place, Tolftyk, Vaflyutin, and Lafarof,
* The author adds, that thefs turbot [pal t us] weigh oe-
cafionally feven or eight pood,
with
RU S S I A N DISCOVER I E S. 83
with feveral others, went in four baidars to
Kanaga. The rirft remained upon that ifland ;
but the two others rowed in two baidars to
Tfetchina, which is feparated from Kanaga
by a {trait about feven verfts in breadth : the
iflanders received them amicably, and promi-
fed to pay tribute. The feveral parties re-
turned all fafe to Kayaku, without having
procured any furs. Soon afterwards Tolfryk
difpatched fome hunters in four baidars to
Tagalak, Atchu, and Amlak, which lay to
the Eaft of Kayaku 1 as none of thefe parties
met with any oppofition from the natives ;
they accordingly remained with great tran-
quillity upon thefe feveral iflands until the year
1764. Their fuccefs in hunting was not
however very great ; for they caught no more
than 1880 full grown fea-otters, 778 middle-
aged, and 372 cubs*
The following is Lafarof 's defcription of
the above-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
* Thefe are the fix Iflands defcribed by Mr. Stjehlin in
his defcription of the New Archipelago. See Book II.
Chap. IV.
G 2 brought
84 ACCOUNTOFTHE
brought by this veffcl, the St. Andrean and
Natalia, from whence they are called the An-
dreanofskie Oilrova, or the Iflands of St,
Andrean.
Ayagh is about an hundred and fifty verfls
in circumference : 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 mod
part like thofe which grow in Kamtchatka.
Of berries there are found * crow or crake-
berries and the larger fort of bilberries, but
in fmall quantities. Of the roots of burnet
and all kinds of fnake weed, there is fuch an
abundance as to afford, in cafe of neceffity^
a plentiful provifion far the inhabitants. The
above-mentioned rivulet is the only one up-
on the ifland. The number of inhabitants
cannot fufficiently be afcertained, becaufe
the natives pafs continually from illand to
ifland in their baidars.
Kanaga {lands Weft from Ayagh, and is
two hundred verfts in circumference. It con-
tains an high volcano, where the natives find
* . Empetrum, Vaccin. Ulrginofum, Sanguiforba, &
Biftorta.
fulphur
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 85
fulphur in fummer. At the foot of this
mountain are hot fprings, wherein they oc-
cafionally boil their provifion. There is no
rivulet upon this ifland : and the low grounds
are fimilar to thofe of Ayagh. The inhabi-
tants are reckoned about two hundred fouls.
Tfetchina lies Eaftward about forty verfts
from Kanaga, and is about eighty in circum-
ference. It is full of rocky mountains, of
which the Rlehria Sopka, or the White Peak,
is the higheft. In the valley there are alfo
fome warm fprings, but no rivulet abounding
in fim : the ifland contains only four fami-
lies.
Tagalak is forty verfts in circumference,
ten Eaft from Tfetchina : it contains a few
rocks, but neither rivulets with fim, nor any
vegetable production fit for nourimment.
The coafts are rocky, and dangerous to ap-
proach in baidars. This ifland is alfo inhabited
by no more than four families.
Atchu lies in the fame pofit'ion forty verfts
diftant from Tagalak, and is about three
hundred in circumference : near it is an har-
bour, where (hips may ride fecurely at an-
chor. It contains many rocky mountains ;
and feveral fmall rivulets that fall into the
G 3 fea,
86 A CCOUNT OF T H"E
fca, and of which one running Eaftwards
abounds in fim. The roots which have jufi
before been mentioned, and bulbs of white
lilies, are found there in plenty. Its inhabi-
tants amount to about fixty fouls,
Amlak is a mountainous ifiand {landing
to the Eaft more than feven verfls from Atchu,
and is alfo three hundred in circumference.
It contains the fame number 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 iilands were
pbferved ilretching farther to the Eaft, which
were not touched upon.
The inhabitants of thefe fixiflands are tri-
butary to Ruifia. They live in holes dug in,
the earth, in which they make no fires even
in winter. Their clothes are made like
Ihirts, of the ikins of the * guillimot and
puffin, which they catch with fpringes-;
Over thefe in rainy weather they wear an
upper garment, made of the bladders and
other dried inteftines of feals and fea-lions
oiled and Hitched together. They catch cod
* Colymbuo Troile, Alca Arftica.
and
R U S S I A N D I S C O V E R IE S. 87
and turbot with bone- hooks, and eat them
raw. As they never colled: a (lore of pro*
vifion, they fuffer greatly from hunger in
ftormy weather, when they cannot go out to
fifli ; at which time they are reduced to live
upon fmall (hell-finS and fea-wrack, which
they pick up upon the beach and eat raw.
In May and June they kill fea-otters in the
following manner : When the weather is
calm, they row out to fea in feveral baidars :
having found the animal, they ftrike him
with harpoons, and folfow 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 themfelves in
\vinter, whenever it freezes very hard, they
burn a heap of drygrafs, over which they ftand
and catch the heat under their clothes. The
clothes of the women and children are made
of fea-otter ikins, in the fame form as thofe be-
longing to the men. Whenever they pafs the
night at a diftance from home, they dig a
hole in the earth, and lay themfelves down
in it, covered only with their clothes and
matts of platted grafs. Regardlefs of every
thing but the prefent moment, deftitute of
G 4 religion,
88 ACCOUNT OF THE
religion, and without the leaft appearance of
decency, they feem but few degrees removed
from brutes.
As foon as the feveral baidars fent out up-
on hunting parties were returned, and the
veflel got ready for their departure, the Toi-
gons of thefe iflands (excepting Kanaga)
came in baidars to Tolftyk, accompanied
with a confiderable number of- the natives ;
their names were Tfarkulini, Tfhunila*
Kayugotik and Mayatok. They brought with
them a voluntary tribute, making prefents
of pieces of dried falmon, and unanimoufly
expreffing their fatisfaction upon the good
conduct of the Ruffians. Tolftyk gave
them in return fome toys and other trifles,
and defired them to recommend to the in-
habitants of the other iflands the like friendly
behaviour towards the Ruffian merchants
who mould come amongfl them, if they had
a mind to be treated in the fame manner.
June 14, 1764, they failed for Kamtchatka,
and anchored on the lyth before Shemiya,
one of the Aleutian Iflands. The 21 ft they
were forced from their anchor by tempeftuous
winds, and -driven upon a rocky fhore.
This
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 89
This accident obliged them to fend the
lading afhore, and to draw the fhip upon
land in order to repair the damage, which
was performed with much difficulty. On the
1 8th of Auguft they flood out to fea and
made towards Atchu, which they reached
on the 2Oth. Having fprung a leak, they
again refitted the veflel ; and, after taking
on board the crew of a (hip which had been
lately cafr. away, they failed for Kamtchatka.
On the 4th of September they came in fight
of that peninfula near Tzafchminfkoi Ofl-
rog ; and on the i8th, as they were endea-
vouring to run into the mouth of the Kamt-
chatka river, they were forced by a {form
upon the coaft. The veffcl was deftroyed,
and the greateft part of the cargo loft.
CHAP.
ACCOUNT OF THE
CHAP. VIII.
of the Zacharias and Elizabeth, Jit-
led out by KulkofF, and commanded by Dru-
(inin, 1762 They fail to Umnak and
Unalafhka, and 'winter upon the latter [{land
T'be iiej/el defiroyed ; and all the crciv,
except Jour, murdered by the i/landers The
adventures of thefe jour Ruffians, and their
wonderful efcape,
IS H A L L here barely mention that a veflel
was fitted out in Auguft, 1 760, at the ex-
pence of Terrnti Tfebaeffkoi ; but I (hall
have occafion to be very circunaftantial in my
accounts concerning feveral others, which
failed during the following years : more co
pious information concerning the Fox Iflands
having been procured from thefe voyages,
although for the mofl part unfortunate, than
from all the preceding ones.
In 1762 four veflels failed for the Fox
Iflands : of thefe only one returned fafe to
Kamtchatka.
The firft was the Zacharias and Elizabeth,
fitted out hy Kulkof, a merchant qf Vologda,
and
R USSI AN DI SCO V E R IES. 91
and Company, under the command of Dru-
finin, and manned by thirty-four Ruffians,
and three Kamtchidals.
September the 6th, they weighed anchor
from Okotik, and arrived October the iith
in the haven of St. Peter and Paul, where they
wintered. June the 24th, 1/63, they again
put to fea, and having reached, after eleven
days failing, the neareft Aleutian Iflands,
they anchored before Attak. They flaid
here about fourteen days, and took up feven
Ruffians who had been fhipwrecked on this
coaft. Among thefe was Korelin, who re-
turned to Kamtchatka, and brought back the
following account of the voyage.
July the 1 7th, they failed from Attak to-
wards the more diftant iflands. In the fame
month they landed upon an ifland, where the
crew of the Andrean and Natalia was en-
gaged in hunting ; and, having laid in a pro-
viiion of water, continued their voyage.
In the beginning of September they arr
rived at Umnak, one of the Fox Iflands ;
and call anchor about a verft from the more.
They found there Glottof's veflel, whofe
yoyage will be mentioned in a fucceeding
chapter
^2 ACCOUNT OF THE
chapter *. Drufmin immediately difpatched
his firft mate Maefnifk and Korelin, with
thirty- four of the crew, to land. They
pafled over to the eaftern extremity of the
ifland, which was diftant about feventy verfts
from the veflel \ and retuned fafe on the 1 2th
of September. During this expedition, they
faw feveral remains of fox- traps which had
been fet by the Ruffians ; and met with fe-
veral natives who fhewed fome tribute-quit-
tances. The fame day letters were brought
by the iflanders from Medvedef and Ko-
rovin -J-, who were juft arrived at Umnak
and Unalafhfka in two veflels fitted out by
the merchants Protaflbf and Trapefnikof
Anfwers were returned by the fame mef-
fengers.
On the 22d, Drufinin failed to the Northern
point of Unalafhka, 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-
flrucl: an hut. Soon after their arrival, two
Toigons of the nearefl village brought hof-
tages of their own accord ; their example
* Chap. X.
t See the following chapter.
was
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 93
was immediately followed by feveral of the
more diftant villages. Here they received in-
formation of an hunting party fent from
TrapefnikoFs (hip. Upon which Maefnifk
alfo difpatched three companies upon the
fame errand, one confifting of eleven men,
among whom was Korelin, under the com-
mand of Peter Tfekalef ; a fecond of the
fame number, under Michael Kudyakof ;
and a third of nine men, under Yephim
Kafkitiyn. Tfekalef J s party was the only one
of which we have received any circumflan-
tial account : for not a Jingle perfon of the
other two, or of the crew remaining on
board, ever returned to Kamtchatka.
Kaikitfyn remained near the haven, and
the two other cpmpanies were difpatched to
the Northern point of the ifland. Kudyakof
flopped at a place called Kalaktak, which con-
tained about forty inhabitants : Tfekalef
went on to Inalok, which lies about thirty
verfts from Kalaktak. Having found there
a dwelling with about feventy inhabitants,
to whom he behaved with kindnefs, he
built an hut for himfelf and his companions ;
and kept a conftant watch.
^ > . *
December
94 ACCOUNTOFTHE
December the 4th, fix of the party being
difpatched to look after the pit-falls, there
remained only the five following Ruffians,
Peter Tfekalef, Stephen Korelin, Dmitri
Bragin, Gregory Shaffyrin, and Ivan Ko-
kovin : the iflanders therefore feized this op-
portunity of giving the firft proofs of their
hoftile intentions, which they had hitherto
concealed. As Tfekalef and SharTyrin were
upon a vifit to the iflanders, the latter fud-
denly, and without any provocation, ftruck
Tfekalef upon the head with a club, and
afterwards flabbed him with knives. They
next fell upon Shafiyrin, who defended him-
felf with an hatchet ; and, though defperate*
ly wounded, forced his way back to his
companions. Bragin and Korelin, who re-
mained 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
{tabbing him with knives and darts, until
Korelin came to his afiiftance ; who having
wounded two iflanders, and driven away the
others, brought his wounded companion
half- dead to the hut.
Soon
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 95
Soon afterwards the natives furrounded
the hut, which the Ruffians had taken the
'precaution to provide with fhooting holes.
The liege lafled four days without intermif-
fion. The iflanders were prevented indeed
by the fire-arms from {forming the hut ;
but whenever the Ruffians made their ap-
pearance, darts were immediately (hot 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 re-
covered, they all fallied out upon the iflanders
with their guns and lances ; three perfons
were killed upon the fpot, and feveral wound-
ed ; upon which the others fled away and
difperfed. During 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 baid&r into the fea, and
rowed without moleftation out of the bay,
which is about ten verfts broad. They next
landed near a fmall habitation : finding it
empty,
96 ACCOUNT OF THE
empty, they drew the baidar afliore, and
traverfed, with their fire-arms and lances?
the mountains towards Kalaktak, where they
had left Kudyakof's party. As they approach-
ed that place towards evening, they fired
from the heights ; but no fignal being re,-
turned, they concluded, as was really the
cafe, that this company had likewife been
maflacred 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
iheltered, and could defend themfelves. They
here made fo good a ufe of their arms, that
the iflanders thought proper to retire : the
fugitives, as foon as their purfuers were with-
drawal, feized the opportunity of proceeding
towards the haven, where their veflel lay
at anchor. They ran without interruption
during the whole night ; and at break of
day, when they were about three ( verfts from,
the haven, they efpied a locker of the veffel
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 97
lying on the fhore. Struck with aftonifh-
ment at this alarming difcovery, they re-
treated with precipitation to the mountains ;
from whence they defcried feveral iflanders
rowing in canoes, but no appearance of their
own veflel. During that day they kept them-
felves clofely concealed, and durft not ven-
ture again towards the haven before the
evening. Upon their arrival they found the
veflel broken to pieces, and the dead bodies
of their companions mangled along the beach.
Having colle&ed all the provifion which had
been untouched by the favages, they returned
to the mountains.
The following day they fcooped out a ca-
vity at the foot of a mountain fituated about
three verfts from the haven ; and covered it
with a piece of a fall. In the evening they
returned to the haven, and found there an
image of a faint and a prayer-book ; and all
the tackle and lading were taken away, except-
ing 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 provifion, behind as ufelefs. The Ruf-
fians collected all that remained ; and dragged
H as
98 ACCOUNTOFTHE
as much as they were able to carry into the
mountains to their retreat, where they lived
in a very wretched ftate from the 9th of De-
cember 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 Unalafhka, in
order to reach Trapefnikof 's veflel, which, as
they had reafon to think, lay at anchor fome-
where upon the coaft. They rowed at fome
diftance from the more, and by that means
pa{Ted three habitations unperceived. The
following day they obferved at fome diftance
five iflanders in a baidar, who upon feeing
them made to Makuminik, before which
place the fugitives were obliged to pafs.
Darknefs comingon, the Ruffians landed on
a rock, and pafied the night afhore. Early
in the morning difcovering the iflanders ad-
vancing towards them from the bay of Ma-
kuminik, 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,
RUSTlAN DISCOVERIES. 99
baidars, they commenced the aflault by a
volley of darts ; and notwithstanding the
Ruffians did great execution with their fire-
arms, the fkirmjm 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 advantageoufly ported, that
they repulfed the aflailants without much,
difficulty. In this encounter Bragin was flight-
ly wounded. They remained in this place three
days ; but the fea riling at a fpring-tide in-
to the rock, forced them to fally out towards
a neighbouring cavern, which they reached
without lofs, notwithftanding the oppofition.
of the iflanders.
They were imprifoned in this cave five
weeks, and kept watch by turns. During
that time they feldom ventured twenty yards
from the entrance ; and were obliged to
quench their thirft with fnow-water, and
with the moifture dripping from the rock.
They fufFered alfo greatly from hunger, hav-
ing no fuftenance but fmall fhell-fim, which
they occafionlly found means to collect upon
the beach. Compelled at length by extreme
want, they one night ventured to draw their
H 2 baidar
1 03 ACCOUNTOFTHE
baidar into the fea ; and were fortunate enough
to get off unperceived.
They continued rowing at night, but in the
day they hid themfelves on the more ; by this
means they efcaped unpbferved from the bay
of Makuftiinfk, and reached TrapefnikoPs vef-
fel the 30th of March, 1764. What hap-
pened to them afterwards in company with
the crew of this vefl'el will be mentioned in
the fucceeding chapter. Shafryrin alone of
all the four died of ficknefs during the voy-
age ; but Korelin, Kokovin, 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 overcame fuch imminent
dangers.
* Thefe Ruffians were well known to fereral perfons of
credit, who have confirmed the authenticity of this rela-
tion. Among the reft, the celebrated naturaM Mr. Pallas
faw Bragin at Irkutlk : from him he had a narrative of
their adventures and efcape ; which, as he aflured me,
perfeflly tallied with the above account, which is drawn
from the journal of Korelia,
CHAR
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, IOI
CHAP. IX.
Voyage of the vejfel called tie Trinity, under
the command of Korovin, 1 762 Sails to the
Fox Iflands Winters at Unalafhka Puts
to fea the Spring following The vejjel is
Jlranded in a bay of the ijland Umnak, and the
crew attacked by the natives Many of them
killed Others carried off by faknefsTbey
fire reduced to great Jlreights Relieved by
Glottof, twelve of the whole company only
remaining De/cript ion of Umnak and Una-
lafhka and account of the Inhabitants.
TH E fecond veffel which failed from
Kamtchatka in the year 1762, was
the Trinity, fitted out by the trading com-
pany of Nikiphor Trapefnikof, merchant of
Jrkutfk, under the command of Ivan Koro-
vin, and manned with thirty-eight Ruffians
and fix Kamtchadals.
September 1 5, they failed down the Kamt-
chatka river, and flood out to fea the spth,
when they were driven at large for ten days
by contrary winds. At laft upon the 8th of
H 3 Odobet
102 ACCOUNT OF THE
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 all the lading afhore. They ftaid
here until the firft of Auguft, i 763 ; during
that time they killed about 500 arctic foxes
and 20 fea-otters ; the latter animals reforted
lefs frequently to this ifland, in confequence of
the difturbance from the Ruifi^an hunters.
Korovin, having collected a fufficient ftore
of provifion, feveral ikins of fea-cows for the
coverings of baidars, and fome iron which
remained from the wreck of Beering's (hip,
prepared for his departure. Upon his arrival at
Beering's Ifland the preceding autumn, he
found there a veffel fitted out by Jacob Pro*
taffof, merchant of Tiurnen, under the com-
mand of Dennis Medvedef *, with whom Ko-
rovin had entered into a formal contract for
the divifion of the furs. Here he took on board
ten of Medvedefs crew, and gave him feven
in return.
* This is the fourth veffel which failed in 1762. As the
whole crew was maffacred by the favages, we have no ac-
count of the voyage. Short mention of this maflacre is
occaiionaily made in this and the following chapters.
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 103
Auguft I, Korovin put to fea from Beer-
ing's Ifland with thirty-feven men, and Med-
vedef with forty-nine. They failed without
coming in fight of the Aleutian Ifles : on
the i fth, Korovin made Unalafhka, where
Glottof lay at anchor, and Medvedef reach'ed
Umnak. Korovin received the news of the
latter' s fafe arrival, firft by fome- iflanders,
and afterwards by letters ; both veffels lay at
no greater diftance from each other than about
an hundred and fifty verfts, taking a {freight
line from point to point acrofs the firth.
Korovin cad anchor in a convenient bay
at the diftance of fixty yards from the fhore.
On the 1 6th he landed with fourteen men ;
and having found nothing but an empty med,
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.
Among them were three Toigons, who re-
collected and accofted in a friendly manner
one Barnafhef, a native of Tobolfk, who had
been there before with Glottof: they (hewed
ibme tribute-quittances, which they had lately
H 4 received
IO4 ACCOUNT OF THE
received from theCoflac Sabin Ponomaref. Two
of thefe Toigons gave each a boy of twelve
years of age as an hoftage, whom they pafled
for their children ; and the third delivered
his fon of about fifteen years of age, the
fame who had been GlottoPs hottage, and
whom Korovin called Alexey. With thefe
hoflages he returned to the fhip, which he
laid up in the mouth of a river, after having
brought all the provifion and lading amore.
Soon afterwards the three Toigons came to
fee the hoftages ; and informed Korovin,
that Medvedef 's veflel rode fecurely at anchor
before Umnak.
September 15, when every thing was pre-
pared for wintering, Korovin and Barnamef
fet out in two baidars, each with nine men
and one of the hoftages, who had a flight
knowledge of the Ruffian language. 1 hey
went along the Northern coaft of the Jfland,
towards its Weftern extremity, in order to
hunt, and to enquire after a certain interpre-
ter called Kafhmak, who had been employed
by Glottof on a former occafion. Having
rowed about twenty verfts, they pafled by
a village ; and landed at another, which lay
about five verfls further. But as the num-
ber
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 105
her of inhabitants feemed to amount to two
hundred, they durft not venture to the dwel-
lings, but frayed by the baidar. Upon this
the Toigon of the place came to them, with
his wife and fon : he (hewed a tribute-quit-
tance, and delivered his Ion a boy of thirteen
years of age, and whom Korovin called Ste-
panka, as an hoftage, for which he received
aprelentof corals.
They rowed now further to a third village,
abou: fifteen verfts from the former, where
they found the interpreter Kafhmak ; the lat-
ter accompanied them to the two Toigons,
who gave them a friendly reception, and
fhewed their tribute-quittances. A few na-
tives only made their appearance; the others, as
the Toigons pretended, were gone out to fifh.
The next morning each Toigon gave a boy
as an hoflage ; one of the boys Korovin cal-
led Gregory, and the other Alexey. The Ruf-
fians were detained there two days by a violent
florm ; during which time a letter from Med-
vedef was brought by an Aleutian ; and an
anfwer was returned by the fame perfon.
The {form at length fomewhat abating,
they rowed back to the next village ; where
they
106 ACCOUNT OF THE
they continued two nights without any ap-
prehenfions 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, partly of wood, and partly of
feal-ikins ; and made all the neceflary pre-
parations for hunting. On the i4.th, two
companies, each confining of eleven men,
were fent upon an hunting party to the
Eaftern point of the ifland ; and returned in
four days with hoftages. About fixty verfts
from the haven, they had met a party of
twenty-five Ruffians, commanded by Dru-
finin. About the fame time fome Toigons
brought a prefent of flurgeon 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 Barnafhef, were difpatched 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, and alfo a fufficient
{tore of ammunition and provifion. The
follow-
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 107
following day two accounts were fent from
Barnafhef : and letters were alfo received from
the crew of Protaflbf 's veflel. From the 2<1
of November to the 8th of December, the
Ruffians, who remained with Korovin, kil-
Jed forty-eight dark-coloured foxes, together
with an hundred and feventeen of the com-
mon fort ; during this expedition one man
was loft. Some of the natives came occa-
(ionally in baidars ; and exchanged fea- otters
and fox-lkins for corals, On the 8th of De-
cember letters were again brought from Bar-
nafhef and alfo from the crew of Protaflbf *s
{hip. Anfwers were returned by the fame
meflengers.
After the departure of thefe meflengers,
the mother of Alexey came with a meflage
from the Toigon her hufband, importing, that
a large number of iflanders were making
towards the {hip. Upon this Korovin or-
dered the men to arms ; and foon after feven-
ty natives approached, and held up fome fea-
otter {kins. The Ruffians cried out, that no
more than ten at a time mould come over the
brook towards theirhut: upon which the ifland--
ers left their (kins with Korovin, and return-.
Io8 ACCOUNT OF THE
ed without attempting any hoftilities. Their
apprehenfions wtre now fomewhat quieted ;
but they were again raifed by the arrival of
three Kamtchadals belonging to KulkoPs (hip,
who flew for protection to Korovin : they
brought the account that the crew had been
killed by the favages, and the veflel deflroyed.
It was now certain, that the feventy iflanders
above-mentioned had come with hoftile in-
tentions. This information fpread fuch a
fudden panic among the Ruffians ; that it
was even proposed to burn the veflel, and to
endeavour to find their companions, who
were gone upon hunting parties.
That day however pafled without any attack;
but, towards the evening of the loth of De-
cember, the favages aflembled in large bo-
dies, and inverted the hut on all fides*
Four days and nights they nev^r ceafed an-
noying the Ruffians with their darts ; two
of the latter were killed, and the furvivors
were nearly exhaufr.ed by continual fatigue.
Upon the fifth day the iflanders took poft in
a neighbouring cavern, where they continu-
ed watching the Ruffians fo clofely during
a whole month, that none of the latter durft
venture
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
venture fifty paces from their dwelling'
Korovin, finding himfelf thus annoyed by
the natives, ordered the hut to be deftroyed ;
and then retired to his veflel, 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 flill more from
the fcurvy.
During this period they were attacked by
a large body of the natives, who advanced
in forty baidars with the hopes of furpri-
iing the veflel. Korovin being warned of
their approach by two of the inhabitants,
one of whom was a relation of the interpre-
ter Kammak, was prepared for their recep-
tion. As foon as the favages came near the
veflel, they brandimed their darts, and pre-
pared for the attack. Korovin however had
no fooner fired and killed one perfon, than
they were (truck with a panic and rowed
away. They were fo incenfed at this failure
of fuccefs, that they immediarely put to
death the two good-natured natives, who
had betrayed their defign to the Ruffians.
i Soon
HO ACCOUNTOFTHE
Soon afterwards the father of Alexey came
and demanded his fon, who was reftored to
him : and on the 3Oth of March Korovin
and his three companions arrived as it is men-
tioned in the preceding chapter. By this
reinforcement the number of the crew a-
mounted to eighteen perfons.
April 26, Korovin put to fea from Una-
lafhka with the crew and eleven hoftages.
The veflfel was driven until the 28th by con-
tray winds, and then flranded in a bay of the
ifland Umnak. The ammunition and fails,
together with the fkins for the conftruclion
of baidars, were brought amore with great
difficulty. During the difembarkation one
fick man was drowned ; another died as foon
as he came to land ; and eight hoftnges ran
away amidft the general confufion. There
flill remained the faithful interpreter Kam-
mak and three hofhges. The whole number
of the Ruffians amounted to only fixteen per-
fons ; and of thefe three were fick of the
fcurvy. Under thefe circumftances they fe-
cured themfelves between their baidar and
fome empty barrels, which they covered with
feal-ikins, while the fails were fp r ead over
them in form of a tent. Two Ruffians kepg
watch ;
7
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. itl
watch f and there being no appearance of
any iflanders, the others retired to fleep.
Before break of day, about an hundred
favages advancing 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 ikins ;
others fell from above through the fails. By
this difcharge, the two perfons who kept
watch, together with the three hoftage?,
were killed on the fpot ; and all the Ruffians
were wounded. The latter indeed were fb
effectually furprifed, as to be prevented from
having recourfe to their fire-arms. In this
diftreis Korovin fallied out, in company with
four Ruffians, and attacked the enemy with
lances : two of the favages were killed, and
the others driven to flight. Korovin and his
party were fo feverely wounded, that they
had fcarcely flrength fufficient to return to
their tent.
During the night the ftorm increafed to
fuch a degree, that the veflel was entirely
darned 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
113 ACCOUNT OF THE
broke to pieces the barrels of fat ; emptied
the facks of provifion ; and deftroyed moft
of the furs : having thus iatisfied their re-
fentment, they went away ; and did not
again make their appearance until the 3Oth
of April. Upon their retiring, the Ruffians
collected the wretched remains which had
been left untouched by the favages, or which
the waves had call on ihore fince their de-
parture.
April 30, a body of an hundred and fifty
natives advanced from the Eaftern point of
the ifLnd towards the tent ; and, at the
diftance of an hundred yards, fhot at the Ruf-
fians 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 by firing forced
the enemy to flight, and gained time to ex-
tinguilh the flames.
This was the laft attack which was made
upon Korovin ; although ficknefs and mifery
detained him and his companions upon this
fpot until the 21 ft of July. They then put
to fea in a baidar eight yards long, which
they had conflructed in order to make to Pro-
taflbf 's vefiel, with whofe fate they were as
yet
R tfSSI AN DISCOVE HIES* Hj
Jret unacquainted. Their number was now
reduced to twelve perfons, among whom
were fix Kamtchadals.
After having rowed ten days, they landed
upon the beach of the fame ifiand Umnak :
there they obferved the remains of a veflel
which had been burnt, and faw fome clothes,
fails, and ropes, torn to pieces. At a fmall
diftance was an empty Ruffian dwelling, and
near it a bath-room, in which they found,
to their inexpreffible terror, twenty dead bo-
dies in their clothes. Each of them had a
thong of leather, or his own girdle, fattened
about the neck, with which he had been
dragged along. Korovin and his compa-
nions recollected them to have been fome of
thofe who had failed in Protaflbf 's veflel ;
and could diftinguifh among the reft the
commander Medvedef. They difcovered no
further traces of the remaining crew ; and,
as none ever appeared, we have no account
of the circumftances with which this ca-
taftrophe was attended.
After having buried his dead countrymen,
Korovin and his companions began to build
an hut ; but were prevented from rimming
it, by the unexpected arrival of Stephen
I Glottof,
114 ACCOUNT OF THE
Glottof *, who came to them with a fmall
party by land. Korovin and his companions
accordingly joined Glottof, and rowed the
next day to his veffel.
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
Medvedef's crew had made their efcape from
the general maffacre : but his enquiries were
without fuccefs. In the courfe of this ex-
pedition, as he lay at anchor, in September,
before a fmall 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 witb-
out effeft, inftantly retired. The fame even-
ing Korovin entered a bay of the ifland Um>-
nak, with an intention of paffing 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 vol*
ley of darts. Korovin fired, and having fooii
difperfed them made to a large baidar, which
he faw at fome diftance, in hopes of finding,
fome Ruffians. He was however miftaken ;
* See the following chapter.
the
fcUS S I A N D ISCOVgUl E S.
the iflanders who were aboard landed 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
Barnaflief had failed, when he was fent up-
on a 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 fur-
render themfelves, were put to death. They
then made to the dwelling, from which all
the inhabitants had run away ; and found
therein pieces of Ruffian leather, blades of
finall knives, (hirts, and other things, which
had belonged to the Ruffians. All the in-
formation 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 inhabitants, who
had retired to the ifland Unalamka. Koro-
vin gave thefe women their liberty ; and,
being apprehend ve of frefh attacks, returned
to the haven .
Towards winter Korovin, with a party of
twenty-two men, was fent upon a huntingexpe-
ditionto the Weflern point of Unalafhka : hs
Il6 ACCOUNT O ? THE
was accompanied by an Aleutian interpreter,
called Ivan Glottof. Being informed by fome
iflanders, that a Ruffian (Lip, under the
command of Ivan Soloviof *, was then lying
before Unalaftika, he immediately rowed to-
wards the haven where (he was at anchor-
On the way he had a (harp encounter with
the natives, who endeavoured to prevent him
from landing : of thefe, ten were killed upon
the Ipot ; and the remainder, fled away, leav-
ing behind them fome women and children.
Korovin ftaid three days aboard Soloviof 's
vefTel ; and then returned to the place where
he had been fo lately attacked. The in-
habitants however, for this time, made no
oppofition to his landing; on the contrary,
they received him with kindnefs, and per-
mitted him to hunt : they even delivered
hoftages ; and entered into a friendly traffic,
exchanging furs for beads. They were alfq
prevailed upon to reftore feveral naulkets and
other things, taken from the Ruffians who
had been maflacred. ':?$.
A mort time before his departure, the in-
habitants again (hewed their hoftile inten-
* Chap. XI.
tions ;
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. II 7
tions ; for three of them came up to the Ruf-
fian centinel, and fuddenly fell upon him
with their knives. The centinel however
difengaging himfelf, and retreating into the.
hut, they ran away. The Toigons of the
village protefted ignorance of this treachery ;
and the offenders were foon afterwards dif-
covered and punimed. Korovin, as he was
returning to Glottof, was forced to engage
with the iflanders upon Unalafhka, and alfo
upon Umnak, where they endeavoured to
prevent him from landing. Before the end
of the year a ftorm drove the baidar upon
the beach of the latter ifland ; and the tem-
peftuous weather fetting in, they were detain-
ed there until the 6th of April, 1765. During
this time they were reduced, from a fcarcity
of provifion, to live chiefly upon fea-wrack
and fmali fhell-fim. On the 2 ad they re-
turned to Glottof; and, as they had been
unfuccefsful in hunting, their cargo of furs
was very inconfiderable. Three days after
his arrival, Korovin quitted Glottof, and
went over with five other Ruffians to Solo-
viof, with whom he returned the following
year to Kamtchatka. The fix Kamtchadals
of Korovin' s party joined Glottof.
13 Ac-
ACppUNT OF THE
According to Korovin's account, the
iflands Umnak and Unalaihka are fituated not
much more Northwards than the mouth of
the Kamtchatka river ; and, according to the
fhip's reckoning, about the diftance of 1 700
verfts Eaftwards from the fame place. The
circumference 4 of Umnak is about two hun-
dred and fifty verfts : Unalafhka is much
larger. Both thefe iflands are wholly defti-
tute of trees ; drift-wood is brought afhore
in large quantities. There were five lakes
upon the Northern coaft of Unalafhka, an4
but one upon Umnak, of which n,one werq
more than ten verfts in circumference. Thefe
Jakes give rife to feveral fmall rivulets, which
flow only a few verfts before they empty
themfelves into the fea : the fifh enter the
rivulets in the middle of April ; they afcend
the lakes in July, and continue there until
Auguft. Sea-otters and other fea-animals
refort but feldom to thefe iflands ; but there
is great abundance of red and black foxes.
North Eaft wards from Unalafhka two iflands
appeared in fight, at the diftance of five or
ten verfts; bu,t Korovin did not touch at
. - *- < "
them.
The
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 119
The inhabitants of thefe iflands row in
their fmall baidars from one ifland to the
other. They are fo numerous, and their
manner of life fo unfettled, that their num-
ber cannot exactly be determined. Their
dwelling caves are made in the following
manner. They firft dig a hole in the earth, pro*
portioned to the fize of their intended habi-
tation, 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 ladders.
Fifty, a hundred, and even a hundred and
fifty perfons dwell together in fuch a cave.
They light little or no fires within, for
w hich 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
ftore in fummer, and ftand over it un-
til they are fufficiently warmed. A few of
thefe iflanders wear fur- {lockings in winter ;
14 but
120 ACCOUNT OF THE
but the greateft part go bare- footed, and all
are without breeches. The ikins of cormo-
rants, puffins, and fea-divers, ferve for the
xnens cloathing ; and the women wear the
fkins 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 greatefl number. The women
make their needles of the bones of birds
wings, and ufe finews for thread.
Their weapons are bows and arrows, lan-
ces and darts, which they throw like the
Greenlanders to the diflance 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 inflruments, is' often compofed of two
pieces that join into each other ; the point is
of flint, fharpened by beating it between two
jftones. Thefe darts as well as the lances
were formerly tipped with bone ; but at pre-
fent the points are commonly made of the
Jron which they procure from the Ruffians,
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 121
and out of which they ingenioufly form UN
tie 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 cuflom of cutting holes in the un-
der-lip and through the griftle of the nofe.
They place in the former two little bones,
wrought in the form of teeth, which pro-
ject 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 m
to omit them.
CHAP.
ACCOUNT OF THE
C H A P. X.
Voyage of Stephen Glottof in the Andreart
and Natalia, 1762 He reaches the Foxr
Iflands Sails beyond Unalafhka to Ka-
dyak Winters upon that I/land Repeat-
ed attempts of the Natives to djlroy the
Crew They are reputjed, reconciled, and
prevailed upon to trade with the Ruffians
Account of Kadyak Its inhabitants anj-
wals produ&ions Glottof fails back to
Umnak Winters there Returns to Kamt-
chatka Journal of his voyage.
TH E following voyage, which extended
further, and terminated more for-
tunately than the lafr. mentioned expedi-
tions, is one of the moil memorable yet
mrde.
Terenty Tfebaeffskoi and company, mer-
chants of Lalfk, fitted out the Andrean and
Natalia under the command of Stephen Glot-
tof, an experienced and ikilful feaman of
Yarenfk. This veflel failed from the bay of
the river Kamtchatka the ill of October,
1762,
fc ITSSI AN D I SCO.VE R IES.
2762, manned with thirty-eight Ruffians and
eight Kamtchadals. In eight days they reach-
ed Mednoi Oflrof, or Copper Ifland, where
having fought out a convenient harbour, they
unloaded and laid up the vefkl for the win-
ter. Their firft care was to fupply them-
felves with provifions ; and they killed after-
wards a quantity of ice- foxes, and a confi-
derable 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 Ihip, which had been left be-
hind on Commander's Ifland, and was bu-
ried in the beach. For this purpofe they
difpatched, on the 27th of May, Jacob Ma-
levinlkoy (who died foon after) with thirteen
men in a baidar to that ifland, which was
feventy vcrfts diftant. They brought back
with them twenty-two pood of iron, ten of
old cordage fit for caulkers' ufe, fome lead
and copper, and feveral thoufand beads.
Copper Ifland has its name from the na-
tive copper found on the cqaft, particularly
at the Weftern point on its South fide. Of
this native copper Malevinfkoy brought with
him two large pieces, weighing together twelve
pounds,
124 ACCOUNT OP THE
pounds, which were picked up between a
rock and the fea on a ftrand of about twelve
yards in breadth. Amongft other floating
bodies which the fea drives upon the (hores
ef this ifland, the true right camphor wood,
and another fort of wood very white, fuft,
,and fvveet-fcented, are occafionally found.
Every preparation for continuing the voy-
age being made, they failed from Copper
Ifland the 26th of July, 1763, and (leered
for the iflands Umnak and Agunalamka,
where Glottof had formerly obferved great
numbers of black foxes. On account of ftorms
and contrary winds, they were thirty days
before they fetched Umnak. Here they ar-
rived the 24th of Auguft, and without drop-
ping anchor or lofing any time, they refol-
ved to fail further for the difcovery of new
iflands : they parTed eight contiguous to each
other and feparated by flraits, which, ac-
cording to their estimation, were from twenty
to an hundred verfts broad. Glottof how-
ever did not land till he reached the laft and
moft Eaftward of thefe iflands, called by th
inhabitants Kadyak ; from which the natives
faid it was not far to the coafl of a wide-ex-
tended
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES* 125
tended woody continent. No land however
was to be feen from a little ifland called by
the natives Aktunak, which is fituated about
thirty verfts more to the Eaft than Kadyak.
September 8th, the veflel ran up a creek,
lying South Eaft of Aktunak, through
which a rivulet empties itfelf into the fea j
this rivulet comes from a lake fix verfts long,
one broad, and about fifty fathoms deep.
During the ebb of the tide the veflel was
left aground ; but the return of the water
fet her again afloat. Near the more were
four large huts, fo crouded with people, that
their number could fcarcely be counted : how-
ever, foon after Glottof's arrival, all thefe
inhabitants quitted their dwellings, and re-
tired with precipitation. The next day fome
iflanders in baidars approached the veifel,
and accofted the people on board : and as
Ivan Glottof, the Aleutian interpreter, did
not well underftand the language of thefe
iflanders, they foon afterwards returned with
a boy whom they had formerly taken pri-
foner from Ifanak, one of the iflands which
lie to the Weft of Kadyak. Him the Aleuti-
an interpreter perfectly underftood : and by
his
126 ACCOtJNTOFtHg
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 therri
to give up the boy for an interpreter ; but all
their entreaties were for the prefent without
effect. The favages rowed back to the cliff
called Aktalin, which lies about three verfts
to the South of Kadyak, where they feerned
to have habitations.
On the 6th of September Kaplin* was fenf
with thirteen men to theclifF, to treat peace-
ably with the iflanders. He found there
ten huts, from which about an hundred of
the natives came out. They behaved feem-
inglyin a friendly manner, and anfwered the
interpreter by the boy, that they had nobody
proper for an hoftage ; that they would de-*
liver the boy to the Ruffians agreeably to
their defire. Kaplin received him very thank-
fully, and brought him on board, where he
was properly taken care of : he afterwards
accompanied Glottof to Kamtchatka, and
was baptized by the name of Alexander Po*
pof, being then about thirteen years of age.
TT For
R U S SI A N DI SCO V E It IE S. 12*7
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 circumfpeo
tation.
On the 8th of September the veflel was
brought further up the creek without unload-
ingher cargo; and on the 9th Glottof with ten
men proceeded to a village on the more*
about two hundred yards from the veflel,
where the natives had begun to refide : it con-
fifted 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 impoflible to perfuade the fa-
vages to give hoftages, Glottof refolved to
let his people remain together, and to keep
a ftrong guard.
Although the iflanders vifited them (till in
fmall bodies, yet it was more and more vi(i
ble that their intentions were hoftile. At
laft on the ift of O&ober, by day-break, a
great number, having afiembled together in
the remote parts of the ifland, came unex
2 peeled ly
128 ACCOUNT OF THE
pe&edly acrofs the country. They approach-
ed very near without being difcovered by
the watch ; and feeing nobody on deck but
thofe on duty, fhot fuddenly into the veflel
with arrows. The watch found refuge behind
the quarter boards, and gave the alarm with-
out firing. Glottof immediately ordered a
volley to be fired over their heads with fmall
arms ; upon[which they immediately retreated
with great expedition. As foon as it was day,
there was no enemy to be feen : but they dif-
covered 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
They now found it very neceiTary to be on
their guard againil the attempts of thefe per-
fidious incendiaries. Their fufpicions were
frill further increafed by the fubfequent con-
duel of the natives : for though the latter
came to the veflel in fmall bodies, yet it was
obferved that they examined every thing,
and more particularly the watch, with the
fliri&eft attention ; and they always returned
without paying any regard to the friendly
proportions of the Ruffians.
4 On
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 139
On the 4th of October about two hundred
iflanders made their appearance, carrying
wooden mields before them, and preparing
with bows and arrows for an attack. Glot-
tof endeavoured at firft by perfuafion to pre-
vail upon them to defift ; but obferving that
they {till continued advancing, he refolved to
venture a fally. This intrepidity dlfconcer-
ted the iflanders, and they immediately re-
treated without making the leaft refinance.
The 26th of October they ventured a third
attack, and advanced towards the vefTel for
that purpofe by day-break : the watch how-
ever gave the alarm in due time, and the
whole crew were immediately under arms*
The approach of day-light difcovered to their
view different parties of the enemy ad-
vancing 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. Be-
lide thefe a croud of armed men advanced
feparately to the attack, fome of them bear-
ing whale jaw-bones, and others wooden
fhields. Difluaiion proving ineffectual, and
the arrows beginning to fall even aboard the
K (hip,
I JO ACCOUNT OF THE
(hip, Glottof gave orders to fire. The fhot
from the fmall arms however not being of
force enough to pierce the fcreens, the iflanders
advanced under their protection with fteadi-
nefs and intrepidity. Glottof neverthelefs
determined to rifk a fally of his whole crew
armed with muikets and lances. The ifland-
ers inftantly threw down their fcreens ; and
fied with precipitation until they gained their
boats, into which they threw themfelves and
rowed off. They had about feventeen large
baidars and a number of fmall canoes. The
ikreens which they left behind were made of
three rows of flakes placed perpendicularly*
and bound together with fea-weed and ofiers ;
they were twelve feet broad, and above half
a yard thick.
The iflanders now appearing to be fuffici-
ently intimidated, the Ruffians began to build
a winter hut of floated wood ; and waited
the appearance of fpring without further an-
noyance. Although they faw none of the
inhabitants before the 25th of December, yet
Glottot kept his people together ; fending
out occasionally fmall hunting and fifhing
parties to the lake, which layabout fiveverfts
from the creek. During the whole winter
2 they
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
they caught in the lake feveral different
fpeices of trout and falmon, foles, and her-
rings of a fpan 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 (hip ; and converfed at
a diftance by means of interpreters. Al-
though propofals of peace and trade were
held out to them in the mod friendly man-
ner, yet they went off without feeming ro
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 per-
fons were Carried off.
On the 4th of April four of the natives
made their appearance, and feemed to pay
more attention to the propofals : one of them
at lafl advanced, and offered to barter two
fox-lkins for beads. They did not fet the
lead value upon other goods of various kinds,
fuch as fliirts, linen, and nankeen ; but de-
manded glafs beads of different colours, for
which they exchanged their ikins with plea-
K 2 fure.
ACCOUNT OF THE
fure. This friendly traffic, together with
Glottof's entreaties, operated fo powerfully,
that, after holding a confutation with their
countrymen, they returned with a folemn
declaration, that their brethren would in
future commit no hoftilities againft the Ruf-
fians. From that time until their departure
a daily intercourfe was carried on with the
iflanders, who brought all forts of fox and
fea-otter Ikins ; and received in exchange a
ftipulated number of beads. Some of them
were even perfuaded to pay a tribute of fkins,
for which receipts were given.
Amongft other wares the Ruffians procu-
red two fmall 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 alfo for fale well-dreffed fea-otter
fkins, the hair of which was (horn quite
fhort with fharp ftones, in fuch a manner,
that the remainder, which was of a yellowifh
brown colour, gliftened and appeared like
velvet. Their caps had furpriiing and fome-
times not ungraceful decorations, fome being
adorned on the forepart with manes like a
helmet :
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 133
helmet ; others, feemingly pecular to the
females, were made of inteftines flitched to-
gether with rein -deer hair and finews in
a rnoft elegant tafte, and ornamented on the
crown with long dreamers of hair died of
a beautiful red. Of all thefe curiofities Glot-
tof carried famples to Kamtchatka *.
The natives differ confiderably in drefs
and language from the inhabitants of the
other Fox Iflands : and feveral fpecies of
animals were obferved 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-men-
tioned 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 (kins of rein-deer and je-
vras ; the latter of which is a fort of fmall
marmofet. Both thefe fkins were probably
* Thefe and feveral other ornaments of a fimilar kind
are preferved in a cabinet of curiofities at the Academy
of Sciences of St. Peterfburg : a cabinet w^ich well merits
the attention of the curious traveller ; for it contains a
large collection of the drefTes of the Eaftern nations.
Amongft the reft, one compartment is entirely filled with
the drefles, arms, and implements, brought from the New-
difcovered iflands.
K 3 pro-
A CCOUNT F T HE
procured from the continent of America *.
Black, brown, and red foxes, were feen in
great number ; and the coafl abounds with
fea-dogs, fea-bears, fea-lions, and fea-otters.
The birds are cranes, geefe, ducks, gulls,
ptarmigans, crows, and magpies ; but no un-
common fpecies was difcovered. The vege-
table productions are bilberries, cranberries,
wortleberries, and wild lily-roots. Kadyak
likewife yields willows and alders, which
circumftance affords the jftrongefl proof that
it lies at no great diftance from the continent
of America. The extent of Kadyak can-
not 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 ani-
mals worked into the form of teeth. Their
clothes are made of the ikins of birds, foxes,
fea-otters, young rein-deer, and marmofets ;
* Although this conjecture is probable, yet, when the
reader recollects that the ifland Alakfu is faid to contain
rein-deer, he will perceive that the inhabitants of Kadyak
might have been fupplicd with the fkins of that animal from
thence. See p. 76.
they
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 1 35
they few them together with finews. They
wear alfo fur-ftockings of rein-deer (kins,
but no breeches. Their arms are bows, ar-
rows, and lances, whofe points, as well as
their fmall hatchets, are of (harp flint : fome
few make knives and lance points of rein-
deer bones. Their wooden fhields are called
kuyaky, which amongft the Greenlanders
iignifies a fmall canoe, Their manners are
altogether rude. They have not the lead dif-
pofition to give a courteous reception to ftran-
gers : nor does there appear amongft them-
felves 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 the women's boats
of the Greenlanders. Their food confifts
chiefly of raw and dried fifli, partly caught
at fea with bone hooks, and partly in rivulets,
in bag-nets made of finews platted together.
They call themfelves Kanagift, a name that
has no fmall refemblance to Karalit ; by
which appellation, the Greenlanders and Ef-
quimaux on the coaft of Labradore diftin-
guifh themfelves : the difference between
thefe two denominations is occafioned per-
K 4 haps
136 ACCOUNT OF THE
haps 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 thdr fixed habitations.
The ifland Kadyak * makes, with Aghu-
nalafhka, Umnak, and the fmall iflands ly-
ing between them, a continued Archipelago,
extending N. E. and E. N. E. towards Ame-
rica : it lies by the (hips'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 Jfland Alakfu, lying North-
ward from Kadynk where Pufhkaref -f- win-
tered, muft be ftill nearer the continent : and
the account given by its inhabitants of a great
promontory, called Ataktak, ftretching from
the continent N. E. of Alakfu, is not at ail
improbable.
Although the conduct of the iflanders ap-
peared more friendly ; yet on account of their
numbers Giotto f, refolving not to pafs another
winter upon Kadyak, prepared for his de-
* Kadyak is not laid down upon any chart of the New-
difcovered iflands : for we ha"ve no chart of Glottof 's voy-
ag- 5 and no other Ruffian navigator touched at that ifland,.
f See Chap, VI.
parture.
RUS SI AN DISCOVERIES. 137
parture. He wanted hoops for repairing 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 Ftorulkin with eleven
men, for the purpofe of felling wood. Ftorulkin
returned the fame day with the following intel-
ligence : that after rowing along the South coaft
of the ifland forty or fifty verfts from the haven,
he obferved, about half a verft from the more,
a confiderable number of alders, fimilar to
thofe found in Kamtchatka, growing in vallies
between the rocks. The largeft trunks were
from four to feven inches in diameter. Of
this wood he felled as much as he had oc-
cafion for ; and returned without having met
with either iflander or habitation.
They brought the veflel down the creek
in May ; and, after taking in all the peltry
and ftores, left Kadyak on the 24th. Con-
trary winds retarded their voyage, and drove
them near the ifland Alakfu, which they paf-
fed ; their water being nearly exhaufted, they
afterwards landed upon another ifland, called
Saktunak, in order to procure a frefh flock. At
lafton the^dof July, they arrived again at Um-
tiak, and anchored in a bay which Glottof
had
138 ACCOUNT OF THE
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. Refolving to procure further
information, he went acrofs the ifland the
5th of July, accompanied by iixteen of his
crew, and difcovered the remains of a burnt
vefiel, fome prayer-books, images, &c. ; all
the iron work and cordage were carried off.
Near the fpot he found likewife a bathing
room filled with murdered Ruffians in their
clothes. From fome marks, he concluded
that this was the veflel fitted out by Pro-
taflbf ; nor was he miftaken in his conjec-
tures.
Alarmed at the fate of his countrymen,
Glottof returned to the (hip, and held acon-
fultation upon the meafures neceflary to be
taken ; and it was unanimoufly refolved that
they mould endeavour to procure more in-
telligence concerning the vefiel. In the mean
time feven iflanders advanced in baidars, and
pretended that they wanted to trade. They
fhewed lea- otter {kins at a diflance, but would
not
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 139
not venture on board ; and by the interpre-
ter defired Glottof and two of his people to
come on (bore and barter. Glottof, however,
having fufficient caufe to diftruft the favages,
refufed to comply with their demands : upon
this they immediately landed, and mot from
the more 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 veflel. In order if v poffible to
procure intelligence from them, every me.
thod of perfuading them to peace was tried
by means of the interpreters ; and at laft one
of them approached the mip, and demanded
victuals ; which being thrown to him, he
came on board. He then related the fate of
the above-mentioned veflel, of which the ifland-
ers had made themfelves matters ; and gave
likewife fome intelligence concerning the
remaining fmall body of fugitives under the
command of Korovin. He alfo confefled,
that their defign was to entice Glottof on
more, and then to kill him ; for which pur-
pofe more than thirty iflanders were pofled
in ambufh behind the neareft rocks. After
cutting off the leader, they imagined it would
Jpe an eafy matter to feize upon the (hip.
Upon
1 40 ACCOUNTOFTHE
Upon this information Glottof detained the
jflander on board, and landing with a ftrong
party attacked the favages : the latter (hot
with arrows, as well as from the mufkets
which they had feized, but without effect,
and were foon forced to retire to their canoes.
July the 1 4th a violent ftorm arofe, in
which Glottof 's veffel parted her cable ; and
was forced on fhore without any other lofs
than that of an anchor. The crew likewife,
through want of fremprovifions, began to grow
fo fickly, that they were almoft in a defence-
lefs ftate. Glottof however, with ten men,
fet out the 28th of July for that part of
the ifland, where according to information
they expected to find Korovin. 1 hey 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
Glottof was om his way back, five iflanders
approached him in canoes, and afked why
the baidar had been out ; to which a falfe an-
fwer being riven, they told him, that on
the other fide of the ifland he would find Ko-
rovin with his people, who were building a
hut on the fide of the rivulet. Upon re-
ceiving
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 141
ceiving this intelligence, Glottof and his com-
panions went over land to the place pointed
out by the iflanders, and found every thing
agreeable to their information : in this Ko-
vorin had not the leaft (hare, not having been
made privy to the tranfaction. The circum-
ftances of 'his joining, and afterwards fepa-
rating from Glottof, have already been men-
tioned *.
Glottof now refolved to winter upon Um-
nak, and accordingly laid up his veflel for
that purpofe. On the 2d of September Ko-
rovin, as is before related, was at his own
deiire difpatched with a hunting'party in two
baidars. On his return, in May 1765, they
received the firfl: intelligence of the arrival of
Soloviof *s veflel, which lay before Unalafhka,
and of which an account mall be given f.
None of the iflanders appeared near the har-
bour during the winter, and there were none
probably at that time upon Umnak ; for
Glottof made excuriions on all fides, and went
once round the ifland. He likewife looked
into the habitations of the iflanders, and found
them empty : he examined the country, and
* See the preceding chapter,
f Chap. XI.
caufed
142 ACCOUNT OF THE
caufed a flricl: fearch to be made after the re-
mains of the plundered veflel.
According to his account, Umnak is about
300 verfts in circumference. It contains fe-
veral fmall rivulets, which take their rife
from lakes, 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 Kamtchatka.
The following fummer fmall parties of the
inhabitants were feen ; but they immediately
fled upon the approach of the Ruffians.
Some of them, however, were at laft per-
fuaded 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 veflel. They continued to barter
with the natives during the fummer of 1765,
exchanging beads for the fkins of foxes and
fea- otters.
The following winter hunting parties were
fent out in Umnak as well as to Unalamka ;
and in July 1766 Glottof, without meeting
with any more difficulties, began his .voy-
age homewards. We (hall here conclude
with a copy of the journal' kept on board
Glottof 's veflel, the Andrean and Natalia ;
from
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES* 143
from which inferences with regard to the
(ituation of the iflands may be drawn.
Journal of Glottof, on board of the An-
drean and Natalia.
1762.
Oft. I. Sailed from Kamtchtka Bay.
2. Wind Southerly, fleered between
E. and S. E. three hours.
3. Wind S. E. worked at N. E. courfe,
1 6 hours.
4. From midnight failed Eaft with a
fair wind, i b hours.
5. At fix o'clock A. M. difcovered
Beering's Ifland diftant about 18
verfls.
6. At i o'clock came to anchor on the
South Eaft point of Copper Ifland.
7. At 8 A. M. failed to the South fide
of the Ifland, anchored there at 10
o'clock.
1765.
July 26. Sailed from Copper Ifland at 5
P.M.
27. Sailed with a fair S. S. W. wind,
17 hours.
28. Made little way.
July
144 ACCOUNT OF TtfB
July 29. Drove wind E. N. E.
30. Ditto.
3 1.. Ditto.
Aug. i. Ditto.
2. At 1 1 A. M. wind N. E. fleered E.
3. Wind W. S. W. failed 8 knots an
hour, 250 verfls.
4. Wind South failed 150 verfls.
5. Wind ditto failed 126 verfls.
6. Wind ditto, 3 knots, 45 verfls.
7. Calm.
8. During the night gentle S. E.
wind, fleered N. E. at 2| knots.
9. Forenoon calm. At 2 o'clock?. M.
gentle N. E. wind, fleered be-
tween E. N. E. and S. E. at the
rate of three knots.
10. Morning, wind E. N. E. after-
wards S.S.W. with which fleered
N.E.
1 1 . At 5 o'clock the wind S. S. E.
fleered E. N. E. at the rate of
three knots.
1 2. Wind S. fleered E. 2 f knots, failed
50 verfls.
13. Wind S.S.E. fleered E. at 4!
knots, failed 90 verfls.
14.
RUSSIAN D 1SCOVER IES. 145
Aug.
14. Wind W.JJ. W. at 2 knots, failed
30 verfls,
15. The wind frefhened, at 4 knots,
failed 60 verfls.
1 6. Wind N.N.E. fleered E. S. E.
at 3 knots, failed 30 verfls. .
17. Wind E. S. E. and S. E. light
breezes and changeable.
1 8. Wind S. E. fleered N. E. at 3!
knots, failed in 1 2 hours 22 verfls-
19. Wind S. and light breezes, fleered
E. at 3 knots, failed in 8 hours
1 1 verfls.
20. Before day-break calm ; three
hours after fun -rife a breeze fprung
up at S. E. fleered E. N. E. at 3
knots, and failed 20 verfls.
22. Calm.
23. Wind S. S. E. during the night,
the fhip failed at the rate of two
knots ; the wind afterwards came
round to the S. S. W. and the
. fhip failed at 5 to 6 knots thefe
24 hows 150 verfts.
24. Saw land at day-break, at 3 knots,
failed 45 verfls.
L 25.
14$ ' ACCOUNTOF THE
Auguft
25. Wind W. S. W. failed along the
coaft thefe 24 hours 50 verfts.
26. Wind N. W. fleered N. E. at 5$
knots, 100 verfts.
27. Wind E. N. E. the fhip drove to-
wards land, on which difcovered
a high mountain.
28. Wind N. E. and ftormy, the fhip
drove.
29. Wind N. W. fleered E, N. E. at
the rate of 3 knots.
50. Wind S. S. E. at 6 knots, fleer-
ing again towards land.
3 1 . A violent florm, wind weft.
Sept. i. Wind Weft, fleered N. E. at the
rate of 3 knots towards land.
2. Wind S.W. fleered N. E. to-
wards land at 5 knots.
3. Wind S. W. drove N . N, E. along
the coaft.
4. Wind W. N. W. fleered N. E. at
4 knots, failed 100 verfts.
5. Wind N. W. fleered E. N. E. at
3 knots, and towards evening
came to anchor off the Ifland
Kadyak.
1764.
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
1764.
May 24. Sailed from Kadyak.
25. Wind N. W. and made but little
way W. S. W.
26. Wind W. fhip drove towards S. E w
27. Wind W.S.W. fhip drove E.S.E!
The fame day the wind came
round to the S. when fleered a-
gain towards Kadyak.
28. Wind E. S. E. fell in with the
ifland Alafka or Alakfu.
29. Wind S. W. fleered N. W.
30. Wind W. N. W. the fhip drove
under the fore fail.
3 1 . Wind W. drove to the South-
ward.
June i. Wind W. S. W. landed on the
Ifland Saktunak, for a fupply of
water.
2. Wind S.E. fleered S. W. along
the ifland at 3 knots.
3. Wind N. E. fleered W. S. W. at
the rate of 3 to 4 knots, failing in,
thefe 24 hours 100 verfts.
4. Calm.
5. At Eight o'clock A. M. a fmali
breeze S. E.
L 2 June
148 ACCOUNT OF THE
June 6. Wind E. afterwards calm. To-
wards evening the Wind S. E.
fleered S. W. at 3 knots, and un-
expectedly difcovered land ahead,
which kept clear of with diffi-
culty.
From the 7th to the loth at anchor
off a fmall cliff.
lo. A hard gale at S. the (hip drove
foul of the anchor, flood out to
fea fleering E.
n. Anchored again at a fmall dif-
tance from land.
13. Wind S.S. W. flood out to fea
and fleered E. S.E.
14. Wind W. S. W. fleered S. S. E.
at the rate of i knot.
15. Calm.
1 6. WindS. fleered W. at I knot,
the fhip drove a little to the North-
ward.
17. Wind S. S. E. fleered W. S, W. at
3 knots.
Calm.
Ditto.
Wind N. E. fleered S. W. and
failed this day about 87 verfls.
June
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 149
June 2 1 . The wind blowing right ahead,
came to anchor off an unknown
Jfland, where continued till the
25. When flood out to fea early in
the morning.
26. Wind W. N.'W. afterwards W.
fleered S. E.
27. Calm, in the night a fmall but fa-
vourable breeze.
28. Wind N. W. continued thecourfe,
at the rate of 2 to 3 knots *.
29. Wind N. E. fleered W. at 3 to 4
knots, and faw land.
30. WindN.E. fleered S.W.atth e
rate of 7 knots.
July i. With the fame wind and courfe,
at the rate of 5 knots, failed 200
verfts.
2. Fell in with the ifland Umnak, and
came to an anchor under a final]
ifland until next day ; when
brought the fhip into the harbour,
and laid her up.
1766.
June 13. Brought the fhip into the harbour,
* Lief man bey nordvvefl wind auf den ours zu 2 bis 3
knoten.
L 3 and
150 ACCOUNT OF THE
( and continued at anchor there ui>
til the 3d of July.
July 3. Got under way.
4. Wind E.
5. A South Weft wind drove the (hip
about 50 verfts N. E.
6. Wind S. failed about 60 verfts W.
7. Wind W. S. W. the Ihip drove to
the Northward.
8. Wind N. W. fteered S. at the
rate of one knot.
g. Wind N. W. fteered the whole
day W. S. W.
jo. Wind S. S. W. failed about 40
verfts W. N. W-
1 1 . Wind S. W. continued the fame
courfe, failing only 5 verfts.
j2. Continued the fame courfe, and
failed 55 verfts^
13. For the moft part cajm.
14. Wind W. N. W. and ftormy,
the fhip drove under the forefail.
15. Wind S. failed on the proper
. courfe 100 verfts.
j6. Wind E. S. E. failed W. S. W- at
the rate of 6 knots, 100 verfts.
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. Ijl
July 17. WindN. N.W. failed S. W. at
the rate of 2 knots, 30 verfts.
18. Wind S. fleered W. at the rate of
5- knots, and failed 130 verfts.
19. Wind S. W. the fhip drove under
the forefail.
20. W T indE.N.E. fleered W. N.W.
at the rate of 3 knots.
21. Wind E. N. E. at the rate of 4
to 5 knots, failed 200 verfts.
22. Wind N.E. at 4! knots, 150 verfts.
23. Wind E. N.E. fteered W. at 3
knots, i oo verfts.
24. Wind E. fteered W. at the rate of
3 knots, 50 verfts.
25. Wind N. E. fteered W. at 5 knots
100 verfts.
26. The wind continued N. E. and
frelhened, fteered W. at the rate
of 7 knots, 200 verfts.
27. A fmall breeze N. N.W. with
which however failed 150 verfts.
28. Wind being W. S. W. drove 24
hours under bare-poles.
29. Wind South, fteered W. at the
rate of 2 knots, 48 verfts this
day faw land.
L 4 July
ACCOUNT OF THE
July 30. Wind S. S. E. failed, at the rate of
four knots, 96 verfts, and ap-
proached the land, which found to
be the ifland Karaga.
From the ift to the i^th of Auguft, con-
tinued our voyage towards the mouth of
Kamtchatka river, fometimes plying to wind-
ward, fometimes driving, and at laft arrived
happily with a rich cargo.
CHAP. XL
Voyage of Soloviof in the St. Peter and Paul,
j 764 he reaches Unalalhka, and faffes two
winters upon that ijland relation of 'what
pajftdtherefruitkfs attempts of the natives
to dejlroy the crew Return of Soloviof to
Kamtchatka journal of bis voyage in re.
turning defer iptlon of the iflands Umnak
and Unalalhka -produftions inhabitants
their manners cujloms, &c. &c.
IN the year 1764, Jacob Ulednikof, mer-
chant of Irkutfk, and company, fitted
out a (hip called th$ Holy Apoftles Peter and
Paul, under the command of Ivan Soloviof:
me
RUSSIAN DISCOVE RIES.
{he failed from the mouth of Kamtchatka
river the 2fth of Auguft. The crew con-
fiftedof fifty-five men, amongft whom were
fome of the owners, and thirteen Kamt-
chadals.
They fleered at firft S. E. with the wind at
N. W. but on its coming foutherly they after-
wards fhaped their courfe E. N. E. The 27th
one of the Ruffian failors died off Kamtchatka
i
point ; the 3 1 ft they made Beering's Ifland,
which they pafled on their left. The ift and
2d of September they were becalmed, and
afterwards the wind fpringing up at W. S. W.
they continued their former courfe : until the
5th they failed on with the wind at South ;
but on the 5th and 6th, from changeable
breezes and dead calms, made no progrefs ;
from the yth to the I3th, they failed E. S. E.
with Southerly and Wefterly winds ; and
from that time to the i5th Eaft, with the
wind at Weft.
September 16, they made the ifland Um-
nak, where Soloviof had formerly been in
Nikiphorofs veflel. As they failed along
the Northern coaft, three iflanders came to
them in baidars ; but, the crew having no
in-
154 ACCOUNT OF THE
interpreter, would not truft themfelves on
board. As they found no good bay on that
fhore, they proceeded through a {trait of about
a verft broad, which feparates Umnak from
Unalaflika. They lay-to during the night ;
and early on the I /th dropped anchor at the
diftanee of about two hundred yards from
the fliore, in a bay on the North iide of the
laft mentioned ifland.
From thence the captain difpatched Gre-
gory Korenof at the head of twenty men in
a baidar, with orders to land ; reconnoitre
the country ; find out the neareft habitations ;
and report the difpofition of the people.
Korenof returned the fame day, with an ac-
count that he had difcovered one of the dwel-
ling-caves of the favages, but abandoned and
demolished, in which he had found traces
of Ruffians, viz. a written legend, and a
broken mufket-ftock. In confequence of this
intelligence, they brought the (hip near the
coaft, and endeavoured to get into the mouth
of a river called by the natives Tlikanok, and
by the Ruffians Ofernia, but were prevent-
ed by mallow water. They landed how-
ever their tackle and lading. No natives
made
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 155
made their appearance until the 22d, when
two of them came of their own accord, and
welcomed the Ruffians on their arrival. They
told their names, and were recognized by
Soloviof : he had known them on a former
expedition, when Agiak, one of the two, had
feryed as an interpreter ; the other, whofe
name was Kammak, had voluntarily con-
tinued fome time with the crew on the fame
occafion .
Thefe two perfons recounted the particu-
lar circumftances which attended the lofs
of Kulkofs, Protaflbf s, and Trapefnikof 's
veflels ; from the laft of which Kammak had,
with great hazard of his life, efcaped by flight.
Agiak had ferved as interpreter to Protaflbf 's
company ; and related that the iflanders, af-
ter murdering the hunting detachments of
the Ruffians, came to the harbour, and en-
tered the (hip under the moil friendly appear-
ances. Finding the crew in perfect fecurity,
they fuddenly attacked and flew them, to-
gether 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 Kammak, had lived as fugi-
tives ;
156 ACCOUNT OF THE
tives ; and in the courfe of their wanderings
had learned the following intelligence from the
girls who were gathering berries in the fields.
The Toigons of Umnak, Akutan, and Tofh-
ko, with their relations of Unalamka, had
formed a confederacy. They agreed not to
<li(hirb any Ruffians on their firft landing,
but to let them go out on different hunting
c xcuriions : being thus feparated and weak-
ened, the intention of the Toigons was to
attack and cut them off at the fame time, fo
that no one party mould have affiftance from
any of the others. They acquainted him alfo
with Glottof s arrival at Umnak.
Thefe unfavourable reports filled Soloviof
\vith anxiety : he accordingly doubled his
watch ; and ufed every precaution in his
power againft attacks from the favages. But
wanting wood to repair his veflel, and wim-
ing for more particular information concern-
ing the iituation of the ifland, he difpatched,
the 29th, a party of thirty men, with the
above-mentioned interpreter, to its wefteni
extremity. In three or four hours they rowed
to Ankonom, a point of land, where they
law a village, confiding of two large caves,
and over againft it a little ifland at no great
4 diftance*
RUSSI AN DIS CO V E KIES. 15^
diftance. The moment the inhabitants faw
them approaching, they got into their baidars,
and put out to fea, leaving their dwellings
empty. The Ruffians found therein feveral
Skeletons, which, in the interpreter's opinion,
were the remains of ten murdered failors of
Trapefnikof s company. With much per-,
iuaiion the interpreter prevailed on the iflanders
to return to the place which they had juit
quitted : they kept however at a wary dil-
tance, and were armed for whatever might
occur.
Soloviof attempting to cut off their retreat,
in order to fecure fome hoftages, they took
the alarm, and began themfelves the attack.
Upon this the Ruffians fired upon and purfued
them ; four were killed, and feven taken pri-
foners, among whom was the Toigon of the
little ifland Sedak. Thefe prifoners, being
bound and examined, confefled that a num
ber 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 occalion. They alfo brought intelli-
gence that Korovin, with a party in two bai-
dars,
158 ACCOUNT OF THE
oars, had taken (belter at a place called Inalga*
Upon this information, letters were immedi*
ately fent to Korovin ; upon the receipt of
which he joined them the 2d of O&ober.
At the time of Korovin's arrival, the fa-
vages made another attack on Soloviof 's watch
with knives ; which obliged the latter to fire,
and fix of the aflailants were left dead on the
fpot. The captive Toigon excufed this at-
tempt 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. Soloviof,
for the greater fecurity, fent the prifoners
by land to the haven ; while Korovin and his
party went to the fame place by fea. The
Toigon however was treated kindly ; and
even permitted to return home on condition
of leaving his fon as an hoflage. In confe-
quence of this kind behaviour, the inhabitants
of three other villages, Agulak, Kutchlok,
and Makufki, prefented hoftages of their own
accord.
From the remaining timber of the old
dwelling the Ruffians built a new hut ; and
on the fourteenth they laid up the veflel. Ko-
roaofwas then fent upon a reconnoitring
party
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 159
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 of the ifland an empty habita-
tion ; that he rowed from thence Eaftward
along the more, and behind the firft point of
land came to an ifland in the next bay ; where
he found about forty iflanders of both fexes
lodged under their baidars, who by his friendly
behaviour had been induced to give three
hoftages. Thefe people afterwards fettled in
the above-mentioned empty hut, and came
frequently to the harbour.
On the 28th of October, SoJoviof himfelf
went alfo upon a reconnoitring party along
the North coaft, towards the North-Eaft end
of the ifland. He rowed from the firft pro-
montory acrofs a bay ; and found on the op-
pofite point of land a dwelling place called
Agulok, which lies about four hours row
from the harbour. He found there thirteen
men and about forty women and children,
who
l6o ACCOUNT OF THE
who delivered up feveral gun-barrels and fhip-
ftores, and likewife informed him of two of
Korovin's crew who had been murdered.
November 5, they proceeded further ; and
after five or fix hours rowing, they faw on a
point of land another dwelling called Ikutch-
lok, beyond which the interpreter mewed
them the haven, where Korovin's {hip had
been at anchor. This was called Makulhin-
iky Bay ; and on an ifland within it they
found two Toigons, called Itchadak and Ka-
gumaga, with about an hundred and eighty
people of both fexes employed in hunting
fea-bears. Thefe natives not being in the
leaft hoftile, Soloviof endeavoured to eftablifh
and confirm a friendly intercourfe with them.
He remained there until the icth, when the
Toigons invited him to their winter quarters,
which lay about five hours fail further Eaft :
there he found two dwelling caves, each of
forty yards fquare, near a rivulet abounding
with fiih which fell from a lake into a little
bay. In the neighbourhood of this village is
a hot fpring below the fea mark, which is
only to be feen at ebb tide. From thence he
departed the 25th, but was forced back by
florms,
fc US S 1 A ft D I SCO VER I E S. l6l
ftorms, and detained there until the 6th of 1
December.
Kagumaga then accompanied him to ano-
ther village called Totchikala ; both the Toi-
gon and the interpreter advifed him to be on his
guard againft the natives, whom they reprc-
fented as very favage, fworn enemies to the
Ruffians, and the murderers of nine of Kul-
kof 's crew. For thefe reaibns Soloviof pafled
the night on the open coaft, and next morn-
ing fent the Toigon before to infpire the na-
tives with more friendly fentiments. Some
of them liftened to his reprefentations ; but
the greateft part fled upon Soloviof 's approach ;
fo that he found tne place confuting 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 deflroyed,
only referving one bow and feventeen arrows
as fpecimens of their arms. By the moft
friendly arguments he urged the few natives
who remained to lay aridr their enmity, and
to perfuade their leaders and relations to re-
turn to their habitations, and live on terms of
amity and friendship.
M Qn
l62 ACCOUNT OF THE
On the xoth about an hundred men and a
{till greater number of women returned. But
the faireft fpeeches had no effeft on thefe fa-
vages, who kept aloof and prepared for hoftili-
ties, which they began on the i7th by an
open attack. Nineteen of them were kill-
ed, amongft whom was Inlogufak one of
their leaders, and the moft inveterate fomen-
terof hoftilities againft the Ruffians. The
other leader Aguladock being taken confefled,
that, on receiving the firft news of Soloviof 's
arrival, they had refolved to attack the crew,
and burn the fhip. Not with (landing this
confeffion, no injury was offered to him : in
confequence of this kind ufage, he was pre-
vailed upon to give 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 delivered in three anchors,
2nd a quantity of tackle, which had been
faved from a veflel 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, Soloviof fet out for the haven
where his fhip lay : before his departure the
Toigons
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. I 63
Toigons of Makufhinfk paid of their own
accord a double tribute.
February i, Kagumaga of Makufhinik,
Agidalok of l otzikala, and Imaginak of
Ugamitzi, Toigons of Unalafhka, with a
great number of their relations, came to So-
loviof, and acquainted him with the arrival
of a Ruffian (hip at Unimak, the fixth jfland
to the Eaftof Agunalaflika ; adding, that they
knew none of the crew excepting a Kamt-
chadal named Kirilko, who had been there
on a former occafion. They likewife informed
him, that the natives, after having cut off
part of the crew who had been lent out in
two baidars, had found .means to overpower
the remainder, and to deftroy the veflel. From
the name of the Kamtchadal, they concluded
that this muft have been another veflel fitted
out by Nikiphor Trapeinikof and company,
of which no farther intelligence was ever
received. Willing to procure farther intel-
ligence, they endeavoured to perfuade the
Toigons to fend a party of their people to the
abovementioned ifland ; but the latter excufed
themfelves, on account of the great diflance
and their dread of the itlanders.
M 2 Fe-
164 ACCOUNT OF THE
February 16, Soloviof fet out a fccond
time for the Weft end of the iflaiid, where
they had formerly taken prifoner, and after-
wards (et 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
cafl on fhore : after this Korovin went acrofs
the gulph to Umnak ; and he proceeded to
Ikaltminlk, 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 ifland-
ers during this excuriion. On his return he
found one of the crew dead, and a dreadful
fcurvy raging amongft the reft ; of which
diflemper five Ruffians died in March, eight
and a Kamtchadal in April, and fix more in
May. About this time the Hknders were
obferved to pay frequent vifits to the hoil-
ages ; and upon inquiring privately into the
reafon,
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 165
reafon, fbme of the latter difcovered, that
the inhabitants of Makufhinfk had formed
the defign of cutting off the crew, and ma*
king themfelves matters of the veffel. SD
loviof had now great reafons to be apprehen-
five ; for the crew were affii&ed with the
fcurvy to fuch a violent degree, that only
twelve perfons were capable of defending
themfelves. Thefe circumftances did not
efcape the obfervation of the natives ; and
they were accordingly infpired with frefh
courage to renew their hoftilities.
On the 2 /th of May the Ruffians percei-
ved the Toigon of Itchadak, who had for-
merly paid a voluntary tribute, near thefhore :
he was accompanied by feveral iflanders ia
three baidars. Soloviof calling to him by
the interpreter, he came on more, but kept
at a diftance, defiring a conference with fome
of his relations. Soloviof gave orders to feize
him ; and they were lucky enough to take
him prifoner, together with two of his com-
panions. He immediately confefled, that he
had come with a view of inquiring of the
hoftages how many Ruffians were ftill remain-
ing : having procured the neceflary intel-
M 3 ligence,
l66 ACCOUNT OF THE -
ligence, his intention was to furprife the watch
at a convenient feafon, and afterwards to fet
fire to the (hip. As they faw feveral ifland-
crs row paft the harbour at the fame time,
and the Toigon likewife informed them that
they were aflembling to execute the above-
mentioned defigrj ; Soloviof refolved to be
much upon his guard. They feparated, how-
ever, without attempting any hostilities.
June 5, Glottof arrived at the harbour on
a vifit, and returned on the 8th to his fliip.
The captive Toigon was now fet at liberty,
after being ferioufly exhorted to defift from
hostilities. In the courfe of this month two.
more of the crew died ; fo that the arrival
of Korovin, vyho joined them about this
time, with two of his own and two of Kul-
kof 's crew, was of courfe a very agreeable
circumflance. The fick likewife began to
recover by degrees.
July 22, Soloviof, with a party of his
people, in two baidars, made another excur-
fion Northwards ; he paffed by the places
formerly mentioned as far as Igonok, which
lies ten verfts beyond Totztkala. Igonok
confifts of one dwelling cave on the fide of a
rivulet, which falls from the mountains^
and
RUSSIAN DI SCOVERIES. 167
and empties itfelf into the fea. The inhabi-
tants amounted to about thirty men, who
dwelt there with their wives and children.
From thence Soloviof proceeded along the
fhore into a bay ; five verfts further he found
another rivulet, which has its fource among
the hills, and flows through a plain.
Upon the more of the fame bay, oppofite
to the mouth of this rivulet, lay two vil-
lages, one of which only was inhabited ; it
was called Ukunadok, and confifted of fix
dwelling caves. About thirty-five of the in-
habitants were at that time employed in catch-
ing falmon in the rivulet. Kulkof 's fliip had
lain at anchor about two miles from thence ;
but there were no remains of her to be found.
After coming out of the bay, he went for-
wards 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
further along the more they found another
fummer village called Kalaktak, where there
was likewife another rivulet, which came
M 4 from
168 ACCOUNT OF TH
from the hills. The inhabitants were
men and an hundred and feventy women and
children : they gave Soloviof a very friendly re-
ception ; and delivered 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 the nth, he went over to the ifland
Umnak, accompanied by Korovin, to bring
off fome (hips {lores left there by the latter ;
and returned to the haven on the 27th. On
' ' ; . i
the 3; ft Shafryrin died, the fame perfon
whofe adventures have been already related *.
Sept. 1 9, Koronof being fent northwards
upon an hunting party, returned the 3Oth of
January, 1766. Although the Ruffians who
remained at the haven met with no molefta-
tion from the natives during his abfence ; yet
he and his companions were repeatedly at-
tacked. Having diftributed to the inhabitants
of the feveral villages through which he paf-
fed 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 31 ft of
October, the inhabitants fled with precipi-
* Chap. VIII.
tatk>n :
USSXAN DISCOVERIES. 1 6$
and as all his efforts to conciliate their
affections were ineffectual, he found it re-
quifite to be upon his guard. Nor was this
precaution unneceflary ; for on the following
day they returned in a confiderable body,
armed with lances, rpade with the iron of
the plundered veffejs. Korenof, however,
and his companions, who were prepared to re-
ceive them, killed twenty-fix, and took fe-
veral prifoners ; upon which the others be,
came more tractable.
Nqv 19, Korenof, upon his return to the
haven, came to Makufhinfk, where he was
kindly received by a Toigon named Kulu-
maga ; but with regard to Itchadak, it was
plain that his defigns were ftill hoftile. In-
{lead of giving an account of the nets which
had been left with him, he withdrew private-
ly : and on the ipth of January, accom-
panied by a numerous body of iflanders, made
an attempt to furprife the Ruffians. Victory,
however, again declared for Korenof ; and
fifteen of the aflailants, amongft whom was
Itchadak himfelf, remained dead upon the
fpot. Kulumaga aflured them, in the ftrongeft
manner, that the defign had been carried on
without
ACCOUNT OF THE
v ithout his knowledge ; and protefted, that
he had often prevented his friend from com-
mitting hoftilities againft the Ruffians.
Korenof returned to the haven on the 3Oth
of January ; and on the 4th of February he
went upon another hunting expedition to-
ward the Weftern point of the ifland. During
this excurfion he met with a party, fent out
by Glottof, at a place called Takamitka ; he
then rowed over to Umnak, where he col-
lected a fmall tribute, and returned on the ^d
of March. During his abfence Kyginik,
Kulumaga's fon, paid a vifit to the Ruffians,
and requefled that he might be baptized, and
be permitted to go aboard the veffel ; his de-
mand was immediately complied with.
May 1 3th, Korovin went, with fourteen
men, to Umnak, to bring off an anchor,
which was buried in the fand. On his re-
turn preparations were made for their depar-
ture. Before the arrival of Korovin the hun-
ters had killed 1 50 black and brown foxes,
a,nd the fame number of old and young fea-
otters ; fince his arrival they had caught 350
black foxes, the fame number of common
foxes, and 150 fca-otters of different fizes.
This
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
This cargo being put on board, the inter-,
preter Kafhmak fet at liberty, with a certifi-
gate of, and prefents for, his fidelity, and the
hoflages delivered up to the Toigons and their
relations, who had aflembled at the haven,,
Soloviof put to fea on the ifl of June, with
an Eafterly wind. Before his departure he
received a letter from Glottof, informing him
that he was likewife preparing for his re-
turn.
June 2. The wind being contrary, they
got but a fmall way from land.
5. Steered again towards the more,
came to an anchor, and fenta boat
for a fupply of water, which re-s
turned without having feen any
' body.
6. Weighed and fleered W. with a
S. E. wind.
7. Favourable wind at N. E. and in
the afternoon at N.
8. Wind at N. W. and ftormy, the
fhip drove under the forefail.
9 & 10. Sailed Northwards, with a Wefter-
ly wind.
1 1. Calm till noon ; afterwards breeze
fprung up at S. with which they
fleered
ACCOUNT OF THE
fleered W. till next day at noon ;
when the wind coming round to
the Weft, they changed thefr
courfe, and fleered N. W.
June 12* Calm during the night.
$3. A fmall breeze of Northerly wind,
with which they fleered W. In the
afternoon it fell calm, and con-
tinued fo till the
16. At noon, when a breeze fpringing
up at Eafl, they fleered W. oil
which courfe they continued
during the
1 8. with a S. S. E. wind.
From the 19 to the 22. The wind was change-
able from the S. W. to N. W.
with which they ftill made a fhift
to get to the Weftward.
23* The wind E. they fleered betwixt
N. & W. which courfe they con-
tinued the
24th r 25th, 26th, with a Northerly
wind.
27. A. M. the wind changed to S. W.
28, 29, 30. Wind at Wefl.
July i. The wind changed to E. with
which they {leered between W.
and
RUSSIAN niS
and S. W. with little variations^
till the ^d.
July 4. They reached Kamtchatkoi Nofs,
and on the
5th. Brought the fhip, in good
condition, into Kamtchatka river*
Soloviof 's defcription of thefe iflands and
the inhabitants, being more circumftantial
than the accounts given by former navigators,
deferves to be inferted at full length, Ac-
cording to his eftimation, the ifland Unalaflv-
ka lies between 1500 and 2000 verfts due
Eaft from the mouth of the Kamtchatka
river : the other iflands to the Eaft ward ft retch
towards N. E. He reckons the length of
Akutan at eighty verfts ; Umnak at an hun-
dred and fifty ; and Unalafhka at two hun-
dred. No large trees were feen upon any of
the iflands which he vitited^ They produce
underwood, fmall mrubs, and plants, for the
moft partfimilar to the common Ipecies found
in Kamtchatka. The winter is much milder
than the Eaftern parts of Siberia, and con-
tinues only from November to the end of
March. The fnow feldom lies upon the
ground for any time.
Rein-
NT OF ?& E
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 reaibn they have got the name of
Lyflie Oftrova, or Fox Tflands. Thefe foxes
are ftronger than thofe of Yakutfk ; and their
hair is much coarfer. During the day they
lie in caves and clifts of rocks ; towards
evening they come to the (hore in fearch of
food : they have long extirpated the brood of
mice, and other fmall animals. They are
not in the fmalleft degree afraid of the in-
habitants, but diftinguifh the Ruffians by the
fcent ; having experienced the effects of their
fire-arms. The number of fea-animals, fuch
as fea-lions, fea-bears, and lea-otters, which
refort to thefe fhores, are ve-y confiderable.
Upon fome of the iflands warm Iprings and
native fulphur are to be found.
The Fox-iflands are in general very popu-
lous ; Unalafhka, which is the largeit ifland,
is fuppofed to contain feveral thouiaud in-
habitants. Thefe favages live together in
feparate communities, compofed of fiity, and
ibmetimes of two or even three hundred per-
fons ; they dwell in large caves from forty
to eighty yards long, from fix to eiglit broad,
and
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
and from four to five high. The roof of thcfe
caves is a kind of wooden grate, which is
firft fpread over with a layer of grafs, and
then covered with earth. Several openings
are made in the top, through which the in-
habitants 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 par-
titions, which are appropriated to the feveral
families ; and thefe partitions are marked by
means of flakes driven into the earth. The
men and women fit 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 without efleeming it indecent.
They warn themfelves firft with their own
urine, and afterwards with water. Even in
winter they are always bare-footed : and when
they want to warm themielves, efpecially be-
fore they lie down to deep, they fet fire to
dry grafs and walk over it. Their habita-
tions
|y6 ACCOUNT OF THE
tions being almoft dark, they ufe particularly
in winter a fort of large lamf>s, made by hol-
lowing out a ftone, into which they put a
rum-wick and burn train oil. A {tone fo
hollowed is called Tfaaduck. The natives *
are whites with black hair ; they have flat
faces, and are of a good flature. The men
fhave with a (harp ftone or knife the circum-
ference and top of the head, and let the hair
which remains hang from the crown -(-. The
women cut their hair in a ftreight line over
the forehead ; behind they let it grow to a
coniiderable length, 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 pricking them firft with a nerdle,
and then rubbing the parts with a loir of
black clay. They make three incifions in
the under-lip ; they place in the middle one
a flat bone, or a fmall coloured ftone ; and in
* Von gefirht find fie platt un dweifs durchgaengig mit
ichwarzen haaren.
f The original in this paflage is fomewhat obfcure. Die
maenner fchceren mit einem Scharfen Stein oder Mefler den
Umkreifr des Haarkopfs und die Platte, vmd laflen die Haare
wni die Krone des Kopfs rundum ueberdangen.
2 each
RUSSl AN DI SCOVERIES. 177
each of the fide-ones they fix a long pointed
piece of bone, which bends and reaches al-
moft 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 man-
ner 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 coniifts of a cap and a fur-
coat, which reaches down to the knee.
Some of them wear common 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
fmall board like a fcreen, adorned with the jaw-
bones of fea- bears, and ornamented with
glafs beads, which they receive in barter
from the Ruffians. At their feftivals and
dancing parties they ufe a much more (howy
fort of caps. Their fur-coats are made like
fhirts, being clofe behind and before, and are
put on over the head. The drefs of the men
is made of bird fldns, that of the women of
fea-otters and fea-bears. Thefe Ikins are died
with a fort of red earth, and neatly fewed
with {inews, and ornamented with various
{tripes of fea-otter (kins and leathern fringes;
N They
178 ACCOUNT OF THE
They have alfo upper garments made of the
inteftin.es of the largeft fea-calves and fea-
lions*
Their veflels confift of two forts : the
larger are leathern 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 referable
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.
Jn 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 {inews or fea-
weed. They ftrike fifh in tTie rivulets with
darts. Whales and other fea-animals thrown
amore by the waves are carefully looked after,
and no part of them is loft. The quantity
of provifions which they procure by hunting
and riming being far too fmall for their wants,
the greateft part of their food confifts of fea-
wrack and {hell-rim, which they find on the
(hore.
2 No
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 1.79
No ftranger is allowed to hunt or fim 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 vil-
lage to village, or call upon their friends and
relations for affiftance*
They feed upon the flefh of all forts of
fea-animalSj and generally eat it raw. But
if at any time they choofe to drefs their
victuals, they make ufe of an hollow {tone :
having placed the fim or flefli therein, they
cover it with another, and cloie the inter-
faces with lime or clay. They then lay it
horizontally upon two ftones, and light a
fire under it. The provilion intended for
keeping is dried without fait in the or en air-
They gather berries of various forts, and lily-
roots of the fame fpecies with thofe which
grow wild at Kamtchatka. 1 hey are unac-
quainted with the manner of df effing the cow-
parfnip, as practifed in that Peninfula ; and
do not underftand the art of diftilliug brandy
or any other ftrong liquor from it. They
are at prefent very fond of fnufF, which the
Ruffians have introduced among them.
No traces were found of any worfliip, nei-
N 2 ther
jSo ACCOUNT OF THE
ther did they feem to have any forcerers *
among them. If a whale happens to be caft
on fhore, the inhabitants aflemble with great
marks of joy, and perform a number of ex-
traordinary ceremonies. They dance and beat
drums f of different fizes : they then cut up
the fifti, of which the greateft and beft part
is confumed on the fpot. On fuch occafions
they wear fhowy caps ; and fome of them
dance naked in wooden maiks, which reach
down to their fhoulders, and reprefent various
forts of fea-animals. Their dances confift of
fhort fteps forwards, accompanied with many
flrange geftures.
Marriage ceremonies are unknown among
them ; and each man takes as many wives as he
can maintain, but the number feldom exceeds
* In the laft chapter it is faid that there are forcerers
among them.
-|- The expreffion in the original is, " Schlagen auf grofTeu
a platten Handpauken von verfchiedenen Klung," which,
being literally tranflated, (ignifies " They beat upon large
** flat hand-kettle drums of different founds."
By the accounts which I procured at Peterfburg, concern-
ing the form of thcfe drums, they feem to referable in fliape
thofe made ufe of by the forcerers of Kamtchatka, and
are of different fizes. I had an opportunity of feeing one
of the latter in 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 baique, and is worn
upon the arm like a fliield.
four.
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. l8l
four. Thefe women are occafionally allowed to
cohabit with other men ; they and their chil-
dren are alfo not unfrequently bartered in ex-
change for commodities. When an iflander
dies, the body is bound with thongs, and
afterwards expofed to the air in a fort of wooden
cradle hung upon a crofs-bar, fupported by
forks. Upon thefe occafions they cry, and
make bitter lamentations.
Their Toigons or Princes are thofe who
have numerous families, and are ikilful and
fuccefsful in hunting and timing.
Their weapons confift of bows, arrows,
and darts : they throw the latter very dex-
teroufly, and to a great diftance, from a hand-
board. For defence they ufe wooden fhields,
called kuyaki. Thefe iflanders are, notwith-
ftanding their favagenefs, very docile ; and
the boys, whom the Ruffians keep as hof-
tages, foon acquire a knowledge of tiheir
language.
N 3 G H A P.
l82 ACCOUNT OF THE
CHAP.
Voyage of Otcheredin In the St. Paul I 765-7-
He winters upon Umnak Arrival of Leva-
fheff upon Unalafhka Return of Otchere-
din to Ochotfk.
IN the yecir 1765 three merchants, namely,
Orekhof of Yula, Lapin of Solikamfk,
and Shilof of Uftyug, fitted out a new veffel
called the St. Paul, under the command of
Aphanaiiei Otcheredin. She was built in the
harbour of Okotik : his crew confifted of
fixty-two Ruffians and Kamtchadals ; and me
carried on board two inhabitants of the Fox
lilands, named John and Timothy Surgef,
.who had been brought to Kamtchatka and
b apt i fed.
September 10$ they fiilled from Okotfk,
and arrived the 22d in the bay of Bolcheretfk,
where they wintered. Auguilri, I776>they
continued their voyage, and having pafle4
the fecond pf the Kuri Ifles, fleered on the
6th into the open fea ; on the 24th they
reached the neareft of the Fox lilands, which
the
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 183
the interpreters called * Atchak. A ftorm
ariflng, they caft anchor in a bay, but faw no
inhabitants upon the fhore. On the 26th
they failed again, difcovered on the 2yth Sa-
gaugamak, along which they fleered North
Eaft, and on the 3ift cam e within feven miles
of the ifland Umnak ; where, on account of
the latenefs of the feafon and the want of
provifion and water, they determined to win-
ter. Accordingly on the ifl of September,
by the advice of the interpreters, they brought
the veflel into a convenient bay near a point
of land lying N. W. where they fattened it
to the more with cables.
Upon their landing they difcovered feveral
pieces of a wreck ; and two iflanders, who
dwelled on the banks of a rivulet which emp-
ties itfelf into the bay, informed them, that
thefe were the remains of a Ruffian veflel,
whofe commander's name was Denys. From
this intelligence they concluded that this
was Protaflbf s veflel, fitted out at Okotik.
The inhabitants of Umnak, Unalafhka, and
of the Five Mountains, had aflembled, and
murdered the crew, when feparated into dif-
ferent hunting parties. The fame iflanders
* Called in a former journal Atchu, p. 70.
N 4 alfo
184 ACCOUNT OF THE
alfo mentioned the fate of Kulkof's and Tra-
pefnikof 's (hips upon the ifland Unalaftika-
Although this information occafioned general
apprehenfions ; yet they had no other re-
fource than to draw the veflel afliore, and to
take every poffible precaution againft a fur-
prize. Accordingly they kept a conftant
watch ; made prefents to the Toigons and the
principal inhabitants ; and demanded fome
children as hoftages. For fome time the
iflanders behaved very peaceably, until the
Ruffians endeavoured to perfuade them to be-
come tributary : upon which they gave fuch
repeated figns of their hoftile intentions, that
the crew lived under continual alarms. In
the beginning of September information was
brought to them of the arrival of a veffel,
fitted out by Ivan Popof, merchant of Lalfk,
at Unalafhka.
About the end of thefaid month the Toigon
of the Five Mountains came to Otcheredin ;
and was fo well fatisfied with his reception,
that he brought hoftages ; and not only af-
fured them of his own friendmip, 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
RUSSIAN DISCOVEftlES. 185
not only paid no regard to his perfuafions,
but even barbaroufly killed one of his chil-
dren. From thefe and other circumftances
the crew pafled the winter under continual
apprehenfions ; and durft not venture 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 amongft them ; infomuch
that fix of them died ; and feveral of the fur-
vivors were reduced to fo weak a condition,
that they were fcarcely able to move.
The health of the crew being re-eftablimed
in the fpring, twenty-three men were fent on
the 25th of June in two boats to the Five
Mountains, in order to perfuade the inhabi-
tants to pay tribute. On the 26th they landed
no the ifland Ulaga, where they were attacked
with great fpirit by a large body of the in-
habitants ; and though three of the Ruffians
were wounded, yet the favages were repul-
fed with confiderable lofs : they were fo ter-
rified by this defeat, that they fled before the
Ruffians during their continuance on that
ifland. The latter were detained there by
tempeftuous weather until the 9th of July ;
during
l86 AC COUNT OF THE
Curing which time they found two rufty fire-i
Ipcks belonging to ProtafTof's crew. On the
loth they returned to the harbour; and it
was immediately refolved to difpatch fome
companies upon hunting expeditions.
Accordingly on the ift of Auguft Matthew
Poloikof, a native of Ilinik, was fent with
twenty-eight men in two boats to Unalamka ;
if the weather and other circumftances were
favourable, they were to make to Akutan
and Akun, the two neareft iflands to the Eaft,
but to proceed no further. Poloikof reached
Akutan about the end of the month ; and
being kindly received by the inhabitants, he
lefi; fix of his party to hunt ; with the re-
mainder he went to Akun, which lies about
two verfts from Akutan. From thence he
dil'patched five men to the neighbouring
iflands, where he was informed by the inter-
preters there were great quantities of foxes.
Poloikof and his companions continued the
whole autumn upon Akun without being an-
noyed; but on the i 2th of December the inha-
bitants of the different Jflands affembled in great
numbers, and attacked them by land and fea.
They informed Polofkof, by means of the in-
terpreters,
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 187
terpreters, that the Ruffians whom he had
fent to the neighbouring iflands were killed ;
that the two veffels at Umnak and Unalamka
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 Ruf-
fian fire-arms however kept them in due re-
fpedt ; and towards evening they difperfed.
The fame night the interpreter deferted, pro-
bahly 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 mot down into the hut, making
at the fame time great outcries ; by this un-
expected affault four Ruffians 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 attempted to feize
the two veflels, but without fuccefs : they
however cut off the party of fix men left by
Polofkof at Akutan, together with the five
hunters difpatched to the contiguous iflands,
l88 ACCOUNT OF THE
and two of Popof 's crew who were at the
Wefternmoft part of Unalafhka.
Poloikof continued upon Akun in great
danger until the 2oth of February ; when,
the wounded being recovered, he failed over
with a fair wind to Popof 's veffel at Unalafh-
ka ; and on the loth of May returned to
Otcheredin.
In April, Popof 's veffel being ready for the
voyage, all the hoftages, whofe number
amounted to forty, were delivered to Otche-
redin. July the 30th, a veflel belonging to
the fame Popof arrived from Beering's Ifland,
and caft anchor in the fame bay where
Otcheredin's lay ; and both crews entered in-
to an agreement to fharein common the pro-
fits of hunting. Strengthened by this alli-
ance, Otcheredin prevailed upon a number
of the inhabitants to pay tribute. Auguft
the 2zd Otcheredin's mate was fent with fix
boats and fifty-eight men to hunt upon Una-
lafhka and Akutan ; and there remained thirty
men with the veffels in the harbour, who
kept conftant watch.
Soon afterwards Otcheredin and the other
commander received a letter from Levamef
Captain Lieutenant of the Imperial fleet, who
accom-
RUSSI AN DISCOVE R IES. 189
accompanied Captain Krenitzin in the fecret
expedition to thofe iflands. The letter was
dated September n, 1768 ; it informed them
he was arrived at Unalafhka in the St. Paul,
and lay at anchor in the fame bay in which
Kulkof 's veflel had been loft. He likewife
required a circumftantial account of their voy-
ages. By another order of the 24th he fent
for four of the principal hoftages ; and de-
manded the tribute of (kins which had been
exadted from the iflanders. But as the wea-
ther was generally tempefluous at this feafon
of the year, they deferred fending them till
the fpring. May the ^ift Levamef fet fail
for Kamtchatka ; and in 1/71 returned fafely
from his expedition at St. Petersburg.
The two veflels remained at Umnak until
the year 1770, during which time the crews
met with no oppoiition from the iflanders.
They continued their hunting parties, in
which they had fuch good fortune, that the
(hare of Otcheredin's veflel (whofe voyage is
here chiefly related) confided in 530 large
fea-otter fkins, 40 young ones and 30 cubs,
theikins of 656 fine black foxes, 100 of an
inferior fort, and about 1 250 red fox fkins.
4 With
190 ACCOUNT OF THfc
With this large cargo of furs Otcheredin fet
fail, on the 22d of May, 1770, from Umnakj
leaving Popof 's crew behind. A (hort time
before their departure, the other interpreter
Ivan Surgef, at the mitigation of his relations,
deferted.
After having touched at the neareft of the
Aleutian Iflands, Otcheredin and his crew ar-
rived on the 24th of July at Okotik. They
brought two iflanders with them, whom they
baptized. The one was named Alexey So-
lovief ; the other Boris Otcheredin. Thefe
iflanders unfortunately died on their way to
Petersburg ; the firft between Yakutik and
Irkutik ; and the latter at Irkutfk, where he
arrived on the iflof February, 1771*
C II A P.
RUSSI AN D1S CO V E R IES. tgt
CHAP. XIII.
Conclujion General pqfition and foliation of the
Aleutian rfWFox Iflands their diftance from
each other Farther defer ipt ion of the dreft^
manners, and cuftoms, of the inhabitants
their feajls and ceremonies, &c.
ACCORDING to the lateft informa-
tions brought by Otcheredin's and
Popof's vefiels, the North Weft point of
CommandorikoiOftrof, orBeering's Ifland, lies
due Eaft from the mouth of the Kamtckatka
river, at the diftance of 250 verfts. It is
from 70 to 80 verfts long, and ftretches from
North Weft to South Eaft, in the fame direc-
tion as Copper Ifland. 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
Ifland lie the Aleutian Ifles, of which Attak
is the neareft : it is rather larger than Beer-
ing's Ifland, of the fame fhape, and ftretches
from Weft to South Eaft. From thence about
20 verfts Eaftwards is iltuated Semitftii, ex-
tending
192 ACCOUNT OP THE
tending from Weft to Eaft, and near its Eafterri
point another {mail ifland. To the South of
the ftrait, which feparates the two latter
iflands, and at the diftance of 40 verfts from
both of them, lies Shemiya in a fimilar po-
fition, and not above 25 verfts in length. All
thefe iflands ftretch between 54 and 55 de-
grees of North latitude.
The Fox Iflands are fituated E. N. E. from
the Aleutians : the neareft of thefe, Atchak,
is about 800 verfts diftant ; it lies in about
56 degrees North latitude, and extends from
W.S. W. towards E.N.E. It greatly re-
fembles Copper Ifland, and is provided with a
commodious harbour on the North. From
thence all the other iflands of this chain ftretch
in a direction towards N. E. by Eaft.
The next to Atchak is Amiak, 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 dif-
tance, but fomewhat fmaller ; from that it
is 50 verfts to Amukta, 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
fmall
RUSSIAN DISCOVER I E S. 193
fmall iflands, or rather mountains, Kigalgift,
Kagamila, Tfigulak, Ulaga, and Tana-Unok,
and which are therefore called by the Ruf-
fians Pat Sopki, or the Five Mountains. Of
thefe Tana-Unok lies moft to the N. E. to-
wards which the Weftern point of Umnak ad-
vances within the diftance of 20 verfts.
Umnak ftretches from S. W. to N. E. ; it is
150 verfts in length, and has a very coniider-
able bay on the Weft end of the Northern
coaft, in which there is a fmall ifland or rock,
called Adugak ; and on the South fide is
Shamelga, another rock. The Weftern point of
Aghunalaftika, or Unalafhka, is feparated from
the Eaft end of Umnak by a ftrait near 20 verfts
in breadth. The pofition of thefe two iflands
is fimilar ; but Aghunalamka is much the
largeft, and is above 200 verfts long. It is
divided towards the N. E. into three pro-
montories, 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 connected with the ifland by a fmall neck
of land. The third or moft Southerly one is
feparated from the laft mentioned promontory
O by
194 ACCOUNT OF THE
by a deep bay. Near Unalafhka towards the
Eaft lies another fmall ifland, called Skirkin.
About 20 verfts from the North Eaft pro-
montory of Aghunalalhka He four iflands : the
firft, Akutan, is about half as big as Umnak ;
a verft further is the fmall ifland Akun ; a
little beyond is Akunok ; and laftly Kigalga,
which is the finalleft of thefe four, and
ftretches with Akun and Akunok almoftfrom
N. to S. Kigalga is fituated about the 6ift
degree of latitude. About 100 verfts from
thence lies an ifland called Unimak *, upon
which Captain Krenitzin wintered ; and be-
yond it the inhabitants faid there was a large
tract of country called Alafhka, of which
they did not know the boundaries.
The Fox Iflands are in general very rocky,
without containing any remarkably high
mountains : they are deflitute of wood, but
abound in rivulets and lakes, which are moft-
ly without fifli. The winter is much milder
than in Siberia : the fiiow feldom falls be-
fore the beginning of January, and continues
on the ground till the end of March.
* Krenitzin wintered in the ftraits of Alaxa,. which fe-
parate Uuimak from Alaxa. See Part II. p. ao8,
Their
k t/S S I A N D I SCO VER I E S. 195
There is a volcano in Amuchta 5 in Kaga-
mila fulphur flows from a mountain ; in Taga-
Unok there are warm fprings, hot enough to
boil provifions ; and flames of fulphur are oc-
cafionally feen at night upon the mountains
of Unalafhka and Akutan.
The Fox Iflands are tolerably pdpulous in
propotion to their (ize. 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 iigns of religion were found amongfb
them. Several perfons indeed pals for for-
cerers, pretending to know things pair, and to
come, and are accordingly held in high efteem,
but without receiving any emolument. Filial
duty and refpecl 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 tem-
pers, though rather impetuous, and naturally
prone to anger. In general, they do not ob-
ferve any rules- of decency, but follow all the
calls of nature publicly, and without the
leaft referve. They warn themfelves with
their own urine.
O 2 There
196 ACCOUNT OF THE
Their principal food confifts in fifli and
other fea-animals, fmall (hell-fifh, and fea-
plants : their greateft delicacies are wild lilies
and other roots, together with different kinds
of berries. When they have laid in a ftore of
provifions, they eat at any time of the day with-
out diftinction ; but in cafe of neceflity they
are capable of failing feveral days together-
They feldom heat their dwellings ; but when
they are defirous of warming themfelves,
they light a bundle of hay, and fland over
it ; or elfe they let fire to train oil, which
they pour into a hollow ftone.
They feed their children when very young
with the coarfeft flefti, and for the moft part
raw. If an infant cries, the mother imme-
diately carries it to the fea-fide, and be it fum-
m^r or winter holds it naked in the water un-
til it is quiet. This cuftom is fo far from
doing the children any harm, that it hardens
them againfl the cold, and they accordingly
bare- footed through the winter without
the leaft inconvenience. They are alfo trained
to bathe frequently in the fea ; and it is an
opinion generally received among the iflanders
that by that means they are rendered bold,
and become fortunate in fifhing.
2 The
RUSSIAN DISCOVEIRES. 197
The men wear fhirts made of the (kins of
cormorants, fea-diver s , 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 cir-
cular form clofe to their ears ; and {have 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 there-
in bits of coral, which they get from the Ruf-
fians. Both fexes make holes in the griflle
of the nofe, and in the under-lip, 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-lkins and of
dried inteftines, fkins of fea-lions and fea-
calves for the coverings of baidars, wooden
mafks, darts, thread made of {mews and rein-
deer hair, which they get from the country
of Alalka.
Their houfhold utenfils are fquare pitchers
and large troughs, which they make out of
Oj the
Ip8 ACCOUNT OF THE
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 from a fmall board. In-
ftead of hatchets they ufe crooked knives of
flint or hone. Some iron knives, hatchets,
and lances, were obferved amongft them,
which they had probably obtained by plun
dering the Ruffians.
According to the reports of the oldeft in-
habitants 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 Alaihka, the
occaiion of which was as follows : The Toi-
gon of Umnak's foil had a maimed hand ;
and fome inhabitants of Alafhka, who came
upon a vifit to that ifland, fattened to his arm
a drum, ou,t of mockery, and invited him to
dance. The parents and relations of the boy
bting offended at this infult, a quarrel enfued ;
an^ from that time the two people have lived
\n continual enmity, attacking and plunder-
ing each other by turns. According to the
reports of the iflanders, there are mountains
upon Alafhka, and woods of great extent
at fome diftance from the coaft. The na-
tives
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. I0p
tlves wear clothes made of the fldns of rein-
deer, wolves, and foxes, and are not tributary
to any of their neighbours. The inhabitants
of the Fox-hlands feem to have no knowledge
of any country beyond Alafhka.
Feafts are very common among thefe ifland-
ers ; and more particularly when the inhabi-
tants 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 {ing and dance. At the con-
clufion of the dance the hofts invite them to
partake of the feaft ; after which ceremony
the former return firftto their dwellings, place
mats in order, and ferve up their beft provi-
iion. The guefts next enter, take their places,
and after they are fatisfied the diverfipns
begin.
Firft, the children dance and caper, at the
fame time making a noife with their fmall
drums, while the owners of the hut of both
fexes ling. Next, the men dance almoft na-
ked, 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
O 4 mean
ZOO ACCOUNT OF THE
mean time to fing and beat their drums. At laft
the fire is put out, which had been kindled for
the ceremony. The manner of obtaining fire is
by rubbing two pieces of dry wood, or moft
commonly by {hiking two flings tpgether,
and letting the iparks fall upon feme fea-ot-
ter's hair mixed with fulphur. If any for-
cerer is prefent, it is then his turn to play his
tricks in the dark ; if not, the guefls im-
mediately retire to their huts, which are made
on that occaiion of their canoes and mats.
The natives, who have feveral wives, do not
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
iervant.
Their hunting feafon is principally from
the end of October to the beginning of De-
cember, during which time they kill large
quantities of young fea-bears for their clothing.
They pats all December in feaflings and dj-
verfions fimilar to that above mentioned :
with this difference, however, that the men
dance in wooden maiks, reprefenting various
fca-animals, and painted red, green, or black,
with coarfe coloured earths found upon thefe
iflands.
During
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 2OI
During thefe feftivals they vifit each other
from village to village, and from ifland to
ifland. The feafts concluded, mafks and
4rums are broken to pieces, or depofited in
caverns among the rocks, and never after-
wards made ufe of. In fpr'mg they employ
themfelves in killing 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 lines they make ufe of
a firing 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 en-
counter, or bruifed by any accident, they ap-
ply 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 arrows 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. Their ceremonies of
burying th,e dead are as follow : The bodies
of poor people are wrapped up in their own
clothes,
2OS ACCOUNT OFTH&
clothes, or in mats ; then laid in a grave,
and covered over with earth. The bodies of
the rich are pur, together with their clothes
and arms, in a fmall 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 inhabi-
tants of the Aleutian Ifles are nearly fimilar
to thofe of the inhabitants of the Foxlflands.
The former indeed are rendered tributary,
and entirely fubject to-Rullia; and m oft of
them have a (light acquaintance with theRuf"
iian language, which they have learned from
the crews of the different veflels who have
Banded there.
PART
PART II.
CONTAIN ING
SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS
O F T H E
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
CHAP. I.
Extra ft from the journal of a voyage made by
Captain Krenitzin and Lieutenant Levafhef
to the Fox Iflands, /# 1768, 1769, by or-
der of the Emfrefs o/*Ruffia they fail from
Kamtchatka arrive at Bearing's and Cop-
per Iflands reach the Fox Iflands Krenit-
zin winters at Alaxa Levafhef upon Una-
laflika productions of Unalafhka defcrip-
tion of the inhabitants of the Fox Iflands
their manners and cujloms^ &c.
ON the 23d of July Captain Krenitzin
failed in the Galliot St. Catherine from
the mouth of the Kamtchatka river towards
America : he was accompanied by Lieutenant
Levafhef, in the Hooker St. Paul. Their
inftrudions were regulated by information
derived from Beering's expedition in 1741.
Shaping their courfe accordingly, they found
themfelves more to the North than they ex-
pected ; and were told by the Ruffian traders
and hunters, that a fimilar * miflake was com-
mitted
* This paflage is obfcurely exprefled. Its meaning may
be afcertained by comparing Krenitzin's chart with that of*
Beering'i voyage prefixed to Muller's account of the Ruffian
Difcoveries. The route of Kreuitzin's vefiel was confider-
ably
166 SUPPLEMENT Aft Y ACCOUNTS OF
mitted in the chart of that expedition. Thefd
traders, who for fome years paft were ac-
cuftomed 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 2yth they faw
Commodore's or Beering's Ifland, which is
low and rocky* efpecially to the S. W. On
this fide they obferved a fmall harbour, dif-
tinguifhed by two hillocks like boats, and
not far from it they found a frem-water lake.
To the S. E. lies another ifland, called by
the Ruffians Mednoi Oflrof, or Copper Ifland,
from a great quantity of copper found upon
its N E. coaft, the only fide which is known
to the Ruffians. It is warned up by the fea,
and covers the fliore 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 {tare, and many pieces
feem as if they had formerly been in fufion.
ably to the North of the colirfe held by Beefing and Tfc.hf-
rikof, and confequently he failed through the middle of
what they had fuppofed to be a continent, and which he
found to be au open lea. See Robertibn's Hillory of America,
p. ^61 j and p. 2 y> 28. of this work.
The
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
The ifland is not high, but has many hil-
locks, each of which has the appearance of
having formerly been the crater of a volcano.
We may here, once for all, obferve, that all
the iflands represented in this chart * abound
with fuch craters, called in Ruffian Sopka, in
fb much that no ifland, however fmall, was
found without one ; and many of them con-
lifted 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
after the lower dift.ric~t of Zutphen in Holland
was gained from the fea, it was covered over
with wild muftard. All thefe lands are fub-
ject to violent and frequent earthquakes, and
abound in fulphur. 7 he writer of the journal
was not able to inform us whether any lava
was found upon them ; but he fpeaks of a
party-coloured {lone as heavy as iron. From
this account it is by no means improbable,
* Namely, the charr prefixed to this journal.
that
2b8 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNf S OF
that the copper above-mentioned 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 track, was difcovered the chain o.
iflands or head-lands laid down in the chartf
Thefe in general appeared low, the fhore
bad, without creeks, and the water between
them very (hallow. During their courfe out-
wards, 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 it is very uncommon to have clear wea-
ther for five days together, even during fum-
mer.
The St. Catherine wintered in the (traits of
Alaxa, where they hauled her into (hoal wa-
ter. The inftrutions given to the captain fet
forth, that a private (hip had in 1762 found
there a commodious haven ; but he looked for
it in vain. The entrance of this (trait from the
N. E. was extremely difficult on account of
flats, and flrong currents both flood and ebb :
the entrance however from the S. E. was
afterwards found to be much eafier with not
lefs
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
lefs than 5! fathoms water. Upon furvey-
ing this ftrait, and the coaft of Alaxa, many
craters were obferved in the low grounds clofe
to the more ; and the foil produced few plants.
May not this allow us to fuppofe that the
coaft had fuffered confiderable changes fince
the year 1762 ? Few of the iflands produce
wood, and that only in the vallies by the
rivulets. Unalga and Alaxa contain the moft :
they abound with frem-water ftreams, and
even rivers ; from which we may infer that
they are extenfive. The foil is in general
boggy, and covered with mofs ; but Alaxa
has more foil, and produces much grafs.
The St. Paul wintered in Unalamka. This
wintering place was obferved to lie in 53
29' North latitude ; and its longitude from the
mouth of Kamtchatka river, computed by
the fhip's journal, was 27 05' Eaft *. Una-
lamka is about fifty miles long from N. E.
to S. W. and has on the N. E. fide three bavs.
t --~ *
One of them, called Udagha, ftretches thirty
miles E. N. E. and W. S. W. nearly through
the middle of the ifland. Another, called
* According to the general map of Ruffia, the mouth
of the Kamtchatka river is in 178 25' from Fero. Unalafh-
ka therefore, according to this eftimation, is 205 30' ft ona
Fero, or 187' 55' 15" from Greenwich.
P Jgunok,
2IO SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
Igunok, lying N. N. E. and S. S. W. is a
tolerably good harbour, with three and a half
fathom water at high tide, and landy ground.
It is well flickered from the North f well at its
entrance by rocks, fome of which are under
water. The tide flows here five feet at full
and change ; and the more is in general bold
and rocky, except in the bay, at the mouth
of a finall river. There are two burning
mountains on this liland, one called Ayaghim,
and the other (by the Ruffians) 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 extremely coarfe, and unfit for pafture.
Scarcely any w r ood is to be found on it. Its
plants are dwarf cherry (* Xylofteum of
Tournefort), wortle berry (Vaccinium Uligi-
nofum of Linnaeus), raiberry, farana and fhik-
fhu of Kamtchatka, and kutage, larch, white
poplar, pine, and birch -f. The land ani-
mals are foxes of different colours, mice,
* The Lonicera Pyrenaica ofLinni-us, It is not -a dwarf
cherry, but a fpecies of honeyfuckle.
f All the other journalifts uniformly defcribe Unalafhka
as containing nothing but underwood ; we muft therefore
fuppofe that the trees here mentioned were very low and
fmall ; and this agrees with what goes before, " fcarcely
" auy wood is to be found on it.'*
and
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 211
and weafels ; there are alfo beavers *, fea cats,
and fea lions, as at Kamtchatka. Among
their fifli we may reckon cod, perch, pil-
chards, (melts, roach, needle fim, terpugh,
and tchavitcha. The birds are eagles, par-
tridges, ducks, teals, urili, ari, and gadi.
The animals, for whofe Ruffian names I can
find no tranflations, are (excepting the Ari)
defcribed in KrafhininikofFs Hiftory of
Kamtchatka, or in Steller's relation contained
in the fecond volume of the Memoirs of the
Academy of St. Pefcerfburg.
The inhabitants of Alaxa, Umnak, Una-
lafhka, and the neighbouring iflands, are of
a middle ftature, tawny brown colour, and
black hair. In fummer they wear coats (parki^)
made of bird ikins, over which, in bad wea-
ther, and in their boats, they throw cloaks,
called kamlly made of thin whale guts. On
their heads they wear wooden caps, orna-
mented with ducks feathers, and the 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
* By beavers the journalifts certainly mean fea-ottcrs,
called by the Ruffians fea -beavers. See p. 13.
f Parki in Ruffian fignifies a ihirt, the coats of thefe
iflandcrs being made like fliirts.
P 2 bons
212 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OP
bone or ftone. In the partition of the nof-
trils they place a pin, about four inches long,
made of 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
festivals, rows of beads, one below the other.
They thruft beads, and bits of pebble cut
like teeth, into holes made in the under-lips.
They alfo wear firings 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
fKave the top of their heads like monks. Be-
hind, the hair is loofe. The drefs of the wo-
men fcarcely differs from that of the men, ex-
cepting that it is made of hfh-fkins. They
few with bone needles, and thread made of
fifli guts, fattening their work to the ground
before them with bodkins. They go with
the head uncovered, and the hair cut like
that of the men befo-re, 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 hang
beads round their neck, and checkered firings
round their arms and legs.
In
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 2 13
In their perfons we mould reckon them
extremely rfafry. They eat the vermin with
which their bodies are covered, and fwallow
the mucus from' the nofe. Having warned
themfelves, 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 bleed-
ing is neceffary, they open a vein with
lancets made of flint, and fuck the blood.
Their principal nourishment is fifh and
whale fat, which they commonly eat raw*
They alfo feed upon fea-wrack and roots,
particularly thefaran, a fpecies of lily ; they
eat an herb, called kutage, on account of its
bitternefs, only with fifh or fat. They fome-
times 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 prac-
tifed "at Kamtchatka *, and which Vakfel,
Beering's lieutenant, found to be in ufe in
o
* The muniment made ufe of "by the Kamtchadals, t
procure fire, is a board with feveral holes in it, and a ftick '
the latter is put into the holes, and turned about fwiftly*
until the -wood within the holes begins to burn, and the
fparks fall upon the tinder placed in fuch. a manner as to
receive them.
P 3 that
214 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
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 prevailed upon to tafte any fugar until
the commander mewed 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 feyeral families, to the amount of
thirty or forty perfons. 'J hey keep them-
felves warm by means of whale fat burnt in
ihells, which they place between their legs.
The women fit apart from the men.
Six or feven of thefe huts or yourts make
a village, of which thejre are fixteeu in Una-
lafhka. The iflands feem in general to be
well inhabited, as may be conjectured from
the great number of boats which are feen
continually plying along the more. There
nre 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,
az d by a famine in the year 1762 ; but moft
of
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 215
of all from a change in their way of life
No longer contented with their original fim-
plicity, 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 purpofc of procuring furs for the
Ruffians ; by which means, they neglect to
lay up a provifion of fim 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
ivhich they row to a great diftance from
land, are made, like thofe of the Itmuet or
Efquimaux, of thin flips of wood and (kins :
thefe (kins cover the tops 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 fifties : but this 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, or of wood tipped with (harpened
{lone: they ufe the ie lend of darts in war,
P 4 which
21 6- SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
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 mould expect from their neceffi-
tous fituation, extremely rude and - favage.
The inhabitants however of Unalafhka are
fomewhat lefs barbarous in their manners
and behaviour to each other, and alfo more
civil to {bangers than the natives of the other
iflands ; but even the former are engaged in
frequent and bloody quarrels, and commit
murder without the lead compunction. Their
difpofition engages them in continual warsv
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 moft fubject to thefe incurfions,
probably becaufe it is more populous and ex-
tenfive. They all agree in hating the Ruf-
fians, whom they confider as general inva-
ders, and therefore kill them wherever they
can. The people of Unalafhka however are
more friendly ; for Lieutenant Levafhef,
being informed that there was a Ruffian veffel
in the ftraits of Alaxa, prevailed on fome
A Una-
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 217
Unalafhkans to carry a letter, which they
undertook, notwithftanding the danger they
were expofed to from the inhabitants of the
intervening iflands,
The jourrialift fays, that thefe people have
no kind of religion, nor any notion of a
God. We obferve however among them fuf-
ficient marks of fuch a religion, as might
be expected from people in their fituation.
For the journalift informs us, that they have
fortune-tellers employed by them at their
feftivals. Thefe perfons pretend to foretel
events by the information of the Kugans or
Daemons. In their divinations they put on
wooden malks, 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 fkins.
The inhabitants alfo wear little figures on
their caps, and place others round their
huts, to keep oft fhe devils. Thefe are fuf-
ficient marks of a favage religion.
It is common for them to have two, three,
or four wives ; who 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,
i in
2l8 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
in time of dearth, for a bladder of fat.
The hufband afterwards endeavours to get
back his wife, if {he is a favourite, and in
cafe he is unfuccefsful he fometimes kills
himfelf. When ftrangers arrive at a village,
it is always cuftomary for the women to
meet them, while the men remain at home :
this is confidered as a pledge of friendship
and fecurity. When a man dies in the hut
belonging to his wife, (he retires into a dark
hole, where fhe remains forty days. The
hufband pays the fame compliment to his
favourite wife upon her death. When both
parents die, the children are left to fhift for
themfelves. The Ruffians found many in
this fituation, and fome were brought for
fale.
In each village there is a fort of chief
called Tookoo*: he decides differences by
arbitration, and the neighbours enforce the
fentence. When he embarks at fea he is
exempt from working, and has a fervant
called Kale, for the purpofe of rowing the
canoe : this is the only mark of his dignity j
at other times he labours like the reft. The
office is not hereditary ; but is generally con-
* This is probably a miftake for Toigon.
ferred
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 219
ferred on him who is moft remarkable for his
perfonal qualities ; or who poflefles a great
influence by the number of his friends.
Hence it frequently happens, that the per foil
who has the largeft family is chofen.
During their feftivals, which are lield at
the conclufion of the fifhing feafon 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 further
Eaft to Unimak, Kighigufi ; and thofe of
Unimak and Alaxa, Kataghayekiki. They
cannot tell from whence thefe appellations
are derived ; and now begin to call them-
felves by the general name of Aleyut, given
to them by the Ruffians, and borrowed
from fome of the * Kuril iflands. Upon
being afked concerning their origin, they
faid that they had always inhabited thefe
iflands, and knew nothing of any other
* I cannot find, that any of the Kuril Ifles are called
Aleyut in the catalogue of thofe iflands given by Mr.
Muller, S. R. G. III. p. 86 92. Neither are any of
them laid down under that name in the Rullian charts.
country
22O SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
country beyond them. All that could be
gathered 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 Hland
very far to the N.E. in boats, being out about
a fortnight, and fet up a crofs at the end of
their furvey. The boats of the iflanders are
like thofe of the Americans. It appears how-
ever from their cuftoms and way of life, fo
far as thefe are not neceffarily prefcribed to
them by their fituation, that they are of
Kamtchadal original. Their huts, their
manner of kindling fire, and other circum-
ftances, lead to this conjecture. Add to this,
the almoft continued Wefterly winds, which
muft render the paffage Weftward extremely
difficult. Beering and Tchirikoff could ne-
ver obtain Eafterly winds but by going to the
outhward.
The Ruffians have for fome years paft
been accu domed to repair to thefe iilands in
queft of furs, of which they have impofed a
tax on the inhabitants. The manner of car-
rying on this trade is as follows. The Ruffians
go in autumn to Beering' s and Copper Ifland,
and there winter; they then employ them-
felvcs
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 221
felves in catching the fea-cat, and after-
wards the Scivutcha, or fea-lion. The fle(h
of the latter is prepared for food, and is
efteemed very delicate. They carry the* (kins
of thefe fea-animals to the Eaftern iflands.
Next fummer they fail Eaftward, to the Fox-
iflands; and again lay their (hips 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 accomplished, they
deliver to the inhabitants fox-traps, and alfb
Ikins for their boats, for which they expect
in return furs and provifions during the win-
ter. After obtaining from them a certain
quantity of furs, by way of tax, for which
they give quittances ; the Ruffians pay for
the reft in beads, falfe pearls, goats wool,
copper kettles, hatchets, &c. In the fpring
they get back their traps, and deliver up
their hoftages. They dare not hunt alone,
nor in fmall 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
Ikins, which were not to be their own pro-
perty, but belonged to an abfent perfon ; for
their
222 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
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 Kamtchadals and Koriacs
who come with the Ruffians ; and on their
arrival love to aflbciate with people whofe
manner of life refembles their own.
Krenitzin and Levafhef returned from this
expedition into the mouth of Kamtchatka
river in autumn 1769.
The chart which accompanies this journal
was compofed by the pilot Jacob Yakof,
under the infpe&ion of the commanders
* Krenitzin and Levamef. The track of the
St. Paul is marked both in going out and
returning. The harbour of the St. Paul in
the ifland Unalamka, and the (traits of Alaxa,
are laid down from obfervations made du-
ring the winter 1768 ; and the iflands con-
nected by bearings and diftances taken du-
ring a cruife of the St. Paul twice repeated.
* Krenitzin was drowned foon after his return to Kamt-
ehatka, in a canoe belonging to the natives.
Ill
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 223
In this chart the variation is faid to be
In Lat. Long. Points
5 4 40'. 204. 2 Eaft.
52 20 201 if
52 50 198 if
53 20 192 30 i
53 40 i 88 i
54 50 182 30 . o|
55 oo 1 80 30 of
But the arrows in the compafs imply that
the variation is Wejl ; probably the miftake is
in the arrows.
CHAP. II.
Voyage of Lieutenant Synd to the North Eaft of
Siberia He dif covers a clujler ofi/lands, and
a promontory j 'which hefuppofes to belong to
the continent of America, lying near the
coajl / the Tfchutlki.
IN 1764 lieutenant Synd failed from
Okotfk, upon a voyage of difcovery to-
wards the continent of America. He was
ordered to take a different courfe from that
held by the late Ruffian vefleb, which la?
due Eaft from the coaft of Kamtchatka. As
he
224 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
he fleered therefore his courfe more to the
North Eaft than any of the preceding navi-
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 mortifi-
cation to me, that, while I raife the reader's
curiofity, I am not able fully to fatisfy it.
The following intelligence concerning this
voyage is all which I was able to procure.
It is accompanied with an authentic chart.
In 1764 Synd put to fea from the port of
Okotik, but did not pafs (we know not by
what accident) between the Southern Cape
of Kamtchatka and Shumu, the firft Kuril
Ifle, before 1766. He then (leered his courfe
North at no great diftance from the coaft of
the peninfula, but made very little progre'fs
that year ; for he wintered South of the river
Uka.
The following year he failed from Ukin-
iki Point due Eaft and North Eaft, until he
fell in with a clufter of iflands t ftretching
* See p. 28.
f Thefe are certainly fome of the iflands which the
Tfehutfki refort to in their way to what they call the con-
tinent of America.
between
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 225
between 6 1 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. Befide thefe fmall iflands, he difco-
vered alfo a mountainous coaft lying within
one degree of the conft of the Tfchutfki,
between 64 and 66 North latitude ; its moft
Weftern extremity was fituated in longitude
38 15' from Okotfk, or 199 i' fromFero.
This land is laid down in his chart as part of
the continent of America ; but we cannot de-
termine upon what proofs he grounds this
reprefentation, until a more circumflantial
account of his voyage is communicated to the
public. Synd feems to have made but a fhort
ftayafhore. Inftead of endeavouring to furvey
its coafts, or of fleering more to the Eaft, he
almoft inftantly lhaped his courfe due Wefl
towards the courfe of the Tfchutfki, then
turned directly South and South Weft, until
he came oppofite to Katyrfkoi Nofs. From
that point he continued to coaft the peninfula
of Kamtchatka ; doubled the cape ; and
reached Okotfk in 1768.
CHAP
226 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
CHAP. III.
Summary rf the proofs tending to Jhew, that
Bearing and Tfchirikof reached America
in 1741, or came very near 1 it.
TH E coaft which Beering reached, and
called Cape St. Elias, lay, according
to his estimation, in 58 28' N. latitude, and
in longitude 236 from Fero : the coaft
touched at by Tfchirikof was fituated in lat.
56 long. 241*.
Steller, who accompanied Beering in his
expedition towards America, endeavours to
prove, that they difcovered that continent by
the following arguments -j- : The coafts were
bold, prefenting continual chains of high
mountains, fome of which were fo elevated,
that their tops were covered with mow :
their fides were cloathed from the bottom
* The reader will find the narrative of this voyage made
by Beering and Tfrhirikoff in Muller's account of the Ruf-
fian Difcoveries, S. R. G. III. p. 193, &c.
f See Kraftiinimkoff's account of Kamtchatka, Chap. X
French Tranilation ; Chap. IV. Englifli tranflation.
to
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
to the top witb. large trails of thick and fine
wood *.
Steller went afhore, and although he re-
mained only a few hours, yet he obferved
feveral fpecies of birds which are not known
in Siberia : amongft thefe was the bird de-
fcribed by f C'atefby, 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 neigh-
bouring iflands, and at Kamtchatka; and he
colledted feveral plants, which are deemed by
botanifts peculiar to America.
The following lift of thefe plants was com-
municated to me by Mr. Pallas : I infert
them however without prefuming to decide,
* 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 undervvtod, one of the moft Eafterly Kadyak alone ex-
cepted, upon which fmall willows and alders were obferved
growing in vallies at fome diftance from the coaft. See
p. 137.
f See Catefby's Natural Hiflory of Florida, Carolina,
&c. This bird is called, by Linnseus, Corvus Chriftatus. 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 exaft defcription of
this bird. Whenever that ingenious author, to whom we
are indebted for many elegant and interefting publication?,
gives this part of his labours to the world, the zoology of
tUefe countries will be fully and accurately confidered
Q 2 whether
228 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
whether they are the exclufive growth of
North America : the determination of this
point is the province of botany.
Trillium Ereclum. Fumaria Cucullaria.
A fpecies of Dracontium, with leaves like the
Canna Indica. Uvularia Perfoliata. Heu-
chera Americana. Mimulus Luteus, a Peru-
vian plant. A fpecies of Rubus, probably
a variety of the Rubus Idasus, but with larger
berries, and a large lacinated red calyx. None
of thefe plants are found in Kamtchatka, or
in any of the neighbouring iflands *.
Though thefe circumftances fhould not be
confidered as affording decilive proofs, that
Beering reached America ; yet they will
* According to Mr. Pallas, the plants of the Ncw-dif-
covered Iflands are inoftly alpine, like thofe of Siberia ;
this he attributes to the fhortnefs and coldnefs of thefum-
iner, occafioned by the frequency of the North winds.
His words are : " Quoique les hivers de ces ifles foient
afiez temperes par 1'air de la mer, de fa^on que les neiges
ne couvrent jamais la terre que par incervalles, la plupart
des plantes y font alpines, comme en Siberie, par la raifon
que 1'etey eft auffi 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-dif-
covered Iflands, communicated to me by my very learned
and ingenious friend Mr. Pallas, profelTor of natural hif-
tory at St. Peterfburg ; from which I have been enabled
to collect a confiderable degree of information. This trea-
tife was fent to Monf. Biiffon ; and that celebrated na-
turalift has made great ufe of it in the fifth volume of his
Supplement a 1'Hiiloire Naturelle.
furely,
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 229
furely be admitted as ftrong preemptions,
that he very nearly approached that con-
tinent *.
CHAP. IV.
Pojitwn of the AndreanofFsky Ifles after 'tamed
Number of the Aleutian Ifles.
WHEN the anonymous author pub-
lifhed his account of the Ruffian
Difcoveries in 1766, the pofition of the An-
dreanoffsky Ifles was not afcertained. It was
generally fuppofed, that they formed part of
that clufter of iflands, which Synd f fell in
with in his voyage towards Tfchukotlkoi
Nofs ; and Buffon J reprefents them to be
the fame with thofe laid down in Staehlin's
chart, under the name of Anadirfky Ifles.
The anonymous author, in the paflage here
* The reader will recollect in this place, that the na-
tives of the contiguous iflands touched at by Beering and
Tfchirikof " presented to the Ruffians the calumet, or
*' pipe of peace, which is a lymbol of friendship univerfal
" among the people of North America, and an ufage of
" arbitrary inftitution peculiar to them." See Robertfon's
Hift.Am.vol. I. p. 276. S. R. G. III. p. 214.
f Seep. 223, 224, 225.
\ Ifles Anadyr ou Andrien. Supp. vol. V. p. 591.
Q 3 referred
230 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
referred to, fuppofes them to be N. E. of the
Aleutian Ifles ; '* at the diftance of 600 or
" 800 verfts ; that their direction is probably
" Eaft and Weft, and that fome of them
** may unite with that part of the Foxlflands
*' which are moft contiguous to the oppofite
*' continent." This conjecture was advanced
upon a fuppofition that the AndreanofTsky
Ifles lay near the coaft of the Tfchutiki ; and
that fome of the Fox I (lands were fituated in
latitude 6r, as they are laid down upon the
general map of Ruffia. But according to
fubfequent information the Andreanofifsky
Ifles lie between the Aleutian and the 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 fcattered feries towards the Fox
Iflands. The moft North Eafterly of thefe
iflands are faid to be fo near the moft South-
erly of the Fox Iflands, that they feem bc-
cafionally to have been taken for them. An
inftance of this occurs in p. 61 and 62 of
* P. 64. Some of the remoter iflands are faid to be
E. S. E. of the Aleutian Ifles j thefe muft be either part
of the Aadreanoffsky Ifles, or the moft Southerly of the Fox
Iflands.
this
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 231
this work ; where Atchu and Amlak arc
reckoned among the Fox Iflands. It is how-
ever more probable, that they are part of the
group called by the Aleutian chief Negho *,
and known to the Ruffians under the name
of Andreanoffsky Iflands, becaufe they were
fuppofed to have been firfl difcovered by
Andrean Tolftyk, whofe voyage is related
in the feventh chapter of the Firfl Part.
I take this opportunity of adding, that the
anonymous author, in defcribing the Aleu-
tian Ifles, both in the firfl and laft chapter
of the account of the Ruffian difcoveries,
mentions only three ; namely, Attak, Se-
mit(hi, Shemiya. But the Aleutian Ifles
confifl of a much larger number ; and their
chain includes all the iflands comprehended
by the iflander in the two groups of Khao
and Safignan f. Many of them are laid down
upon the general map of Ruffia ; and lome
of them are occasionally alluded to in the
journals of the Ruffian voyages J.
* Seep. 239.
t See p. 238, 239.
J Seep. 31, and particularly p. 50, where fome of thefc
iflands are mentioned under the names of Ibiya, Kilka,
and Olas.
Q 4 CHAP.
CHAP. V.
Conjectures concerning the proximity of the
Fox Iflands to the continent of America.
TH E anonymous author, in the courfe
of his account of the Ruffian difco-
veries, endeavoured to prove, by many cir-
cumftances drawn from natural hiftory, that
the Fox Iflands muft lie near the continent
of America : hence he grounds his conjec-
ture, 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, ac-
cording to Glottof, were found growing up-
on Kadyak, do not appear to have been fuffi-
cient either in fize or quantity to afcertain,
with any degree of certainty, the clofe vici-
nity 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 : mar-
tens
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 233
tens were alfo caught there, an animal which
is not known in the Eaftern parts of Siberia,
nor found upon any of the other iflands. All
the abovementioned animals, martens alone
excepted, were feen upon Alakfu, which is
fituated more to the North Eaft than Kadyak,
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
Ataktak, lying ftill more to the N. E. which
were prevalent among the inhabitants of
Alakfu and Kadyak.
Although thefe circumftances have been
already mentioned *, yet I have thought pro-
per to recapitulate them here, in order to lay
before the reader in one point of view the
feveral proofs advanced by the anonymous
author, 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,
muft be left to the judgment of the reader ;
and remains to be afcertained by fubfequent
* See p. 76 and 77 ; 134 137; 198.
navi-
SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
navigators. All that we know for certain is,
that, as far as any Ruffian veflels have hither-
to failed, a chain of iflands has been difco-
vered lying E. or N.E. by E. from Kamt-
chatka, and ftretching towards America.
Part of this chain has only been touched at ;
the reft is unknown ; and all beyond is un-
certainty and conjecture.
CHAP. VI.
Of the Tfchutfki Reports of the vicinity of
America to their coajl, firjl propagated by
them, feem to be confirmed by late accounts
from t ho fe parts.
THE Tfchutiki, it is well known, in-
habit the North Eaftern part of Siberia :
their country is a fmall tracl: of land, bounded
on the North by the Frozen Sea, on the Eaft
by the Eaftern Occean ; on the South it
borders upon the 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
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 235
who have not yet been fubdued by the Ruf-
fians.
The anonymous author agrees with Mr.
Muller in fuppofing, that America advances
to within a fmali diftance of the coaft of the
Tfchutfki ; which, he fays, " is confirmed by
" the lateft accounts procured from theie
" parts."
The firft intelligence concerning the fup-
pofed vicinity between Afia and America was
derived from the reports of the Tfchutlki in
their intercourfe with the Ruffians. Vague
and uncertain accounts, drawn from a bar-
barous people, cannot deferve implicit credit ;
but as they have been uniformly and invari-
ably propagated by the inhabitants 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 Hiflory of America.
Their probability feems ftill further increafed
by the following circumftances. One Ple-
nifner, a native of Courland, was appointed
* Hift. of America, vol, 1, p. 274. 277.
com-
236 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
commander of Okotfk, in the year 1760,
with an exprefs order from the court to pro-
ceed as far as * Anadirfk, and to procure all
poffible intelligence concerning the North
Eaftern part of Siberia, and the oppofite con-
tinent. In confequence of this order, Pie-
nifner repaired to Anadirfk, and proceeded
likewife to Kovimfkoi Oftrog : the former of
thefe Ruffian fettlements is fituated near the
Southern, the latter near the Weftern limits
of the Tfchutfki. Not content however with
collecting all the information in his power
from the neighbouring Koriacs, who have
frequent intercourfe with the Tfchutfki ; he
alfo fent into their country one Daurkin, a
f *
native Tfchutfki, who had been taken prifoner,
and bred up by the Ruffians. Daurkin con-
tinued 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 intelli-
gence brought by this man was as follows :
that Tfchukotfkoi-Nofs is a very narrow
peninfula ; that the Tfchutfki carry on a trade
of barter with the inhabitants of America ;
* Anadirlk has been lately deftroyed by the Ruffians
thcmfelves.
4 that
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 237
that they employ fix days in paffing the ftrait
which feparates the two continents ; that
they direct their courfe from Hland to ifland ;
and that the diftance from the one to the
other is fo fmall, that they are able to pafs
every night afhore. More to the North, he
defcribcs the two continents as approaching
ftill nearer to each other, with only two iflands
lying between them.
This intelligence remarkably coincided
with the accounts collected by Plenifner him-
felf among the Koriacs. Plenifner returned
to Peteriburg in i 776, and brought with him
feveral* maps and charts of the North Eaftern
parts of Siberia, which were afterwards
ufed in the compilation of the general map
of Ruffia, published by the academy in 1776-}-.
By
* The moft importnnt of thefe maps comprehends the
country of the Tlchutfki, together with the nations which
border immediately upon them This map was chiefly
taken during .1 iecond expediiion made by major Paulofsky
againft the Tfchntfki ; and his march into that country is
traced upon it. "The firll expedition of that Ruffian officer,
in which he penetrated as far as Tfchukotskoi-Xofs, is re-
lated by Mr. Mnller, S. R. G. llf. p. 134 138. We have
no account of this iecond expedition, during which he had
feverai ikirmifhes with the Tfchutski, and came off victori-
ous ; but upon his return was furprifed and killed by them.
This expediton was made about the year 1750.
t The circumftances mentioned in the text were com.
municated to me during my continuance at Petcrfburg by
fcvcril
23$ SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OP
By thefe means the country of the Tfchut-
Iki has been laid down with a greater degree
of accuracy than heretofore. Thefe are pro-
bably the late accounts from thofe parts
which the anonymous author alludes to.
CHAP. VII.
L^ft cf the New-difcovered I/lands, procured
from an Aleutian chief- Catalogue of I/lands
called by different names in the Account of the
Ruffian Difcovcries.
TH E fubfequent lift of the New-difco-
vered I (lands was procured from an
Aleutian chief brought to Peterfburg in i/Jij
and examined at the defire of the Emprefs by
Mr. Muller, who divides them into four
principal groups. He regulates this divilion
partly by a fimilarity of the language fpoken
by the inhabitants, and partly by vicinity of
fituation.
The firft group *, called by the iflander
Safignan, comprehends, i. Beering's Ifland-
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.
* Thefe two firil groups probably belong to the Aleutian
Ifles.
2. Copper
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 239
2. Copper Ifland. 3. Otma. 4. Samya, or
Shemiya. 5 Anakta.
The fecond group is called Khao, and com-
prifes eight iflands : I. Immak. 2. Kifka.
3 Tchetchina. 4. Ava. 5. Kavia. 6.
Tfchagulak. 7. Ulagama. 8. Amtfchidga.
The third general name is Negho, and com-
prehends the iflands known by the Ruffians
under the name of Andreanofsky Oftrova :
fixteen were mentioned by the iflander, under
the following names :
i. Amatkinak. 2. Ulak. 3. Unalga. 4.
Navotfha. 5. Uliga. 6. Anagin. 7. Kagu-
lak. 8. Illaik, or Illak. 9. Takavanga, up-
on which is a volcano. 10. Kanaga, which
has alto a volcano, u. Leg. 12. Shetmuna.
13. Tagaloon : near the coaft of the three laft
mentioned iflands feveral fmall rocky ifles are
fituated. 14. An ifland without a name, cal-
led by the Ruffians Goreloi *. 15. Atchu.
1 6. Amla.
The fourth group is denominated Kava-
lang, and comprehends fixteen iflands : thefe
* Goreloi is fuppofed by the Ruffian navigators to be
the fame ifland as Atchu, and is reckoned by them among
the Foxlilands. See p, 08, and p. 229.
are
24 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
are called by the Ruffians Lyffie Oftrova, or
the Fox Iflands.
i. Amukta. 2. Tfchigama. 3. Tfche-
gula. 4. Uniftra. 5. Ulaga. 6. Tana-
gulana. 7. Kagamin. 8. Kigalga. 9.
Schelmaga. 10. Umnak. 1 1. Aghun-Alafli-
ka. 12. Unimga. At a fmall difta nee from
Unimga, towards the North, ftretches a pro-
montory called by the iflanders the Land of
Black Foxes, with a fmall river called Alam-
ka, which empties itfelf oppofite to the laft-
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. 15. Semidit. 16. Senagak.
Many of thefe names are not found either
in journals or charts : while others are want-
ing in this lift which are mentioned in both
journals and charts. Nor is this to be won-
dered at ; for the names of the Iflands have
been confiderably 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 instances of thefe changes feem to
occur
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 241
occur in the account of the Ruffian Difco-
varies : namely,
Att, Attak, and Ataku.
Shemiya and Sabiya.
Atchu, Atchak, Goreloi or Burned Ifland.
Amlak, Amleg.
Ayagh, Kayaku.
Alakfu, Alagmak, Alachfhak.
Aghunalafhka, Unalafhka.
CHAP. V1TL
Attempts of the Ruffians to dijcover a North
Eaft paflage Voyages from Archangel to-
wards the Lena From the Lena towards
Kamtchatka Extraft from Muller's ac-
count of DefchnefFs voyage round Tfchu-
kotfkoi Nofs Narrative of a voyage made
by Shalauroffyr0/ the Lena to Shelatfkoi
Nofs.
TH E only communication hitherto
known between the Atlantic and Pa-
cific Ocean, or between Europe and the Eaft
Indies, is made either by failing round the
Cape of Good Hope, or by doubling Cape
Horn. But as both thefe navigations are ex-
tremely tedious, the great object of feveral
late European voyages has been turned to-
R wards
242 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
wards the difcovery of a North Eaft or a
North Weft paffage. As this work is entirely
confined to the Ruffian navigations, any dif-
quiiition concerning the North Weft paffage
is totally foreign to the purpofe ; and for the
fame reafon in what relates to the North Eaft,
thefe researches extend only to the attempts of
the Ruffians for the difcovery of that paffage*
The advocates for the North Eaft paflage
have divided that navigation into three prin-
cipal parts ; and by endeavouring to mew
that the three parts have been feparately
paffed at different times, they conclude,
that the whole navigation is not impracticable.
The three parts are, i. from Archangel
to the Lena ; 2. from the Lena to Kamt-
chatka ; 3. from Kamtchatka to Japan.
With refpecl to the latter, the connection
between the feas of Kamtchatka and Japan
firft appeared from fome Japanefe veflels
wrecked upon the coaft of Kamtchatka in
the beginning of this century ; and this com-
munication has been unqueftionably proved
from feveral voyages made by the Ruffians
from Kamtchatka to Japan *.
No one ever afferted that the firft part from
Archangel to the Lena was ever performed in
one voyage ; but feveral perfons having ad-
* S. R. G. III. p. 78, and p. 166, &c.
vanced
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 243
vanced that this navigation has been perform-
ed by the Ruffians at different times, it be-
comes neceifary to examine the accounts of
the Ruffian voyages in thofe feas.
In 1734 lieutenant Morovief failed from
Archangel toward the river Oby ; and got no
farther the firft year than the mouth of the
Petchora. The next fummer he paired through
the ftraits of Weygatz into the fea of Kara ;
and coafted along the Eaflern fide of that fea,
as high as latitude 72 30', but did not double
the promontory which feparates the fea of
Kara from the bay of Oby. In 1738, the
lieutenants Malgyn and Skurakof doubled
that promontory with great difficulty, and
entered the bay of Oby. During thefe ex-
peditions the navigators met with great dan-
gers and impediments from the ice. Several
unfuccefsful attempts were made to pafs
from the bay of Oby to the Yenisei, which
was at lafl effeted in 1738 by two veflels
commanded by lieutenants Offzin and Kof-
kelef. The fame year the pilot Feodor Me-
nin failed from the Yenisei towards the Lena :
he fleered North as high as lat. 72. i 5' '. but
when he came to the mouth of the Pifida
R2 he
244 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
he was flopped by the ice ; and finding it
impoffible to force a paffage, he returned to
the Yenisei *.
July, 1735, lieutenant Prontfhiftfhef failed
from Yakutfk up the Lena to its mouth, in
order to pafs by fea to the Yenisei. The
Weflern mouths of the Lena were fochoaked
with ice, that he was obliged to pafs through
the mofl Eaflerly one ; and was prevented by
contrary winds from getting out until the
1 3th of Augufl. Having fleered North Weft
along the iflands 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 Eafl ; and obferved ice-mountains
from twenty-four to fixty feet in height.
He fleered betwixt the ice, which in no place
left a free channel of greater breadth than
an hundred or two hundred yards. The
veflel being much damaged, on the ifl of
September he ran up the mouth of theOlenek,
which, according to his eftimation, lies in
72 30', near which place he patted the
winter f
He got out of the Olenek the beginning
of Augufl in the following year ; and arrived
* s. R.G. in. p. 14510 149.
f Gmelin Reiie, II. 425 to 427.
Oil
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 245
oh the third at the mouth of the Anabara,
which he found to lie in lat. 73 i'. There
he continued until the loth, while fome of
the crew reconnoitred the country in fearch of
fome mines. On the roth he proceeded on his
voyage : before he reached the mouth of the
Katanga, he was fo entirely furrounded and
hemmed in with ice, that it was not with-
.out great difficulty and danger he was able to
get loofe. He then obferved a large field of
ice flretching into the fea, on which account
he was obliged to continue near the more,
and to run up the Khatanga. The mouth of
this river was in lat. 74 9'. From thence he
bent his courfe moftly Northward along the
more, until he reached the mouth of the
Taimura on the i8th. He then proceeded
further, and followed the coaft towards the
Piafida. Near the more were feveral fmall
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 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 which and
R 3 the
246 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
the more, as well as on its northern fide, the
ice was firm and immovable. He attempted
however to fleer ftill more to the North ; and
having advanced about fix miles, he was pre-
vented by a thick fog from proceeding. This
fog being difperfed, he faw on each fide, and
before him, nothing but ice ; that towards
the fea was not fixed ; but the accumulated
mafles were all fo clofe, that the fmalleft vef-
fel could not have worked its way through.
Still attempting however to pafs to the
North, he was forced by the ice N. E. Ap-
prehenfive of being hemmed in, he returned
to the Taimura ; and from thence got, with
much difficulty and danger, to the Olenek,
on the 29th of Auguft.
This narrative of the expedition is extracted
from the account of profeflbr * Gmelin : ac-
cording to Mr. Muller -f, who has given a
curfory relation of the fame voyage, Pront-
fhiftfhef 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 them were
fo choaked with ice, that it was impoilible to
force a paflage : after fteering as high as lat.
77 25', he found fuch a plain of fixed ice
* Gmelin Reife, vol. II. p. 427 to p. 434.
f S. R.G. III. p. 14;, 150.
before
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 247
before him, that he had no profpect of get-
ting any farther. Accordingly he returned
to the Olenek.
Another voyage, to pafs from the Lena to
the Yenisei in 1/39, was attempted byKhari-
ton Laptief, 'with the fame bad fuccefs ; and
he relates, that between the rivers Piafida
and Taimura there is a promontory which he
could not double, the fea being entirely
frozen before he could pafs round *.
From all thefe circumflances we muft col-
lect, that the whole fpace between Arch-
angel and the Lena has never yet been na-
vigated ; for in going Eaft from the Yenisei
the Ruffians could get no farther than the
mouth of the Piafida ; and, in coming
Weft from the Lena, they were flopped, ac-
cording toGmelin, North of the Piafida ; and,
according to Muller, Eaft of the Taimura.
The Ruffians, who fail almoft annually
from Archangel, and other towns, to Nova
Zemla, for the purpofe of catching fea-horfes,
feals, and white bears, make to the Weftern
Coaft ; and no Ruffian veflel has ever palled
round its North Eaftern extremity "j%
* Gmelin Reife, p. 440. Mr. Muller lays only, that
Laptief met \vith the fame obftacles which forced Vront-
fhiitfhcf to return. S. R. G. III. p. 1 50.
f Although this work is confined to the Ruffian D'.fco-
Yeries, yet as theN. E. paffage is a fubjedt of i'uch intereft-
R 4 ing
248 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
The navigation from the Lena to Kamt-
chatka now remains to be confidered. If .we
may
ing curiofity, it might feem an omiffion in not mentioning,
that feveral Englifli and Dutch veffels have paffed through
the Straits of Weygatz into the fea of Kara : they all met
with great obftruftions from the ice, and had much diffi-
culty 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 des Trois Voyages de Mer, p. 1 3
to 45 ; and Hift. Gen. des Voy. torn. XV. p. 1 1 1 to 139.
No veffel of any nation has ever pafled 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 al-
ready fcen that no Ruffian veffel has ever got from the Pia-
fida to the Katanga, or from the Katanga to the Piafida ;
and yet fome authors have pofinvely afferted, that this
promontory has been doubled. In order therefore to elude
the Ruffian accounts, which clearly affert the contrary ; it
is pretended, that Gmelin and Muller have purpofely con-
cealed fome parts of the Ruffian journals, and have im-
pofed upon the world by a mifreprefentation of facts. But
without entering into any difpute on this head, I can ven-
ture to affirm, that no fufFicient proof has been as yet ad-
vanced in fupport of this aflertion ; and therefore, until
fome pofitive information {hall be produced, we cannot deny
plain facts, or prefer hearfay evidence to circumftantial 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 man-
ner, that two Dutch veflels formerly pa fled three hundred
leagues to the North Eaft of Nova Zemla - } Jivm whence
he
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES.
may believe fome authors, this navigation has
been open for above a century and an half ;
and
he infers, that they muft have doubled the abovemen-
tioned Cape, which extends to the North of the Piafida,
and have got at leaft as far Eail as the mouth of the Ole-
nek. His words are, L'illuftre Societe Royale^ fous I'au
1675, rapporte ce voyage, et dit, que peu d'annees aupara-
vant une Societe de merchands d'Amfterdam avoit fait une
tentative pour chercher le paflage du Nord Eft, et equippa
deux vaifleaux les quelsetant pafle aufeptante neuf ou hui-
tantieme degre de latitude, avoient -poufse felon Wood,
jufqu' a trois cent lieues a I'Eft de la Novelle Zemble, &c.
&c. Upon this fact he founds his proof that the navigation
from Archangel to the Lena has been performed. Par con-
fequent cette partie de la route a etc faite. He refts the
truth of this account on the authority of the Philofophical
Tranfa&ions, and of Captain Wood, who failed upon a
voyage for the difcovery of the North Eaft paflage in 1676.
The latter, in the relation of his voyage, enumerates fe
veral arguments which induced him to believe the practica-
bility of the North-Eaftpaflage, "The feventh argument,"
he fays, " was another narration, printed in the Tranf--
" aftions, of two fhips of late that had attempted the paf-
*' fage, failed 300 leagues to the Eafuvard of Nova Zemla,
" and had after profccuted the voyage, had there not a
" difference arofe betwixt the undertakers and the Eaft-
** India company." We here find that Captain Wood re-
fers to the Philofophical Tranfadions for his authority.
The narrat;on printed in the Tranfactions, and which is al
hided to by both Caprain Wood and Mr. Engel, is to be
found in Vol.TX. of the Philofophical Tranfaclions, p, 209,
for December 1674. It con fills of a very curious " Nar-
" rative of fome ohfervations made upon feveral^voyages,
" undertaken to find a way lor failing about the North to
" the Eaft-Indies ; together with inftriiiflions given by
*' the Dutch Eaft-India Company for the difcovery of the
** famous land of JeiTo near Japan," Thefe inilrullons
were, in 1643, given to Martin Geritfes Vries, captai:i of
the
and feveral veflels have at different times
pafled round the North Eaftern extremity of
Afia.
the fli'ip Caftricum, " who fet out to difcover the unknown
" Eaftern coaft of Tartaiy, the kingdom of Kata, and the
" Weft coaft of America, together with the ifles fituate
" to the Eaft of Japan, cried up for their riches of gold
*' and filver." Thefe inftru&ions contain no relation of
two Dutch veflels, which pafled 300 leagues Eaft of Nova
Zemla. Mention is indeed made of two Dutch veflels,
** who were fent out in the year 1639, under the command
" of Captain Kwaft, to difcover the Eaft coaft of the Great
*' Tartaiy, efpecially the famous gold and filver iflands ;
** though, by reafon of feveral unfortunate accidents,
*' they both returned re infecla." Short mention is after"
wards made of Captain Kwail's journal, together with the
writings of the merchants who were with him, as follows :
" That in the South Sea, at the 37^ degrees Northern-
" latitude, and about 400 Spanifb, or 343 Dutch miles,
" that is, 28 degrees longitude Eaft of Japan, there lay a
*' very great and high iftand, inhabited by a white, hand-
" feme, kind, and civilized people, exceedingly opulent in
" gold and filver, c. &c."
From thefe extrafts it appears, that, in the fhort ac-
count of the journaJs of the, two Dutch veflels, no longi-
tude is mentioned to the Eaft of Nova Zemla ; but the dif-
coverics of Kwaft were made in the South fea, t;o which
place he, as well as Captain Vries afterwards, vnuft have
failed round the Cape of Good Hope. The an.thor of the
narrative concludes indeed, that the N. E. pa'/Jage is prac-
ticable, in the following words : " To promote this paflage
*' out of the Eaft-Indics to the North into Europe, it were
** neceffory to fail from the Eaft-Indies tr> rhc Weilward of
*' Japan, all along Ctrea, to fee how t'.ie fea-eoafts tend to
" the North ot the faid Corea, andwi.th what conveniency
** fliips might fail as far as Nova Zem ja, and to the North
'* of the lame. Where our author faith, that undoubtedly
" it would be found, that having patted the North corner
** of Nova Zemla, or, th rough \Veygatz, the North end
" of Yelmer land, one might go on South-Eaftvvard, and
'* make
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 247
Ada. But if we confult the Ruffian accounts,
we (hall find, that frequent expeditions have
been unqueftionably made from the Lena to
the Kovyma ; but that the voyage from the
Kovyma round Tfchukotikoi 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 * :
" In 1648 feven kotches or veflels failed
from the mouth of the river Kovyma f, in
order to penetrate into the Eaftern Ocean.
Of thefe, four were never more heard of:
<e make a fuccefsful voyage." But mere conjectures can-
not be admitted as evidence. As we can find no other
information relative to the fact mentioned by Captain Wood
and Mr. Engel, (namely, that two Dutch veflels have paf-
fed 300 leagues to the Eaft of Nova Zemla), we have no
reafon to credit mere aflertions without proof : we may
therefore advance as a fact, that hitherto we have no
authentic account, that any veflel has ever palTed the cape
to the Eaft of Nova Zemla, which lies North of the river
Piafida. See Relation of Wood's Voyage, &c. in the Ac-
count of feveral late Voyages and Discoveries to the South
and North, &c. London, 1694, p. 148. See alib Engel,
Mem. et Obf. Geo. p. 23 r 234.
* I mould not have iwelled my book with this extract,
if the Englifli tranflation of Mr. Mullers work was not
extremely erroneous in fome material paflages. S. R. G,
III. p. 820.
-J- Mr. Muller calls it Kolyma.
2 the
252 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
the remaining three were commanded by
Simon Deflinef, Gerafim Ankudinof, two
chiefs of the Coflacs, and Fedot Alexeef, the
head of the Promyfhlenics. Deflinef and
Ankudinof quarrelled before their departure :
this difpute was owing to the jealoufy of
Deflinef, who was unwilling that Ankudi-
nof fhould fliare with him the honour, as
well as the profits, which might refult from
the expedited difcoveries. Each veflel was
probably manned with about thirty perfons ;
Ankudinof s, we certainly know, carried that
number. Deflinef promifed before-hand a
tribute of feven fables, to be exacted from
the inhabitants on the banks of Anadyr ; 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 2oth of June, 1648, the three vef-
fels failed upon this remarkable expedition
from .the river Kovyma. Confidering the
little knowledge we have of the extreme
regions of Alia, it is much to be regretted*
that all the incidents of this voyage are not
circum-
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 253
circumftantially related. Defhnef *, in an
account of his expedition fent to Yakutfk,
feems
* Tn order thoroughly to underftand this narrative, it is
neceffary to inform the reader, that the voyage made by
Defhnef was entirely forgotten until the year 1736, when
Mr. Muller found, in the archives of Yakutfk, the ori-
ginal accounts of the Ruffian navigations in the Frozen
Ocean.
Thefe papers were extracted, under his infpection, at
Yakutfk, and fent to Petersburg ; where they are now pre-
ferved in the library belonging to the Imperial Academy
of Sciences: they confift of feveral folio volumes. The
circumftances relating to Deflinef are contained in the fecond
volume. Soliverftof and Stadukin, having laid claim to the
difcovery of the country on the mouth of the Anadyr, had
aflerted, in confequence of this claim, that they had ar-
rived there by fea, after having doubled Tfchukotskoi
Nofs. Defhnef, in anfwer, fent feveral memorials, peti-
tions, and complaints, againft Stadukin and Soliverftof,
to the commander of Yakutsk, in which he fets forth, that
he had the fole right to that difcovery, and refutes the ar-
guments advanced by the others. From thefe memorials
Mr. Muller has extracted his account of Defhnef's voyage.
When I was at Peteriburg, I had an opportunity of feeing
thefe papers : and as they are written in the Ruffian lan-
guage, I prevailed upon my ingenious friend Mr. Pallas to
infpecl: the part which relates to Deflinef. Accordingly
Mr. Pallas, with his ufual readinefs to oblige, not only
compared the memorials with Mr. Muller's account, but
even took the trouble to make fome extracts from the moil
material parts : thefe extracts are here fubjoined ; becaufc
they will not only ferve to confirm the exadnefs of Mr.
Muller, but alfo becaufe they tend to throw fome light on
feveral obfcure paflages. In one of Defhnef's memorials he
fays, ** To go from the river Kovyma to 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
Jt, arrived at this great promontory : near it are two
** iflands,
i>54 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OP
feems only as it were accidentally to hint at
his adventures by Tea : he takes no notice of
any
" iflands, whofe inhabitants make holes in their under-
" lips, and infert therein pieces of the fea-horfe tufli,
*' worked into the .form of teeth. This promontory
*' firetches between North and North Eaft, : it is known
** on the Ruffian fide by the little river Stanovie, which
" flows into the fea, near the fpot where the Tfchutski
" have erected a heap of whale-bones like a tower. The
'* coaft from the promontory turns round towards the
*' Anadyr, and it is poffible with a good wind to fail from
*' the point to that river in three days and nights : and
" it will take up no more time to go by land to the fame
" river, becaufe it difcharges itfelf into a bay." In an-
other memorial Defhnef fays, " that he was ordered to
** go by fea from the Indigirka to the Kovyma ; and
* from thence with his crew to 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 (hipping, arrived at
* { laft at the mouth of the Anadyr. Stadukin, having in
" vain attempted to go by fea, afterwards ventured to
" pafs over the chain of mountains then unknown j and
.** reached by that means the Anadyr. Soliverftof and
" his party, who quarrelled with Deflmef, 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 dangerous to pafs
" amidft the tribes of Koriacs and Yukagirs, who had
'* been lately reduced by the Ruffians."
In another memorial Deflmef complains bitterly of So-
livtrftof ; and aflerts, " that one Severka Martemyanof,
" who, had been gained over by Soliverftof, was fent to
" Yakutsk, with an account that he (Soliverftof ) had o'if-
*' cr\' ix d the coafts to the North of the Anadyr, where
41 lar^e numbers of iea-horfes are found," Deflmef here-
upon
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 255
any occurrence imtill he reached the great
promontory of the Tfchutfki ; he men-
tions no obftructions from the ice, and pro-
bably there were none -, for he obferves, upon
another occafion, that the fea is not every
year fo free from ice as it was at this time.
He commences his narrative with a defcrip-
tion of the great promontory : " It is,"
fays he, " very different from that which
" is fituated Weft of the Kovyma, near the
*' river Tfchukotlkia. It lies between North
" and North Eaft, and bends, in a circular
" direction, towards the Anadyr. Itisdiftin-
" guifhed on the Ruffian (namely, the Wef-
" tern) fide by a rivulet which falls into
" the fea, clofe to which the Tfchutfki
" have raifed a pile, like a tower, with the
" bones of whales. Oppofite the promon-
" tory (it is not faid on which fide) are two
xipon fays,*" that Soliverftof and Stadukin never reached
44 the rocky promontory, which is inhabited by numerous
" bodies of the Tfchutlki ; over-againft which are iflands
whofe inhabitants wear artificial teeth thruft through.
their under lips. This is not the firft promontory from
the river Kovyma, called Svatoi Nofs ; but another far
more confiderable, and very well known to him (Defhnef ),
bccaufe the vefiel of Ankudinof was wrecked there, and
becaufe he had there taken prifoners fome of the psople
** who were rowing in their boats ; and feen the iflanders
" with teeth in their lips. He alfo well knew, that it was
'* ilill far from that promontory to the river Anadyr."
256 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
44 iflands, on which he obferved people of
<c the nation of the Tfchutfki, who had
<c pieces of the fea horfe tooth thru ft into
" holes made in their lips. With a good wind
" it is poflible to fail from this promontory to
" the Anadyr in three days ; and the jour-
* f ney by land may be performed in the fame
" fpace of time, becaufe the Anadyr falls
" into a bay." AnkudinoFs kotche was
wrecked on this promontory, and the crew
was diftributed on board the two remaining
veflels. On the 2Oth of September, Defh-
nef and Fedot Alexeef went on more, and
had a fkirmifli with the Tfchutfki, in which
Alexeef was wounded. The two veflels foon
afterwards loft fight of each other, and never
ag^in rejoined. Defhnef was driven by tem-
peftuous winds until October, when he was
ihipwrecked (as it appears from circumftances)
confiderably to the South of the Anadyr,
not far from the river Olutora. What be-
came of Fedot Alexeef and his crew will
be mentioned hereafter. Defhnef 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
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 257
banks at a fmall data nee 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, 1 650, who came by land from the river
Kovyma. In 1652, Deihnef having conftruc-
ted a veffel, failed down the Anadyr as far
as its mouth, and obferved on the North fide
a fand bank, which ftretched a considerable
way into the fea. A fand bank of this kind
is called, in Siberia, Korga. Great num-
bers of fea-horfes were found to refort to
the mouth of the Anadyr. Delhnef collec-
ted feveral of their teeth, and thought him-
felf amply compenfated by this acquisition,
for the trouble of his expedition. In the fol-
lowing year, Defhnef ordered wood to be
felled for the purpofe of conftrucling a veiTel,
in which he propoied fending the tribute
which he had collected by fea to Yakutfk *.
But this design was laid aside from the want
of other materials. It was alfo reported,
* That is, by fea, from the month of the Anadyr,
round Tfchukotskoi Nofs to the river Lena, and then up
that river to Yakutsk.
S that
SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
that the fea about Tfchukotfkoi Nofs was not
every year free from ice.
Another expedition was made in 1654 to
the Korga, for the purpofe of colledling fea-
horfe teeth. A Coflac, named Yufko So-
liverftof, was one of the party, the fame who
not long before had accompanied the Coflac
Michael Stadukin, upon a voyage of dil-
covery in the Frozen Sea. This per fon was
fent from Yakutfk to collect fea-horfe teeth,
for the benefit of the crown. In his inftruc-
tions mention is made of the river Yentihen-
don, which falls into the bay of Penminfk,
and of the Anadyr ; and he was ordered to
exacl a tribute from the inhabitants dwelling
near thefe rivers ; for the adventures of Defh-
nef were not as yet known at Yakutsk.
This was the occafion of new difcontents.
Soliverflof claimed to himfelf the difcovery
of the Korga, as if he had failed to that
place in his voyage with Stadukin in 1649.
Deflinef, however, proved that Soliverftof
had not even reached Tfchukotskoi Nofs,
which he defcribes as nothing but bare rock,
and it was but too well known to him, be-
caufe the veflel of Ankudinof was (hip wrecked
there. " Tfchukotski Nofs," adds Defli-
- nef,
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 259
nef, " is not the firft promontory * which.
" prefents itfelf under the name of Svatoi
" Nofs. It is known by the two iflands
" fituated oppofite to it, whofe inhabitants
" (as is before-mentioned) place pieces of
" the fea-horfe tufli into holes made in their
" lips. Defhnef alone had feen thefe peo-
" pie, which neither Stadukin nor Soliver-
" flof 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 Demnef was furveying the fea-
coaft, he faw in an habitation belonging to
fome Koriacs a woman of Yakutfk, who,
* We may collect from Deflinefs reafoning, that So-
liverftof, in endeavouring to prove that he had failed round
the Eaftern extremity of Afia, hail miftaVen a promontory
called Svatoi Nofs for Tfcrmkotskoi Nofs : for otherwife,
why mould Deflmef, in his refutation of Soliverflof, begin,
by aflerting, that Svaroi Nofs was not Tfchukotskoi Nofs ?
The only cape laid down in the Ruffian maps, under the
name of Svatoi Nofs, is fituated 25 degrees to the Weft
of the Kovyma ; but we cannot poffibly fuppofe this to
be the promontory here alluded to ; becaufe, 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 Ruffian language, fignifies
Sacred Promontory ; and the Ruffians occafionally apply
it to any cape, which it is difficult to double. It there-
fore molt probably here relates to the firil cape, which
Soliveritof reached after he had failed from Kovyma.
82 as
260 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OP
as he recolle&ed, belonged to Fedot Alexeef.
Upon his enquiry concerning the fate of her
matter, (he replied, " that Fedot and Gera-
" fim (Ankudinof ) had died of the fcurvy ;
" that part of the crew had been ilain ; that
" a few had efcaped in fmall veflels, and
*' have never fince been heard of." Traces
of the latter were afterwards found in the
peninfula of Kamtchatka ; to which place
they plobably arrived with a favourite wind,
by following the coaft, and running up the
Kamtchatka river.
When Vladimir At laflbf, in 1697, firfl at-
tempted the reduction of Kamtchatka, he
found that the inhabitants had previous
knowledge of the Ruffians. A common tra-
dition ftill prevails amongft them, that, long
before the expedition of Atlaflbf, one * Fe-
dotof (who was probably the fon of Fedot
Alexeef) and his companions had refided
amongft them, and had intermarried with
the natives. They ftill (hew the fpot where
the Ruffian habitations ftood ; namely, at
the mouth of the fmall river Nikul, which
falls into the Kamtchatka river, and is called
by the Ruffians Fedotika. Upon Atlaflof's
* Feclotof, in the Ruffian language, fignifies the fon of
Fedot.
arrival
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 261
arrival none of the firft Ruffians remained.
They are faid to have been held in great
veneration, and almoft deified by the in-
habitants, who at firft imagined that no hu-
man power could hurt them ; until they
quarreled amongft themfelves, and the blood
was feen to flow from the wounds which
they gave each other : and upon a feparation
taking place between the Ruffians, part of
them had been killed by the Koriacs, as they
were going to the fea of Penminfk, and the
remainder by the Kamtchadals. The river
Fedotika falls into the Southern fide of 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 ftill fubfifted, which had pro-
bably been inhabited by Fedotof and his
companions : and no one knew which way
they came into the peninfula, until it was
difcovered from the archives of Yakutlk in
1636."
* No other navigator, fubfequent to Defh-
nef, has ever pretended to have pafled the
* Mr. Engel indeed pretends that lieutenant LaptiefF,
la 1739, doubled Tfchukotskoi-Nofs, bccaufe Gmelin fays,
S 3 that
262 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
North Eaftern extremity of Afia, notwith-
ftanding all the attempts to accomplim this
paffage, as well from * Kamtchatka, as from
the Frozen Ocean.
The
that " he patted from the Kovyma to Anadirflc partly by
*' water and partly by land." For Mr. Engel afferts the
impoffibility of getting from the Kovyma to Anadirik, partly
by land and partly by water, without going from the Kovyma
to the mouth of the Anadyr by fea, and from thence to Ana-
dirsk by land. But Mr. Muller (who has given a more parti-
cular account of the conclufion of this expedition) in-
forms us, that Laptief and his crew, after having win-
tered near the Indigirka, patted from its mouth in fmall
boats to the Kovyma ; and as it was dangerous, on ac-
count of the Tfchutski, to follow 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
of the Anadyr. Gmelin Reife, vol. II. p, 440. S. R. G.
III. p. 1 57.
Mention is alfo made by Gmelin of a man who patted
in a fmall boat from the Kovyma round Tfcukotskoi-Nofs
into the fea of Kamtchatka ; and Mr. Engel has not
omitted to bnng this paffage in fupport cf his fyftem, with
this difference, that he refers to the authority of Muller,
inftead of Gmelin, for the truth of the faft. 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 flrefs upon fuch
vague and uncertain reports. The paffage is as follows :
* Es find fo gar Spurenv Thanden, dafs ein Kerl mit einem
*' Schifflein, das nicht viel groeffer nls ein Schifferkahn
*< gevefen, von Kolyma bis Tfchukotski-Nofs vorbey, und
*' bis nach Kamtfchatka gckommen fey." GmeLin Reife
II. p. 437, Mem. et Obf. Geog. &c. p. 10.
* Beering, in his voyage from Kamtchatka, in 1628,
towards Tichukotskoi-Nofs, failed along the coaft of the
Tfchutski as high as lat. 67. 18'. and obferving the coaft
take a Wefterly direction, he too haftily concluded, that
he
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 262
The following narrative of a late voyage,
performed by one Shalaurof, from the Lena
towards Tfchukotiki-Nofs, will fhew the
great impediments which obftruft a coafting
navigation in the Frozen Sea, even at the
mofl favourable feafon of the year.
Shalaurof, a Ruffian merchant of Yakutfk,
having conftru&ed a (hitik at his own ex-
pence, went down the Lena in 1761 *.
He was accompanied by an exiled midmip-
man, whom he found at Yakutfk, and to
\vhom we are indebted for the chart of this
expedition. Shalaurof got out of the Southern
mouth of the Lena in July, but was fo much
embarraffed by the ice, that he ran the veflel
into the mouth of the Yana, where he was
he had pafled the North Eaftern extremity. Apprehen
five, if he had attempted to proceed, of being locked in
by the ice, he returned to Kamtchatka. If he had fol-
lowed the more, 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 con-
fidered as turning uniformly to the Weft, took again a
Northerly direction. S. R. G. III. p. 1 1 7.
* According to another MS. account of Shalaurof's
voyage, which I have in my pofleflion, he is faid to have
fet out upon this expedition in 1760 ; and was prevented
by the continued drifts of .floating ice, which the Norther-
ly winds drove towards the fhore, from penetrating that
yeir any further than the mouth of the Yana, where he
wintered. In 1761, he put to fea on the 2g*h of July,
pafled Svatoi-Nofs, Sec. &c.
S 4 detained
264 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
detained by the ice until the 2pth of Auguft,
when he again fet fail. Being prevented by
the ice from keeping the open fea, he coafted
the ihore ; and, having doubled Svatoi-Nofs
on the 6th of September, difcovered at a fmall
diftance at Sea, to the North, a mountainous
land, which is probably fome unknown ifland,
in the Frozen Ocean. He was employed
from the ^th to the I5th in getting through
the flrait between Diomed's ifland and the
coaft of Siberia ; which he effected, not with-
out great difficulty. From the i6th he had
a free fea and a fair S. W. wind, which car-
ried him in 24 hours beyond the mouth of
the Indigirka. The favourable breeze con-
tinuing, he pafled on the i8th the Alafca.
Soon afterwards, the veflel approaching too
near the more was entangled amongft vaft
floating mafles of ice, between fome iflands *
and the main land. And now the late fea-
fon
* Thcfe iflands are Medvicdkie Oftrova, or the Bear
Iflands ; they are alfo called JCrefftofskie Oftrova, becaufe
they lie oppofite the mouth of the fmall river Kreflova.
For a long time vague reports were propagated that the
continent of America itretched along the Frozen Ocean,
very near the coafts of Siberia ; and fome perfons pretended
to have difcovered its ftiore not far from the rivers Kovyma
and Kreftova. But the falfity of thefe reports was proved
by
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 265
foil of the year obliging Shalaurof to look out
for a wintering place, he ran the veflel into
one of the mouths of the river Kovyma,
where fhe was laid up. The crew imme-
diately conftruded an hut, which they fe-
cured with a rampart of frozen fnow, and a
battery of fmall guns. Wild rein-deer re-
forted to this place in large herds, and were
ihot in great plenty from the enclofure. Be-
fore the fetting-in of winter, various fpecies
of falmon and trout afcended the river in
fhoals ; affording to the crew a plentiful fub-
fiftence, and preferving them from the
fcurvy *.
The mouth of the Kovyma was not freed
from ice before the 2ift of July, 1762, when
by an expedition made in 1764, by foire Ruffian officers
fent by Denys Ivanovitch Tfchitcherin, governor of To-
bolsk. 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 fmall rocky iflands,
fmce 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 obftructed their paflage,
and forced them to return. See the map of this expe-
dition upon the char: of Shalaurof's voyage.
* Raw fifh are confidered in thofe Northern countries
as a preservative againft the fcurvy.
Shalaurof
266 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
Shalaurof again put to lea, and fleered until the
2 8th N. E. by N. E. j E. Here heobferved
the variation of the compafs afliore, and
found it to be i i e j 15" Eafl. The 28th
a contrary wind, which was followed by
calm, obliged him to come to an anchor, and
kept him ftationary until the loth of Auguft*
when a favourable breeze fpringing up, he
fet fail. He then endeavoured to fleer at
fome diflance from more, holding a more
Eaflerly courfe, and N. E. by E ; but the
veflel was impeded by large bodies of float-
ing ice, and a flrong current, which feemed
to bear Weflward at the rate of a verfl an
hour. Thefe circumflances very much re-
tarded his courfe. On the i8th, the wea-
ther being thick and foggy, he found him-
felf unexpectedly near the coafl with a num-
ber of ice iflands before him, which on the
ipth entirely furrounded and hemmed in the
veflel. He continued in that fituation, and
in a continual fog, until the 2^d, when he
got clear, and endeavoured by fleering N. E.
to regain the open fea, which was much lefs
clogged with ice than near the fhore. He
was forced, however, by contrary winds,.
S. E. and E. among large maffes of floating
4 ice.
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 267
ice. This drift of ice being paffed, he again
flood to the N. E. in order to double She-
latfkoi-Nofs *; but before he could reach the
iflands lying near it, he was fo retarded by
contrary winds, that he was obliged, on ac-
count of the advanced feafon, to fearch for
a wintering place. He accordingly failed
South towards an open bay, which lies on the
Weil fide of Shelatfkoi-Nofs, and which no
navigator had explored before him. He fleer-
ed into it on the 25th, and got upon a fhoal
between a fmall ifland, and a point of land
which juts from the Eaftern coaft of this
bay. Having got clear with much difficulty,
he continued for a fhort time a S. E. courfe,
then turned S. W. He then landed in order
to difcover a fpot proper for their winter re-
fidence ; and found two fmall rivulets, but
neither trees nor drift-wood. The verTel was
towed along the Southerly fide of the bay
as far as the ifland Sabedei. On the 5th of
September, he faw fome huts of the Tfchut-
* He does not feem to have been deterred from pro-
ceeding by any fuppofed difficulty in palling Shelatlkoi-
Nofs, but to have veered about merely on account of the
late feafon of the year. Shelatfkoi-Nofs is fo called from
the Shelagen, a tribe of the Tfchutski, and has been fup-
pofed to be the fame as Tfchukotski-Nofs. S.R. G. III.
p. 52.
fki
268 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OP
fki clofe to the narrow channel between Sa-
badei and the main land ; but the inhabitants
fled on his approach.
Not having met with a proper fituation,
he flood out to fea, and got round the ifland
Sabadei on the 8th, when he fattened the
veffel to a large body of ice, and was car-
ried along by a current towards W. S. W. at
the rate of five verfls an hour. On the loth,
he faw far to the N. E. by N. a mountain,
and fleered the nth and I2th towards his
former wintering place in the river Kovyma.
Shalaurof propofed to have made the follow-
ing year another attempt to double Shelat-
Ikoi-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 almofl uniformly from
the Eaft. Two remarkable rocks were ob-
ferved by Shalaurof near the point where the
coaft turns to the N. E. towards the channel
which feparates the ifland Sabadei from the
continent ; thefe rocks may ferve to direft
future navigators : one is called Saetfhie
Kamen, or Hare's Rock, and rifes like a
crooked horn ; the other Baranei Kamen, or
Sheep's
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 269
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.
Shalaurof, concluding from his own ex-
perience, that the attempt to double Tfchu-
kotfkoi-Nofs, though difficult, was by no
means impracticable, and not difcouraged by
his former want of fuccefs from engaging
a fecond time in the fame enterprize, fit-
ted out the fame mitik, and in 1764 de-
parted as before from the river Lena. We have
no pofitive accounts of this fecond voyage :
for neither Shalaurof nor 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 Tfchutlki,
about the third year after their departure from
the Lena. About that time the Koriacs of
the Anadyr refufed to take from the Ruf-
fians the provifion of flour, which they are
accuftomed to purchafe every year. Inquiry
being made by the governor of Anadirfk, he
found that they had been amply fupplied
with that commodity by the Tfchutlki.
The latter had probably procured it from the
plunder of Shalaurofs veflel, the crew of
which
27O SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF
which appeared to have periflied near the
Anadyr. From thefe fa&s, which have been
fince confirmed by repeated intelligence
from the Koriacs and Tfchutfki, it has been
aflerted, that Shalaurof had doubled the N.
E. cape of Afia. But this aflertion amounts
only to conjecture ; for the arrival of the
crew at the mouth of the Anadyr affords
no decifrve 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 Tfchukotfkoi-
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 paifage
round Tfchukotfkoi-Nofs refts upon the (ingle
authority of Defhnef. Admitting however
a practicable navigation round thefe two pro-
montories ; yet, when we confider the diffi-
culties and dangers which the Ruffians en-
countered in thofe parts of the Frozen Sea
which they have unqueftionably failed
through,
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 27!
through, how much time they employed
in making an inconfiderable progrefs, and
how often their attempts were unfuccefsful ;
when we refleft, at the fame time, that thefe
voyages can only be performed in the midit
of a (hort fummer, and even then only when
particular winds drive the ice into the fea,
and leave the fhores lefs obftrudled ; we fhall
reafonably conclude, that a navigation, pur-
fued 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 ge-
neral utility, muft (if poffible) be made in
an higher latitude, at fome diftance from the
fhores of Nova Zemla and Siberia. And
fhould we even grant the poflibility of failing
N. E. and Eaft of Nova Zemla, without
meeting with any infurmountable obftacles
from land or ice ; yet the final completion
of a N. E. voyage muft depend upon the ex-
igence of a free paflage * between the coaffc
* I have faid a. free pajjage^ becaufe if we conclude from
the narrative of Dtflinef's voyage, that there really does
exift fuch a paflage ; yet, if that paflage is only occafionlly
navigable (and the Ruffians do not pretend to have pafled
it more than once j, it can never be of any general and com-
mercial utility.
of
2J2 SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS, &C.
of the Tfchutfki and the continent of America.
But fuch difquifitions as thefe do not fall
under the intention of this work, which is
meant to {rate and examine facts, not to lay
down an hypothecs, or to make theoretical
enquiries *,
* I beg leave to aflure the reader, that throughout this
whole work I have entirely confined myfelf to the Ruffian
accounts ; and have carefully avoided making ufe of any
vagxie 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 ascertained, from the journals of thofe ex-
perienced navigators.
PART
PART III.
CONTAINING
THE CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA;
AND
THE HISTORY
O F T H E
TRANSACTIONS AND COMMERCE
BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA,
CHAP
[ 2 75 ]
CHAP. I.
Fir/I irruption of tie Ruffians into Siberia
fecond inroad Yermac, driven by the Tzar
of Mufcovy/ro/fl the Volga, retires to Orel,
a Ruffian Jettlement Enters Siberia, with
an army o/* Coffees his progrefs and exploits
-~ -Defeats Kutchum Chan conquers his do-
minions cedes them to the Tzar receives a
reinforcement of Ruffian troops is fur prized
by Kutchum Chan his defeat and death
veneration paid to his memory' Ruffian troops
evacuate Siberia re-enter and conquer the
whole country their progrefs flopped by the
Chine fe.
SIBERIA was fcarcely known to the
Ruffians before the middle of the lix-
teenth century * : for although an expedi-
tion was made, under the reign of Ivan Vaffi-
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 brought
* S. R. G. VI. p. 119 211. Fif. Sib. Gef. Tom. I.
T z prifoners
276 CONQ.UEST OF SIBERIA.
prifoners to Mofcow ; yet this incurfion bore
a greater refemblance to the defultory in-
roads of barbarians, than to any permanent
eflablimment of empire by a civilized nation.
Indeed, the effects of that expedition foon va-
nifhed ; nor does any trace of the leaft fub-
fequent communication with Siberia 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 Strogono/, a Ruffian
merchant, who had eftablifhed fome falt-
works at Solvytfhegodikaia, a town in the
government of Archangel.
Strogonof carried on a trade of barter with
the inhabitants of the North- Weftern parts
of Siberia, who brought every year to the
abpvementioned town large quantities of the
choiceft furs. Upon their return to their
country, he was accuftomed to fend with
them fome Ruffian merchants, who crofled
the mountains, and traded with the natives.
By thefe means a confiderable number of
very valuable furs were procured at an eafy
rate, in exchange for toys and other commodi-
ties of trifling value. This traffick was continu-
ed for feveral years, without anyinterruption;
during
CON QJJ EST OF SIBERIA. 277
during which Strogonof rapidly amafled a
very coafiderable fortune *.- At length the
Tzar Ivan Vaffilievitch II. forefeeing the ad-
vantages which would accrue to his fubjefts,
from eftablifhing a more general and regular
commerce with thefe people, determined to
enlarge the communication already opened
with Siberia. Accordingly he fent a body of
troops into that country. They followed
the fame route which had been difcovered
by the Ruffians in the former expedition ;
and which was lately frequented by the mer-
chants of Solvytihegodikaia. It lay along
the banks of the Petfchora, and from thence
croffed the Yugorian mountains, which form
the North-Eaftern boundary of Europe.
Thefe troops, however, do not feem to have
patted the Irtifh, or to have penetrated further
than the Weftern branch of the river Oby.
Some Tartar tribes were indeed laid under
contribution ; and a chief, whofe name was
Yediger, con fen ted to pay an annual tribute
of a thoufand fables. But this expedition
was not productive of any lafting effects ;
for foon afterwards Yediger was defeated,
* S. R. G. VI. p. 220223. Fif. Sib. Gef. p. 182.
T 3
2/8 CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA.
and taken prifoner by Kutchum Chan, a
lineal defcendant of the celebrated Zinghis
Chan, who had newly eftablifhed his empire
in thofe parts.
This fecond inroad was probably made
about the middle of the fixteenth century ;
for the Tzar Ivan Vaffilievitch aflumed the
title of Lord of all the Siberian lands fo early
as 1558, before the conquefts of Yermac in
thofe regions *. But probably the name of
Siberia was at that time only confined to the
diftricl: then rendered tributary ; and, as the
Ruffians extended their conquefts, this ap-
pellation was afterwards applied to the whole
tract of country which now bears that
name.
For feme time after the above-mentioned
expedition, the Tzar does not appear to have
made any attempts towards recovering his
loft authority in fo remote a country. But
his attention was again turned to that quarter
by a concurrence of incidents ; which, though
begun without his immediate interpofition,
terminated in a vaft acceffion of territory.
Strogonof, in recompence for having firft
opened a trade with the inhabitants of Si-
*S. R. G. VI. p. 217.
bcria,
CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA. 279
beria, obtained from the Tzar large grants
of land. Accordingly he founded colonies
upon the banks of the rivers Kama and
Tchuflbvaia ; and thefe fettlements gave rife
to the entire fubjecYion of Siberia by the re-
fuge which they not long afterwards afforded
to Yermac Timofeef, a fugitive Coflac of the
Don, and chief of a troop of banditti who
infefted the fhores of the Cafpian fea. And
as Yermac was the iuftrument by which fuch
a vaft extent of dominion was added to the
Ruffian Empire, it will not be uninterefting
to follow him from the mores of the Cafpian
to the banks of the Kama ; and to trace his
fubfequent progrefs in the diftant regions of
Siberia.
By the victories which the Tzar Ivan
Vaffilievitch had gained over the Tartars of
Cafan and Aftracan, that monarch extended
his dominions as far as the Cafpian Sea ; and
thereby eftablifhed a commerce with the Per-
{ians and Buchanans. But as the mer-
chants trading to thofe parts were continually
pillaged by the Coffacs of the Don ; and
as the roads which lay by the fide of that
river, and of the Volga, were infefted with;
T 4 thofe
280 CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA.
thofc banditti ; the Tzar fent a confiderablc
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 Coffees, under the command of
Yermac Timofeef *.
This celebrated adventurer, being driven
from his ufual haunts, retired with his fol-
lowers into the interior part of the province
of Cafan ; and directed his courfe along the
banks of the Kama, until he reached Orelf'
one of the Ruffian fettlements recently plant-
ed, and governed by Maxim grandibn of
Anika Strogonof. Yermac, iuftead of ftorm-
ing the place, and pillaging the inhabitants,
a&ed with a degree of moderation unufual in
a chief of banditti. Being hofpitably re-
ceived by Strogonof, and fupplied with all
things neceflary 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 {rate of inactivity ; and, from the
intelligence he procured concerning the fitua-
* S. R. G. VI. p. 232. Fif. Sib. Gcf. I. p. 185.
f S. R. G.VJ.p. 233.
tion
CONQUEST OF SIBERIA. 281
tron of the neighbouring Tartars of Siberia,
he turned his arms toward that quarter.
Siberia was at that time partly divided
among a number of feparate princes ; and
partly inhabited by the various tribes of in-
dependent Tartars. Of the former Kutchum
Chan was the moft powerful Sovereign. His
dominions comprifed that tract of country
which now forms the South- Weftern part of
the province of Tobolflc ; and ftretched from
the banks of the Irtifli and Oby to thofe of
the Tobol and Tura. Fits principal refi-
dence was at Sibir *, a fmall fortrefs upon
the river Irtim, not far from the prefent
town of Tobolik ; and of which fome ruins
frill remain. Although his power was very
confiderable ; yet there were fome circum-
ftances which feemed to enfure fuccefs to an
* 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 ad-
vanced without fufficient foundation ; for the name of
Sibir was unknown to the Tartars, that fort being by them
called Isker. Befides, the Southern part of the province
of Tobolsk, to which the name of Siberia was originally
applied, was thus denominated by the Ruffians before th
invafion of Yermac. This denomination probably finl
came from the Pennians and Sirjanians, who brought the
firll accounts of Siberia to the Ruffians.
S.R. G. VI. p. 180.
enter-
2^2 CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA*
enterprizing invader. He had newly ac-
quired a large part of his territories by con-
queft ; and had, in a great meafure, alienated
the affections of his idolatrous fubjec"ls by the
intolerant zeal with which he introduced and
difleminated the Mahometan religion *.
Strogonof did not fail of difplaying to
Yermacthis inviting pofture of affairs, as well
with a view of removing him from his prefent
ftation, as becaufe he himfelf was perfonally
exafperated againft Kutchum Chan : for the
latter had fecretly mitigated a large body of
Tartars to invade the Ruffian fettlements
upon the river Teh ufibvaia -, and had after-
wards commenced open hoftilitieswith a body
of forces under the command of his coufiu
Mehemet Kul. And although both thefe at-
tempts had failed of fuccefs ; yet the troops
engaged in them had left traces of havoc and
devaluation too lading to be eafily effaced f-
All thefe various confiderations were not
loft upon Yermac : having therefore employed
the winter in preparations for his intended
expedition, he began his march in the Cum-
mer of the following year, 1578, along the
* s.R. G..VI. p. 1 80.
t Fif. Sib. Gel. I. p. 187.
banks
C O N QJJ E S T OF SIBERIA. 283
banks of the Tchufibvaia. The want of
proper guides, and a neglect of other necef-
iary precautions, greatly retarded his march ;
and he was overtaken by the winter before he
had made any coniiderable progrefs. And
at the appearance of fpring he found his
frock ofprovifions fo nearly exhaufted, that he
was reduced to the neceflity of returning to
Orel. But this failure of fuccefs, inftead of ex-
tinguifhing his ardour for the profecution of
the enterprize, only ferved to render him
{till more felicitous in guarding againft the
poflibility of a future mifcarriage. By threats
he extorted from Strugonof every affiftance
which the nature of the expedition feerned
to require. Beiide a fufficient quantity of
provisions, the greateft part of his followers,
who were before unprovided with fire-arms,
were fupplied with mufkets and ammunition ;
and, in order to give the appearance of a
regular army to his troops, colours were
diftributed to each company, which were
ornamented with the images of faints, after
the manner of the Ruffians.
Having thus made all previous arrange-
ments, he found himfelf in a condition to
force his way into Siberia ; and in the month
2 of
284 CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA.
of June, 15/9, he commenced this feconcl
expedition. His followers amounted to five
thoufand men ; adventurers inured to hard-
fhips, and regardlefs of danger : they placed
implicit confidence in their leader, and feemed
to be all animated with the fame fpirit. He
continued his route partly by land, and partly
by water : the navigation however of the
rivers was fo tedious, and the roads fo rugged
and difficult, that eighteen months elapfed
before he reached Tchingi, a fmall town upon
the banks of the Tura *. Here he muftered
his troops, and found his army considerably
reduced : part had been exhaufled by fatigue ;
part carried off by ficknefs ; and part de-
ft royed in fkirmiming with the Tartars.
The whole remaining number amounted to
about fifteen hundred effective men ; and
yet with this handful of troops Yermac did
not hefitate for a moment in advancing a-
gainfl Kutchum Chan. That prince was
already upon his guard ; and refolved to de-
fend his crown to the laft extremity. Having
collected his forces, he difpatched feveral fly-
ing parties againft Yermac, himfelf remain-
ing behind with the flower of his troops :
* S.R. G. VI. p. 243-24.8 26;:.
but
CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA. 285
but all thefe detachments were repulfed with
confiderable lofs ; and worfted in many fuo
ceffive fldrmimes. Yermac continued his
march without intermiffion, bearing down all
refinance until he reached the center of his ad-
verfary's dominions.
Thefe fuccefles 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 determined to
give battle. Yermac, not daunted by the in-
equality of numbers, prepared for the engage-
ment, with a confidence which never forfook
him : his troops were equally impatient for
action, and knew no medium between con-
queft 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,
* The place where the Tartar army lay encamped was
called Tfchuvatch : it is a neck of land wafhed by the Ir-
tifti, near the fpot where the Tobol falls into that river. Fif.
Sib. Gef. I. p, 203,
This
286 CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA.
This defeat proved decifive : Kutchum Chan
was deferted by his fubje&s ; and Yermac,
who knew how to improve as well as gain a
victory, marched without delay to Sibir, the
refidence of the Tartar princes. Being well
aware, that the only method to fecure his
conqueft was to obtain pofleffion of that im-
portant fortrefs, he expe&ed to have been op-
pofed by a confiderable garrifon, determined
to facrifice their lives in its defence. But the
news of the late defeat had difTufed univerfal
confternation ; and a body of troops, whom he
had difpatched in order to reduce the fortrefs,
finding it quite deferted, he himfelf made his
triumphant entry, and feated himfelf upon
the throne without the lead oppofition. Here
he fixed his refidence, and received the alle-
giance of the neighbouring people, who flocked
from all quarters upon the news of fo unex-
pected a revolution. The Tartars, {truck with
his gallant intrepidity and brilliant exploits,
fubmitted to his authority without hefitation,
and acquiefced in the payment of the ufual
tribute.
Thus this enterprifing Coflac was fuddenly
exalted, from the ftation of a chief of banditti,
to
CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA. 287
to the rank of a fovereign prince. It does not
appear from hiftory whether his firft defign
was to conquer Siberia, or folely to amafs a
confiderable booty. The latter indeed feems
the more probable conjecture. The rapid tide
of fuccefs with which he was carried on, and
the entire defeat of Kutchum Chan, after-
wards expanded his views, and opened a larger
fcene to his ambition. But, whatever were his
original projects, he feems worthy, fo far as
intrepidity and prudence form a ban's of merit,
of the final fuccefs which flowed in upon him.
For he was neither elated with unexpected
profperity, nor dazzled with the fudden glare
of royalty : on the contrary, the dignity of
his deportment was as confident and unaf-
fected, 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 neighbourhood of
Sibir wore the appearance of the mod: unre-
ferved fubmiilion ; but even princes from the
moll: diftant parts acknowledged themielves
tributary, and claimed his protection. This
calm, however, was of fhort duration. In*
furrections
288 CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA*
furrections were 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 prefent grandeur : the inconiiderable num-
ber of his followers, who had furvived the
conquefl of Sibir, had been ftill further di-
minifhed by an ambufcade of the enemy ; and,
as he could not depend on the affection of his
new fubjects, he found himfelf under the ne
ceffity either of calling in foreign affiftance, or
of relinquifhing his dominion. Under thefe
circumilances he had recourfe to the Tzar of
Mufcovy ; and made a tender of his new ac-
quifitions to that monarch, upon condition of
receiving immediate and effectual fupport.
The judicious manner in which he conducted
this meafure mews 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 the pro-
grefs which the Ruffian troops, under the
command of Yermac, had made in Siberia :
he was artfully to add, that an extenfive em-
pire was conquered in the name of the Tzar ;
i that
CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA. 289
that the natives were reduced to fwear alle-
giance 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 embaflador was
received at Mofcow with the ftrongeft marks
of fatisfa&ion : a public thankfgiving was ce-
lebrated in the cathedral ; the Tzar acknow-
ledged and extolled the good fervices of Yer-
mac ; he granted a pardon for all former of-
fences ; and, as a teftimony of royal favour,
diftributed prefents for him and his followers.
Among thofe that were fent to Yermac was a
fur robe, which the Tzar himfelf had worn,
and which was the greatest mark of diftinclion
that could be conferred upon a fubjecl:. To
thefe was added a fum of money, and a pro-
mife of fpeedy and effectual affiftance.
Meanwhile Yermac, notwithftanding the
inferior number of his troops, did not remain
inactive within the fortrefs of Sibir. He de-
feated all attempts of Kutchum Chan to re-
cover his crown ; and took his principal ge-
neral prifoner : he made occaflonal inroads
into the adjacent provinces, and extended his
* s, R. G. VI. p. 364.
U con-
290 C O N QJ7 E S T OF SIBERIA.
conquefts to the fource of the TafFda on one
fide, and on the other as far as the diftrict
which lies upon the Oby above its junction
with the Irtifli.
At length the promifed fuccours arrived at
Sibir. They confided of five hundred Ruf-
fians, under the command of prince Bolkofky,
who was appointed wayvode or governor 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
imprudently aflerted 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 was followed at fome diftance by
that prince, who hung unperceived upon his
rear ; and was prepared to icize 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 hundred lay negligently pofted
in
CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA.
in a fmall ifland, formed by two branches of
the Irtifli. The night was obfcure and rainy ;
and the troops, fatigued with a long march,
repofed themfelves without fufpicion of dan-
ger. Kutchum Chan, apprifed of their fitu-
ation, filently advanced at midnight with a
felect body of men ; and, having forded the
river, came with fuch rapidity upon the Ruf-
fians, as to preclude the ufe of their arms. In
the darknefs and confufion of the night, the
latter were cut to pieces almoft without oppo-
iition ; and fell a refiftlefs prey to thofe ad-
verfaries, whom they had been accuftomed to
conquer and defpife. The maflacre 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 perimed in the rout, though
he did not fall by the fword of the enemy. In
all the hurry of fnrprife, he was not fo much
infected with the general panic, as to forget
his ufual intrepidity, which feemed to be en-
creafed rather than abated by the danger of
his prefent iituation. After many deiperate
afts of heroifm, he forced his way through
the furrounding troops, and made to the banks
U 2 Of
CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA.
of the Irtifli *. Being clofely purfued by a de-
tachment of the enemy, he endeavoured to
throw himfelf into a boat which lay near the
fhore ; but flepping fliort, he fell into the
water ; and, being incumbered with the
weight of his armour, funk inftantly to the
bottom f.
His body was expofed, by order of Kutchum
Chan, to all the infults, which revenge ever
fuggefted to barbarians in the frenzy of iuc-
cefs. But thefe firft tranfports of refentment
* Many difficulties have arifen concerning the branch of
the Irtifli in which Yermac was drowned ; but it is now
iufficiently afcertained that it was a canal, which forne time
before this cataftrophe had been cut bjr order of that Cof-
iac. Not far from the fpot where the Vagai falls into the
Irtiih, the latter river forms a bend of fix verfts ; by cutting
a canal in a ftraight line from the two extreme points of this
fweep, he fhortened the length of the navigation. S. R. G.
p. 365, 366.
f Cyprian was appointed the firil archbifiiop of Siberia
in 1621. Upon his arrival at Tobolfk, he enquired for fe-
verai of the antient followers of Yermac who were frill alive ;
and from them he made himfelf acquainted with the prin-
cipal circumftances attending the expedition of that CofTac,
and the conqueft of Siberia, Thofe circumftances he com
mitted to writing ; and thefe papers may be confidered as
the archives of the Siberian hiftory ; from which the fe-
veral hiftorians of that country have drawn their relations.
Sava Yefimof, who was himfelf one of Yermac's followers,
is one of the moft accurate hiftorians of thofe times. He
carries down his hiftory to the year 1636. Fif. Sib. Gef. I,
P ' 43 ' K A
had
CON QJJ EST OF SIBERIA.
had no fooner fubfided, than the Tartars tef-
tified the moil pointed indignation at the un-
generous ferocity of their leader. The prowefs
of Yermac, his confummate valour and mag-
nanimity, virtues which barbarians know how
to prize, rofe upon their recollection. They
made a fudden tranfition from one extreme to
the other : they reproached their leader for
ordering, and themfelves for being the inftru-
ments of indignity to fuch venerable remains.
At length their heated imaginations proceeded
even to confecrate his memory : they interred
his body with all the rites of Pagan fuper-
flition ; and offered up facrifices to his manes.
Many miraculous ftories were foon fpread
abroad, and met with implicit belief. The
touch of his body was fuppofed to have proved
an inftantaneous cure for all diforders ; and
even his clothes and arms were faid to be en-
dowed with the fame efficacy. A flame of fire
was reprefented as fometimes hovering about
his tomb, and fometimes as ftretching in one
luminous body from the fame fpot towards the
heavens. A preliding influence over the afFair s
of the chace and of war was attributed to his
departed fpirit ; and numbers reforted to his
tomb to invoke his tutelary aid in concerns fo
U 3 in-
294 CONQJIEST OF SIBERIA.
interefiing to uncivilized nations. Thefe idle
fables, though they prove the fuperftitious
credulity of the Tartars, convey at the fame
time the ftrongeft teftimony of their veneration
for the memory of Yermac ; and this vene-
ration 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 a hundred and fifty troops, the
fad remains of that formidable army, which
had gained fuch a feries of almofl incredible
victories, retired from the fortrefs, and eva-
cuated Siberia. Notwithftanding this difafter,
the court of Mofcow did not abandon its de-
iign upon that country ; which a variety of
favourable circumflances ftill concurred to ren-
der a flattering object of Ruffian ambition.
fr Even fc late as the middle of the next century, this
veneration for the memory of Yermac had not lubfided. Al-
lai, 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.
The fame is alfo reported to have carried with him a fmall
portion, of the fame earth, whenever he engaged in any
important enterprize. This earth he fuperftitioufly confi-
dered as a kind of charm ; and was perfuaded that he al-
ways fecnred a profperous itfue to his affairs by fuch a pre-
caution. S. R, G. VI. p. 391.
Yer-
C O N QJ/ E S T OF SIBERIA. 295
Yermac's fagacity had difcovered new and
commodious routes for the march of troops
acrofs thofe inhofpitable regions : the rapidity
with which he overran the territories of Kut-
chum Chan, taught the Ruffians to confider
the Tartars as an eafy prey. Many of the
tribes, who had been rendered tributary by
Yermac, had tefl'ified a chearful acquiefcence
under the fovereignty of the Tzar ; and were
inclined to renew their allegiance upon the
firft opportunity : others looked upon all re-
fiftance as unavailing ; and had learned, from
dear-bought experience, to tremble at the very
name of a Ruffian. The natural ftrength of
the country, which proved not to beirrefifl-
ible even when united, was confiderably weak-
ened by its inteftine commotions. Upon the
retreat of the Ruffian garrifon from Sibir, that
fortrefs, together with the adjacent diftrict,
was feized by Seyidyak, fon of the former fo-
vereign, whom Kutchum Chan had dethroned
and put to death : oth^r princes availed them-
felves of the general confufion to aflert inde-
pendency ; and Kutchum Chan was able to
regain only a fmall portion of thofe dominions,
of which he had been dripped by Yermac.
U 4 In-
2p6 CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA.
Influenced by thefe motives, the court o*
Mofcow difpatched a body of three hundred
troops into Siberia, who penetrated to the
banks of the Tura as far as Tfchingi almoft
without oppofition ; and, having built the fort
of Tumen, re-eftabllfhed their authority over
the neighbouring diftricT:. Being foon after-
wards reinforced by an additional number of
men, they were enabled to extend their ope-
rations, and to erect the fortrefles of Tobolfk,
Sirgut, and Tara. The conftrucYion of thefe
and other fortrefles was foon attended with a
fpeedy recovery of the whole territory, which
Yermac had reduced under the Ruffian yoke.
This fuccefs was only the fore-runner of
{{.ill 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 vail tract
of country now called Siberia, which flretches
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 dominions. A ftill larger extent of
ter-
CONQJJEST OF SIBERIA. 297
territory had probably been won ; and all the
various tribes of independent Tartary, which
lie between the South-Eaftern extremity of
the Ruffian empire and the Chinefe Wall,
would have followed the fate of the Siberian
hordes ; if the power of China had not fud-
denly interpofed.
CHAP. II.
Commencement of hojlilities between the Ruffians
and Chinefe Difputes concerning the limits
of the two empires Treaty of Nerminfk
ILmbqjJies from the court of Ruffia to Pekin
Treaty of Kiakta Eftablijhment of the com-
merce between the two nations.
TOWARDS the middle of the feven-
teenth century the Ruffians were ra-
pidly extending themfelves Eaftward through
that important territory which lies on each
fide of the river * A moor. They foon re-
duced feveral independent Tungufian hordes ;
and built a chain of fmall fortrefles along the
banks of the above mentioned river, of which
* Amoor is the name given by the Ruffians to this river ;
it is called Sakalia-Ula by the Manfhurs, and was formerly
denominated Karamuran, or the Black River, by the Mon-
gols. S. R. G. II. p. 293.
the
298 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN
the principal were Albafin, and Kamarfkoi
Oftrog. Not long afterwards, the Chinefe
under * Camhi conceived a fimilar defign of
fubduing the fame hordes. Accordingly the
two great powers of Ruffia and China, thus
pointing their views to the fame object, un-
avoidably clamed ; and, after feveral jealoufies
and intrigues, broke into open hoftilities about
the year 1680. The Chinefe laid fiege to
Kamarfkoi Oftrog ; and, though repulfed in
this attempt, found means to cut off feveral
{haggling parties of Ruffians. Thefe animo-
fities induced the Tzar Alexey Michaelovitch
to fend an embaffy to Pekin ; a meafure,
* Camhi was the fecond emperor of the Manfhur race,
who made themfelves matters of China in 1624.
The Manlhurs were originally an obfcure tribe of the
Tungufian Tartars, whofe territories lay South of the
Amoor, and bordered upon the kingdom of Corea, and the
province of Leaotong. They began to emerge from ob-
fcurity at the beginning of the feventeenth century. About
that time, their chief Aifchin-Giord reduced feveral neigh-
bouring hordes ; and, having incorporated them with his
own tribe, under the general name of Manfhur, he became
formidable even to the Chinefe. Shuntfchi, grandfon of
this chief, by an extraordinary concurrence of circumftances,
was raifed while an infant to the throne of China, of which
his fuccefTbrs ftill continue in poflelTion. Shuntfchi died in
1662, and was fucceeded by Camhi, who is well known from
the accounts of the Jefuit mifiionaries.
For an account of the revolution of China, fee Duhalde
Defer, de la Chine, Bell's Journey to Pekin, and Fif. Sib.
Gef. torn. I. p. 463.
which
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 299
which did not produce the defired effect. The
Chinefe attacked Albaiin with a confiderahle
force : having compelled the Ruffian gar rifon
to capitulate, they demolifhed that and all the
Ruffian forts upon the Amoor; and returned,
with a large number of prifoners, to their own
country.
Not long after their departure, a body of
fixteen hundred Ruffians advanced along the
Amoor ; and conftru&ed a new fort, under
the old name of Albafin. The Chinefe, ap-
prifed of their return, marched inftantly to-
wards that river ; and laid fiege to Albafin
with an army of feven thoufand men, and a
large train of artillery. They battered the
new fortrefs for feveral weeks, without being
able to make a breach, and without attempt-
ing to take it by ftorm. The befieged, though
not much annoyed by the unfldlful operations
of the enemy, were exhaufted with the com-
plicated miferies of licknefs and famine ; and,
notwithftanding they continued to make a
gallant refiftance, muft foon have funk under
their difrrerTes, if the Chinefe had not volun-
tarily retired, in confequence of a treaty in
agitation between the two courts of Mofcow
and Pekin. For this purpofe the Ruffian em-
baffador
00 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN
baflador Golovin had quitted Mofcow in 1685,
accompanied by a large body of troops, in or^
der to fecure his perfon, and enforce refpect
to his embafly. The difficulty of procuring
fubfiftence for any confiderable number of
men in fuch defolate regions, joined to the
ruggednefs of the roads, and the length of the
march, prevented his arrival at Selenginfk un-
til the year 1687. From thence meflengers
were immediately difpatched to Pekin, with
overtures of peace.
After feveral delays, occafioned partly by
policy, and partly by the pofture of affairs in
the Tartar country through which the Chi-
nefe were to pafs, embaffadors left Pekin in
the beginning of June 1689. Golovin had
propofed to receive them at Albafin ; but,
while he was proceeding to that fortrefs, the
Chinefe embafiadors prefentcd themfelves at
the gates of Nerfhinfk, efcorted by fuch a nu-
merous army, and fuch a formidable train of
artillery, that Golovin was contained, from
motives of fear, to conclude the negotiation
almoft upon their own terms. The con-
ferences were held under tents, in an open
plain, near the town of Nerfhinlk ; and a
treaty concluded, which firft checked the pro-
4 grefs
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 301
grefs of the Ruffian arms in thofe parts ; and
laid the foundations of an important and re-
gular commerce between the two nations.
By the firft and fecond articles, the South-
Eaftern boundaries of the Ruffian empire were
formed by a ridge of mountains, flretching
North of the A moor from the fea of Okotfk
to the fource of the fmall river 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
fhould be provided with paflports from their
refpective courts f.
This treaty was figned on the 27th of Au-
guft, in the year 1680, under the reign of
* 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 hy the
Ruffians ; but the Chinefe fixed upon the latter, for the
boundary, and have carried their point. Accordingly the
preferit limits are fomtwhet different from thofe 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 the 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.
f S. R. G. II. p. 435.
Ivan
O2 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN
Ivan and Peter Alexiewitch, by which the
Ruffians loft, exclufively of a large territory,
the navigation of the river A moor. The im-
portance of this lofs was not at that time un-
derftood ; and has only been felt fince thedif-
covery of Kamtchatka, and of the iflands be-
tween Afia and America. The products of
thefe new-difcovered countries might, by
means of the Amoor, have been conveyed by
water into the diftricl. of Nerminfk, from
whence there is an eafy tranfport by land to
Kiakta : whereas the fame merchandife, after
being landed at Okotfk, is now carried over a
large tract of country, partly upon rivers of
difficult navigation, and partly along rugged
and almofl impaflable roads.
In return, the Ruffians obtained, what they
had long and repeatedly deiired, a regular and
permanent trade with the Chinefe. The firft
intercourfe between Ruffia and China com-
menced in the beginning of the feventeenth
century*; at which period a fmall quantity
of Chinefe merchandife was procured, by the
merchants of Tomlk and other adjacent towns,
from the Calmucs. The rapid and profitable
* S. R. G. VIII. p, 50^, & feq.
fab
RUSSIA AND CHINA.
fale of thefe commodities encouraged certain
wayvodes of Siberia to attempt a direct and
open communication with China. For this
purpofe feveral perfons were deputed at dif-
ferent times to Pekin from Tobollk, Tomlk,
and other Ruffian fettlements ; and although
thefe deputations failed of obtaining the grant
of a regular commerce, they were neverthe-
lefs attended with fome important confe-
quences. The general good reception, which
the agents met with, tempted the Ruffian
merchants to fend occafional traders to Pekin.
By thefe means a faint connection with that
metropolis was kept alive : the Chinefe learn-
ed the advantages of the Ruffian trade ; and
were gradually prepared for its fubfequent
eilablifhment. This commerce, carried on by
intervals, was entirely fufpended by the hofti-
lities upon the river Amoor : but no fooner
was the treaty of Nerfliinlk concluded, than
the Ruffians engaged with extraordinary ala-
crity in their favourite branch -of traffic. And
its advantages were foon found to be fo con-
(iderable, that Peter I. conceived an idea of
iYill farther enlarging it. Accordingly, in
1692, he difpatched Ifbrand Ives, a Dutch-
man in his fervice, to Pekin ; who requefted
and
304 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN
and obtained, that the liberty of trading to
China, which by the late treaty was granted
to individuals, fhould be extended to ca-
ravans.
In confequence of this arrangement, fuccef-
five caravans went from Ruffia to Pekin ;
where a caravanfary was allotted for their re-
ception ; and all their expences during their
continuance in that metropolis were defrayed
by the Emperor of China. The right of fend-
ing thefe caravans, and the profits refulting
from them, belonged to the crown of Ruffia.
In the mean time, private merchants conti-
nued 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
Rationed near the conflux of the Orkoii and
Tola, between the Southern frontiers of Si-
beria and the Mongol defert. A kind of an-
nual fair was held at this fpot by the Ruffian
and Chinefe merchants, who brought their
refpective goods for fale. This rendezvous
foon became a fcene of riot and confufion ;
and repeated complaints of the drunkennefs
and mifconduft of the Ruffians were tranf-
mitted to the Chinefe Emperor. Thefe com-
plaints
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 305
plaints made a {till greater impreffion from a
coincidence of limilar exceffes, for which the
Ruffians at Pekin had become notorious. Ex-
afperated by the frequent reprefentations of
his fubjefts, Camhi threatened to expel the
Ruffians from his dominions, and to prohibit
them from carrying on any commerce, as
well in China as in the country of the Mon-
gols.
Thefe untoward circumftances occafioned
another embafly to Pekin in the year 1719.
LefF Vaffilievitch Ifmailof, the embaffador
upon this occaiion, fucceeded in the nego-
tiation ; and adjufted every difficulty to the
fatisfaftion of both parties. At his departure
.Laurence Lange, who had accompanied him
in the character of agent for the caravans,
was permitted to remain at Pekin for the pur-
pofe of fuperintending the conduct of the Ruf-
fians. His refidence however in that metro-
polis was but (hort ; for he was foon after-
wards compelled, by the Chinefe, to return.
His difmiffion was owing partly toafudden
caprice of that fufpicious people ; and partly
to a frem mifunderftanding between the two
courts, in relation to fome Mongol tribes who
bordered upon Siberia, A fmall number of
X thefe
306 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN
thefe Mongols had placed themfelves under
the protection of Ruffia, and were immediately
demanded by the Chinefe ; but the Ruffians
refufed compliance, under pretence that no
article in the treaty of Nerfhinfk could, with
any appearance of probability, be conftrued
as extending to the Mongols. The Chinefe
were incenfed at this refufal ; and their re-
fentment was flill farther inflamed by the dif-
orderly 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 con-
currence of unlucky incidents extorted in
1722, an order from Camhi for the total ex-
pulfion of the Ruffians from the Chinefe and
Mongol territories ; and all intercourfe be-
tween the two nations immediately ceafed.
Affairs continued in this ftate until the year
1727; when the count Sava Vladiflavitch Ra-
gufmfki, a Dalmatian in the fervice of Ruffia,
was difpatched to Pekin. He was inftru&ed
at all events to compofe the differences be-
tween the two courts relating to the Mongol
tribes ; to fettle the Southern frontiers of the
Ruffian errtpire in that quarter ; and to obtain
the perrniffion of renewing the trade with
China.
RttssiA AND CHINA. 307
China. He accordingly prefented a new plan
for a treaty of limits and commerce to Yund-
fchin, fon and fucceflbr of Camhi ; by which
the frontiers of the two empires were finally
traced as they exift at prefent ; and the com-
merce eftablimed upon a permanent bafis,
calculated to prevent as far as poffible all fu-
ture fources of mifunderftanding. This plan
being approved by the emperor, Chinefe com-
miffioners 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 Or-
kon near its junction with the Selenga.
At this conference, the old limits, fettled
by the treaty of Nerfhinfk, were continued
from the fource of the Argoon Weftwards as
far as the mountain Sabyntaban, which is
n*tuated at a fmall diftance from the fpot
where the conflux of the two rivers Uleken
and Kemtzak form the Yenisei : this boun-
dary feparates the Ruffian dominions from the
territory of the Mongols, who are under the
protection of China. It was likewife itipu-
lated, that for the future all negotiations
(hould be transacted between the tribunal of
foreign affairs at Pekin, and the board of fo
X 2 reign
308 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN
reign affairs at St. Petersburg ; or in matters of
inferior moment between the two comman-
ders of the frontiers *.
The moft important articles relating to
commerce were as follow :
I A caravan was allowed to go to Pekin every
three years, on condition of its not confining
of more than two hundred perfons ; and that
during their refidence in that metropolis, their
expences mould be no longer defrayed by the
emperor of China. Notice was likewiie to be
fent to the Chinefe court immediately upon
their arrival at the frontiers ; where an of-
ficer was to meet and accompany them to
Pekin. The privilege before enjoyed by in-
dividuals of carrying on a promifcuous traffic
in the Chinefe and Mongol territories was
abolimed ; and no merchandize belonging to
private perfons was permitted to be brought;
for fale beyond the frontiers. For the pur-
pofe of preferring, confidently with this re-
gulation, the privilege of commerce to indi-
viduals, two places of refort were appointed
on the confines of Siberia : one called Kiakta,
* This article was inferted, becaufe the Chinefe em-
peror, from a ridiculous idea of fuperiority, had contemp-
tuoufly refufed to hold any correfpondence with the court of
from
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 309
from a rivulet of that name near which it
frauds ; and the other Zurukaitu ; at which
places a free trade was reciprocally indulged to
the fubjecls of the two nations. A permif-
fion was at the fame time obtained for build-
ing a Ruffian church within the precincls of
their caravanfary ; and, for the celebration of
divine fervice, four priefts were allowed to re-
iide at Pekin *. The fame favour was alfo
extended to fome Ruffian fcholars f for the
purpofe of learning the Chinefe tongue : in
* The firft Ruffian church at Pekin was built for the ac-
commodation of the Ruffians taken prifoners at Albafin.
Thefe perfons were carried to Pekin, and the place ap-
pointed for their habitation in that city was called the Ruffian
Street, a name it ftill retains. They were fo well received
by the Chinefe, that, upon the conclufion of the treaty of
Nerfhinfc, they refufed to return to their native country.
And, as they intermarried with the Chinefe women, their
defcendants are quite naturalized ; and have for the moft
part adopted not only the language, but even the religion
of China. Hence, the above-mentioned church, though
it ftill exifts, is no longer applied to the purpofe of divine
worfliip : its prieft was transferred to the church, which
was built within the walls of the caravanfary.
f The good effects of this institution have already been
perceived. A Ruffian, vvhofe name is Leontief. after hav-
ing refided ten years at Pekin, is returned to Petersburg.
He has given feveral tranflations and extracts of fome in-
terefting Chinefe publications, viz, Part of the Hiftory of
China ; the Code of the Chinefe Law* ; Account of the
Towns and Revenues, &c. of the Chinefe empire, extracted
from a Treatife of Geography, lately printed at Pekin. A
fliort account of this Extract is given in the Journal of St.
Petersburg for April, 17791.
X 3 or-
310 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN
order to qualify themfelves for interpreters bcr
tweea the two nations.
This treaty, called the treaty of Kiakta,
was, on the fourteenth of June, 1/28, con-
cluded and ratified by count Ragufmfki and
three Chinefe plenipotentaries upon the fpot
where Kiakta was afterwards built ; it is the
' barls upon which all the fubfequent tranfac-
tions between Ruffia and China have been
founded *.
One innovation in the mode of carrying on
the trade to China, which has been introduced
iince the acceffion of the prefent emprefs Ca-
therine II. deferves to be mentioned in this
place. Since the year 1/55 no caravans have
been fent to Pekin. Their firft difcontinuance
was occafioned by a mifunderftanding between
the two courts of Peterfburg and Pekin ; and
their difufe, after a reconciliation had taken
place, arofe from the following circumilances.
The exportation and importation of many
principal commodities, particularly the moft
valuable furs, were formerly prohibited to in-
dividuals, and folely appropriated to caravans
belonging to the crown. By thefe reftriclions
the Ruffian trade to China was greatly fhackled
*'S.R. G. VIII. p. 513.
and
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 311
and circumfcribed. The prefent emprefs
(who, amidft many excellent regulations
which chara&erife her reign, has (hewn her-
ielf invariably attentive 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 privi-
lege which the crown enjoyed of fending ca-
ravans to Pekin *. By thefe conceffions the
profits of the trade have been confiderably en-
creafed ; the great expence, hazard, and de-
lay, of tranfporting the merchandife occa-
fionally from the frontiers of Siberia to Pekin,
has been retrenched ; and Kiakta is now ren-
dered the center of the Ruffian and Chinefe
commerce.
CHAP. III.
Account of the Ruffian and Chinefe fettlements
upon the confines of Siberia* dejcription of
the Ruffian frontier town Kiaktar of the Chi.
i\tfe frontier town Maimatfchin its build*
ings, pagodas, &c,
BY the laft-mentioned treaty it was ftipu-
lated, that the commerce between Ruf-
fia and China mould be tranfa&ed at the fron-
* s. R. G. vm. p. 520.
X 4 tiers.
312 TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN
tiers. Accordingly two fpots were marked
out for that purpofe upon the confines of Si-
beria, where they border upon the Mongol
defert ; one near the brook Kiakta, and the
other at Zurukaitu. The defcription of the
former of thefe places fhall be the fubject of
the prefent chapter.
This fettlement confifts of a Ruffian and
Chinefe town, both fituated in a romantic
valley, furrounded by high, rocky, and for
the moft part well-wooded, mountains. The
valley is interfered by the brook Kiakta,
which rifes in Siberia, and, after warning
both the Ruffian and Chinefe town, falls
into the Bura, at a fmall diftance from the
frontiers.
The Ruffian fettlement is called Kiakta
from the abovementioned brook : it lies in
1 24 degrees 18 minutes longitude from the
ifleofFero, and 35 degrees N. latitude, at
the diftance of 3676 miles from Mofcow, and
1025 from Pekin.
It confifts of a fortrefs and a fmall fuburb.
The fortrefs, which is built upon a gentle riie,
is a fquare enclofed with palifadoes, and
frrengthened with wooden baftions at the fe-
veral angles, There are three gates, at which
guards
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 313
guards are constantly Rationed : one of the
gates faces the North, a fecond the South to-
wards the Chinefe frontiers, and a third the
Eaft clofe to the brook Kiakta. The principal
public buildings in the fortrefs are a wooden
church, the governor's houfe, the cuftom-
houfe, the magazine for provifions, and the
guard-houfe. It contains alfo a range of (hops
and warehoufes, barracks 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 irregularly built ; it
has the fame number of gates as the fortrefs,
which are alfo guarded. Without this fub-
urb, upon the high road leading to Selengiiifk,
ftand a few houfes, and the magazine for
rhubarb.
This fettlement is but indifferently pro-
vided with water; for although the brook
Kiakta is dammed up as it flows by the for-,
trefs ; yet it is fo mallow in fummer, that,
imlefs after heavy rains, it is fcarcely fuffi-
cient
314 COMMERCE BETWEEN
cient to fupply the inhabitants. Its ftream is
alfo turbid and unwholefome ; and the fprings
which rife in the neighbourhood are either
foul or brackifti : from thefe circumftances,
the principal inhabitants are obliged to fend
for water from a fpring in the Chinefe dif-
tricl. The foil of the adjacent country is
moftly fand or rock, and extremely barren.
If the frontiers of Ruffia were extended about
fix miles more South to the rivulet of Bura ;
the inhabitants of Kiakta would enjqy good
water, a fruitful foil, and plenty of fifh, all
which advantages are at prefent confined to
the Chinefe.
The garrifon of Kiakta confifls of a com-
pany of regular foldiers, and a certain num-
ber of Coffees ; the former are occafionally
changed, but the latter are fixed inhabitants
of the place. It is the province of the com-
mander to infpect the frontiers, and, in con-
junction with the prefident of the Chinefe
merchants, to fettle all affairs of an inferior
nature ; but in matters of importance recourfe
mu ft be had to the chancery of Selenginfk,
and to the governor of Irkutik. The Ruffian
merchants, and the agents of the Ruffian
trading
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 315
trading company, are the principal inhabit-
ants of Kiakta.
The limits Weftwards from this fettlement
to the river Selenga, and Eaftwards as far as
Tchikoi, are bounded with chevaux de frize,
in order to prevent 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
o
government of Tobollk, and Eaftwards to the
mountains of (how, are under the command
of the governor of Kiakta.
The moft elevated of the mountains that
furround the valley of Kiakta, and which is
called by the Mongols Burgultei, commands
the Ruffian as well as the Chinefe town : for
this reafon, the Chinefe, at the conclufion 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 re-
queft ; and fuffered the boundary to be brought
back to the North iide of the mountain.
The Chinefe town is called, by the Chinefe
and Mongols, Maimatfchin, which fignifies
fortrefs of commerce. The Ruffians term it
the Chinefe Village (Kitaijkaw Sloboda), and
alfo
316 COMMERCE BETWEEN
alfo Naimatfchin, which is a corruption of
Maimatfchin. It is fituated about an hundred
and forty yards South of the fortrefs or Kiakta,
and nearly parallel 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 Ruflian, the other with Man-
fhur characters *.
Maimatfchin has no other fortification than
a wooden wall, and a fmall ditch of about
three feet bread ; the latter was dug in the
year 1/56, during the war between the Chi-
nefe and the Calmucs. The town is of an
oblong form : its length is about feven hun-
dred yards, and its breadth four hundred. On
each of the four fides a large gate faces the
principal ftreets ; over each of theie gates
there is a wooden guard-houfe for the Chinefe
garrifon, which confifls of Mongols in tat-
tered clothes, and armed with clubs. With-
out the gate, which looks to the Ruffian
frontiers, and about the diftance of eight yards
* Upon the mountain to the Weft of Kiakta, the limit
is again marked ; on the Ruffian fide by an heap of ftones
and earth, ornamented on the top with a crofs ; and on the
Chinefe by a pile of {tones in the fhape of a pyramid. Pallas
Reile, P. III. p. no.
from
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 317
from the entrance, the Chinefe have raifed a
wooden fcreen, fo conftructed as to intercept
all view of the ftreets from without.
This town contains two hundred houfes and
about twelve hundred inhabitants. It has
two principal ftreets of about eight yards
broad, eroding each other in the middle at
right angles, with two by-ftreets 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 four-
teen feet high, plaiftered and white- warned ;
they are conftru&ed round a court-yard of
about feventy feet fquare, which is ftrewed
with gravel, and has an appearance of neat-
nefs. Each houfe confifts of a fitting-room,
fome warehoufes, and a kitchen. In the
houfes of the wealthier fort the roof is made
of plank ; but in meaner habitations 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 - pent-
lioufe, and fupported by ftrong pillars. The
windows are large after the European manner,
but, orr account of the dearnefs of glafs and
Ruf-
318 COMMERCE BETWEEN
Ruffian talc, are generally of paper, excepting
a few panes of glafs in the fitting-room.
The fitting-room is feldom turned towards
the ftreets ; it is a kind of (hop, where the fe-
veral patterns of merchandize are placed in
recefles, fitted up with fhelves, and fecured
with paper-doors for the purpofe of keeping
out the dull. 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. Here the family fit in the day-time,
and deep at night. By the fide of this raifed
part, and nearly upon the fame level, there is
a fquare brick ftove, with a flreight perpendi-
cular cylindrical excavation, which is heated
with fmall pieces of wood. From the bottom
of this {love a tube cleicends, and is carried
zigzag under the boarded floor above-men-
tioned, 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 fmoke. There is
fcarcely any furniture in the room, excepting
one large dining-table in the lower part, and
i two
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 319
two fmall lackered ones upon the raifed floor :
one of thefe tables is always provided with a
chaffing- dim, which ferves to light their pipes
when the flove is not heated.
In this room there ajre feveral fmall niches
covered with filken curtains, before which
are placed lamps that are lighted upon fefti-
vals : thefe niches contain painted paper idols;
a ftone or metal veflel, wherein the alhes of
incenfe are collected ; feveral fmall ornaments
and artificial flowers : the Chinefe readily al-
low ftrangers to draw afide the curtains, and
look at the -idols.
The Buchanan * 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 considerable
commerce.
The Surgutfchei, or governor of Maimat-
fchin, has the care of the police, as well as
the direction of all affairs relating to com-
* " The chief merchandizes, which the Buchanans
** bring to Ruifia, are cotton, fluffs, and half-filks, IpuO
" and raw cotton, lamb-skins, 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 interesting
work lately publifhed by Mr. Tooke.
merce
320 COMMERCE BETWEEN
merce : he is generally a perfon of rank, of-
tentimes a Mandarin, who has miibehaved
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 * feather hanging behind.
The Chinefe give him the title of Amban,
which iignifies commander in chief; and no
one appears before him without bending the
knee, in which pofture the perfon who brings
a petition mufl remain until he receives the
governor's anfwer. His falary is not large ;
but thq prefents which he receives from the
merchants amount annually to a confiderable
fum.
The moft remarkable public buildings in
Maimatfchin, are the governor's houfe, the
theatre, and two pagodas. The governor's
houfe is larger than the others, and better
furnifhed ; it is diftinguiihed by a chamber
where the court of juftice is held, and by two
high poles before the entrance ornamented
* In China the princes of the blood wear three peacocks
feathers ; nobles of the higheft diftinftion, two ; arid the
lower clafs of the nobility, one. It is alfo a mark of high
rank to keep 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.
7 with
RUSSIA AND CfclNA. 3!!
With flags. The theatre is fituated clofe to
the wall of the town near the great Pagoda 1
it is a kind of fmall fhed, neatly painted, -open
in front, and merely fpacious enough to con-
tain the ftage ; the audience {land in the ftreet.
Near it are two high poles, upon which large
flags with Chinefe infcriptions are hoifted on
feftivals. On fuch occafions the fervants be-
longing to the merchants acl: fhort buflefque
farces, in honour of their idols. The fmalleft
of the two Pagodas is a wooden building,
{landing upon pillars, in the center of the
town, at the place where the two principal
ftreets crofs. It is a Chinefe tower of two
{lories, adorned on the outfide with fmatl co-
lumns, paintings, and little iron bells, &c.
The firfl flory is fquare, the fecond odlangu-
lar. In the lower flory is a picture reprefent-
ing the God Tien, which fignifies, according
to the explanation of the mofl intelligent Chi-
nefe, the Mofl High God, who rules over the
thirty-two heavens. The Manfhurs, it is
faid, call this idol Abcho ; and the Mon-
gols, Tingheru, heaven, or the God of
heaven. He is reprefented fitting with
his head uncovered, and encircled with a
Y ray
COMMERCE BETWEEN
ray * of glory fimilar to that which furrounds
the head of our Saviour in the Roman ca-
tholic paintings : his hair is long and flowing ;
he holds in his right hand a drawn fward^
and his left is extended as in the a<5t 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.
The upper ftory contains the picture of
another idol in a hlack and white checquered
cap, with the fame figures of three young
perfons and a little old man. There are no
altars in this temple, and no other ornaments
excepting thefe pictures and their frames. It
is opened only on fefKvals, and ftrangers can-
not fee it without permiffion.
The great Pagoda -j-> iituated before the
governor's houfe, and near the principal gate
look-
* When Mr. Pallas obtained permiffion of the governor to
fee this temple, the latter affured him that the Jeiuits of
Pekin, and their converts, adored this idol. From whence
he ingenioufly conjectures, either that the refemblance be-
tween this idol, and the reprefentation of our Saviour by
the Roman Catholicks, was the occafion of this aflertion ;
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 great Pagoda is omitted in the engraving of Mai-
matfchin prefixed to this chapter ; an omiffion owing to the
ar-
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 323
looking to the South, is larger and more mag-
nificent than the former. Strangers are al-
lowed 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. This area is fur-
rounded with chevaux de frize : the en-
trance is from the South through two gates
with a fmall building between them. In
the infide of this building are two receffes
with rails before them, behind which the
images of two horfes as big as life are
cqarfely moulded out of clay : they are
faddled and bridled, and attended by two hu-
man 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 for-
mer is in the attitude of fpringing, the latter
of walking. Near each horfe a banner of
yellow filk, painted with lilver dragons, is
difplayed.
In the middle of this area are two wooden
turrets furrounded with galleries : a large bell
artift's being obliged to leave Kialcta before he had time to
finifli the drawing. In every other refpeft, the view, as I
was informed by a gentleman who has been on the fpot,
is complete, and reprefented with the greateft exa&nefs.
Y2 Of
324 COMMERCE. BETWEEN
of caft iron, which is ftruck occasionally with
a large wooden mallet, hangs in the Eaftern
turret ; the other contains two kettle-drums
of an enormous fize, fimilar to thofe ufed in
the religious ceremonies of the Calmucs. On
each fide of this area are ranges of buildings
inhabited by the priefts of the temple.
The area communicates by means of a
handfome gateway with the inner court,
which is bordered on each fide by fmall com-
partments open in front, with rails before
them ; in the inlide of thefe compartments
the legendary ftories of the idols are exhibited
in a feries of hiftorical paintings* At the far-
ther extremity of this court {lands a large
building, conftru&ed in the fame flyle of ar-
chitecture 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 fpears, fcythes, and
long pikes with broad blades, fhields, coats
of arms, and military enfigns reprefenting
hands *, dragons heads, and other carved
figures. All thefe warlike inftruments are
richly gilded, and ranged in order upon fcaf-
* Thefe hands refemble the manipulary flandards of the
Romans.
2 folds
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 325
folds along the wall. Oppofite the entrance
a large yellow ftandard, embroidered with fo-
liage and filver dragons, is erected ; under it,
upon a kind of altar, there is a feries of
little oblong tables, bearing Chinefe infcrip-
tions.
An open gallery, adorned on both fides
with flower-pots, leads from the back-door of
the armoury to the colonade of the temple.
In this colonade two flate tablets are placed,
in wooden frames, about fix feet high and
two broad, with long infcriptions relating to
the building of the temple. Before one of
thefe plates a fmall idol of an hideous form
ftands upon the ground, enclofed in a wooden
cafe.
The temple itfelf is an elegant building,
richly decorated on the outfide with columns,
lackered and gilded carved- work, fmall bells*
and other ornaments peculiar to the Chinefe
architecture. Within there is a rich pro-
fufion of gilding, which correfponds with
the gaudinefs of the exterior. The walls
are covered thick with paintings, exhibiting
the moft celebrated exploits of the principal
idol.
Y 3 This
326 COMMENCE BETWEEN
This temple contains five idols of a co-
lon^! ftature, fitting crofs-legged upon pedef-
tals in three recefles, which fill the whole
Northern fide.
The principal idol is feated alone, in the
middle recefs, between two columns orna-
mented with gilded dragons. 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, or Ghefl'ur
Chan * ; the Chinefe call him Loo-ye, or the
firfl and molt antient; and the Manfhurs,
Guanloe, or the fuperior god. He is of a gi-
gantic fize, furpaffing more than fourfold the
human ftature, with a face gliftening likq
burniflied gold, black hair and beard. He
* 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 Eaftera Tartary, who
was born at the fource of the Koango, and who vaiwjuiflied
many monfters. They have in their language a very long
hillory of his heroical deeds. His title, in the Mongul
tongue, is as follows : Arban Zeeghi Effin Gheffur Bogdo
Chan : the king of the ten point? of the compafs, or the
monarch Gheffur Chan.
I have in my poffeffion a copy of this manufcript, contain-
ing the Hiftory of Gheffur Chan j it is in the original Mon-
gol language, and was a prefent to me from Mr. Pallas : I
ihould be very happy to communicate it to any perfon veiled
in the Eafiern langurges.
I wears
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 327
wears a crown upon his head, and is richly
drefled in the Chinefe fafhion : his garments
are not moulded out of clay, as thofe of the
other idols ; but are made of the fmefr. filk.
Me holds in his hands a kind of tablet, which
he feems to read with deep attention. Two
imall female figures, refembling girls of about
fourteen years of age, fbnd on each fide of
the idol, upon the fame pedeftal ; one of
which grafps a roll of paper. At the right-
hand of the idol lie feven golden arrows, and
at his left a bow.
Before the idol is a fpacious enclofure, fur-
rounded with rails, within which ilands an
altar with four coloflal figures, intended pro-
bably to reprefent the principal mandarins of
the deified Gheffur. Two of thefe figures are
drefled like judges, and hold before them
fmall tablets, fimilar to that in the hands of
the principal idol. T ne two other figures are
accoutred in complete armour : one wears a
turban ; and carries, upon the left moulder,
a large fwor^l meathed, with the hilt up-
wards. The other has an hideous copper-
coloured face, a large belly \ and grafps in
his right-hand a lance with a broad blade,
all the remaining idols in the tem-
Y 4
328 COMMERCE BETWEEN
pie are ,of an enormous fize, yet they arc
greatly furpaffed in magnitude by Gheffur
Chan.
The firfr, idol in the recefs to the right is
called Maooang, or the Otfchibanni of the
Mongols. He has three ghaftly copper-co-
loured faces, and fix arms : two of his arms
brandim two fabres crofs-ways over the head ;
a third bears a looking- glafs ; and a fourth a
kind of fquare, which refembjes a piece of
ivory. The two remaining arms are em-
ployed in drawing a bow, with an arrow laid
upon it, ready to be difcharged. This idol
has a mirror upon his breaft, and an eye in
his navel : near it are placed two fmall
figures ; one holds an arrpw, and the other a
Jittle animal.
The next idol in the fame recefs is called
by the Chinefe Tfaudfing, or the gold and
filver god ; and by the Mongols Tfagan-
Pfambala. He wears a black cap, and is
drefled, after the Chinefe fafliion, in fump-
tuous robes of ftate ; he bears in his hand a
fmall jewel cafket. Near him alfo fland two
little figures, one of which hplds a truncated
branch.
In
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 329
In the recefs to the left is the god Kufho,
called by the Manfhurs Kua-fchan, and by
the Mongols Galdi, or the Fire God. He is
reprefented with a frightful firey reddim face :
clad in complete armour, he wields a fword
half-drawn out of the fcabbard ; and feems as
in the a& of ftarting up from his feat. He is
attended by two little halberdeers, one of
whom is crying ; and the other bears a fowl
upon his rjand, which refembles a fea-phea-
fant.
The other idol in the fame recefs is the god
of oxen, Niu-Q. He appears to be fitting in
a compofed pofture, is habited like a Man-
darin, and diftinguimed by a crown upon his
head. He has, in common with the other
idols, a mirror upon his bread. The Chi-
nefe imagine him to be the fame with the Ya-
mandaga of the Mongols ; and it is faid his
Manfliurim name is Kain Killova ; his Mon-
gol 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 flefti, are placed on festivals and prayer-
days : on particular occafions even whole car-
cafles of fheep are offered up. Tapers and
lamps
~^O COMMERCE BETWEEN
lamps burn day and night before the idols.
Among the uteniils of the temple, the moil
remarkable is a veffel maped like a quiver,
and rilled with flat pieces of cleft reed, 011
which fhort devices are inlcribed. Thefe de-
vices are taken out by the Chinefe on New-
year's day ; and are coniidered as oracles*
which foretell the good or ill luck of the per-
fon, by whom they are drawn, during the
following year. There lies alfo upon a table
an hollow wooden black lackered helmet,
which all perfons of devotion ftrike with a
wooden hammer, whenever they enter the
temple. This helmet is regarded with fuch
peculiar awe, that no Grangers are permitted
to handle it, although they are; allowed tp
touch even the idols themfelves.
The firft day of the new and full moon is
appointed for the celebration of wormip.
Upon each of thofe days 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
oach idol ; touches with his forehead the pe-
deftal on which the idol fits ; and then re-
* Among the Chinefe, as well as other Eaftern nations,
it is reckoned a mark of difrefpea to uncover the head be-
fore a fuj^piipr.
tires*
ft US SI A AND CHINA. 331
tifes. Their principal feftivals are held in
the firft month of their year, which anfwers
to February. 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 bufmefs : at that time they difplay flags
before the temples ; and place meat upon the
tables of the idols, which the priefts take
away in the evening, and eat in the fmall
apartments of the interior court. On thefe
iolemnities plays are performed in the theatre,
in honour of the idols : the pieces are generally
of the fatyrical kind, and pointed againft un-
juft magiftrates and judges.
But although the Chinefe have fuch few
ceremonies in their fyftem of religious wor*
fhip ; yet they are remarkably infected with
fuperftition. Mr. Pallas gives the following
defcription of their behaviour at Maimatfchin
during an eclipfe of the moon. At the clofe
of the evening in which the eclipfe appeared,
all the inhabitants feemed to vie with each
other indefatigably in railing an inceflant up-
roar, fome by hideous fhrieks, others by
knocking wood, and beating cauldrons : the
din was heightened by finking the bell and
beating the kettle-drums of the great Pagoda.
The
COMMERCE BETWEEN
The Chinefe fuppofe, that during an ecfipfe
the wicked fpirit of the air, called by the
Mongols Araknlla, is attacking the moon ;
and that he is frightened away by thefe hi-
deous mrieks and noifes. Another inftance
of fuperftition fell under the obfervation of
Mr. Pallas, while he was at Maimatfchin. A
fire breaking out with fuch violence that fe-
veral houfes were in flames, none of the in-
habitants attempted to extinguish it ; they
flood indeed in idle confirmation round the
fire ; and fome of them fprinkled 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 themfelves in quench-
ing the fire, the whole place would probably
have been reduced to aflies *-..
CHAP.
* This account of Kiakta and Maimatfchin is taken from
Mr. Pallas's defcription of Kiakta, in th*e journal of his tra-
vels through Siberia, P. III. p. 109 126. Every circum-
ftance relating to the religious worfhip of the Eaftern nations
is in itfelf fo intereiling, that I thought it would not be un-
acceptable to my readers to give a tranflation of the above
jjaflages refpefting the Chinefe Pagodas and Idols ; although
in a work treating of the new difcovertes, a"nd the commerce
which is connected with them. In the abovementioned
journal the ingenious author continues to defcribe from his
own obfervations the manners, cuftoms, drefs, diet, and fe-
yeral other particulars relative to the Chinefe ; which, al-
though exceedingly curious and interefling, are too foreign
* to
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 333
CHAP. IV.
Commerce between ike Chinefe and Ruffians
lift of the principal exports and Imports
duties average amount of the Ruffian trade.
THE merchants of Maimatfchin come
from the Northern provinces of China,
chiefly from Pekin, Nankin, Sandchue, and
other principal towns. They are not fettled
at this place with their wives and families :
for it is a remarkable circumftance, that there
is not one woman in Maimatfchin. This re-
to the immediate purpofe of thefe fheets to have beeninferted
in the prefent work.
No writer has placed the religion andhiftory of the Mon-
gol nations in a more explicit point of view than Mr. Pal-
las j every page in .his interefting journal affords ftrikmg
proofs of this aflertion. He has lately thrown new lights
upon this obfcure fubjecl, in a recent publication concerning
the Mongols, who inhabit parts of Siberia, and the territory
which lies between that country and the Chinefe-wall. Of
t-his excellent work the firft volume appeared in 1776, and
contains the genealogy, hiftory, laws, manners, and cuf-
toms, of this extraordinary people, as they are divided into
Calmucs, Mongols, and Burats. The fecond volume is ex-
peeled 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 feels into which thefe tribes are
dillingnilhed. Pallas Samlung hiitorifchsr Xachrichten uebcr
die Mongolifchen Volkerfchafter.
{friction
334 COMMERCE BETWEEN
ftriftion arifes from the policy of the Chinefe
government, which totally prohibits the wo-
men from having the flighted intercourfe with
foreigners. No Chinefe merchant engages in
the trade to Siberia who has not a partner.
Thefe perfons mutually relieve each other.
One remains for a ftated time, ufually a year,
at Kiakta ; and, when his partner arrives
with a frem cargo of Chinefe merchandize,
he returns home with the Ruffian commo-
dities *.
Moft of the Chinefe merchants underftand
the Mongol tongue, in which language com-
mercial affairs are generally tranfacled. Some
few indeed fpeak 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 initead of it
ufe an L ; and when two con fan ants come
together, which frequently occurs in the Ruf-
fian tongue, they divide them by the inter-
poiition of a vowel -f . This failure in arti-
culating
* Pallas Reife, P. III. p, 125.
} Bayer, in his Mufeum Sinicum, gives feveral curiou
inftances of the Chinefe mode of articulating thofe founds,
which they have not in their own language. For. inftance
they change BDRXZ into PTLSS.
Thus
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 33$
culating the Ruffian language feems peculiar
to the Chinefe ; and is not obfervable in the
Calmucs, Mongols, and other neighbouring
nations *.
The commerce between the Ruffians and
Chinefe is entirely a trade of barter, or aa
exchange of one merchandize for another.
The Ruffians are prohibited to export their
own coin : nor indeed could the Chinefe re-
ceive it, even ihould that prohibition be taken
off; for no fpecie is current amongft them
except bullion f And the Ruffians find it
more
Thus for Maria they fay Ma-H-ya ;
for crux, cu-hi-fu ;
for baptizo, pa-pe-ti-fo;
for cardinal!?, kia-ul-fi-na-Ii-fu ;
for fpirkus, fu-pi-li-tu-fu ;
for Adam, va-tam ;
for Eva, nge-va ;
for Chtiftus, ki-li-fu-tu-fu ;
Hoc, eft, corpus, meum ho-ke, nge-fu-tu, co-uU
pu-fu-me-vutn.
Bayer, 3Muf. Sin. Tom. I. p. 15.
* Pallas Reife, P. III. "p. 134.
f The Chinefe have no gold or filver coin. Thefe me-
tals are always paid in bullion ; and for the purpofe of af-
certaining the weight, every Chinefe merchant is conftantly
provided with a pair of fcales. As gold is very fcarce in
China, filver is the great medium of commerce. When fe-
veral authors affirm that the Ruffians draw large quantities
of filver from China, they miftake an accidental occurrence
for a general and Handing fat. During the war between
the Chinefe and Calmucs, the former had occafion to pur-
chafe at Kiakta provifion, horfes, and camels, for which
they
336 COMMERCE BET WEEK
more advantageous to take merchandize in
exchange, than to receive bullion at the Chi-
nefe flandard. The common method of tranf-
a&ing bufinefs is as follows. The Chinefe
merchant, having at Kiakta examined the
merchandize he has occafion for in the ware-
houfe of the Ruffian trader, adjufts at the
houfe of the latter the price over a dim of
tea. Both parties next return to the maga-
zine ; and the goods in queftion are carefully
fealed in the prefence of the Chinefe mer-
chants. At the conclufion of this ceremony,
they both repair to Maimatfchin ; the Ruffian
choofes the commodities he wants, not for-
getting to guard againft fraud by a ftricl: in-
they paid filver. This traffic brought fuch a profufion o*
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 9 roubles, which
at prefent is worth 15 or 1 6. But fince the conclufion of
thefe wars by the total reduction of the Calmucs under the
Chinefe yoke, Ruflia receives a very fmall quantity of filver
from the Chinefe. S. R. G. III. p. 593 & feq.
The filver imported to Kiakta is chiefly brought by the
Bucharian merchants, who fell cattle to the Chinefe in ex-
change for that metal, which they afterwards difpofe of to
the Ruffians for European manufactures. Gold-duft is allo
occafionally obtained from the fame merchants ; the quan-
tity however of thofe metals procured at Kiakta is lo incon-
fiderable, as fcarcely to deferve mention. The whole fum of
gold and ftlver imported to Kiakta, in 1777, amounted to
otity- 18,215 roubles. See p. 344.
fpe&ion.
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 337
fpecYion. He then takes the precaution to
leave behind a perfon of confidence, who re-
mains in the warehoufe until the Ruffian
goods are delivered, when he returns to Kiakta
with the Chinefe merchandize *.
The principal commodities which Ruffia
exports to China are as follow :
FURS and PELTRY. It would be unin-
terefting to enumerate all the furs and fkins -f
brought for fale to Kiakta, which form the
nioft important article of exportation on the
fide of the Ruffians. The moft valuable are
the fkins of fea-otters, beavers, foxes, wolves,
bears, Buchanan lambs, Aftracan fheep, mar-
tens, fables, ermines, grey-fquirrels.
The greatefl part of thefe furs and fkins
are brought from Siberia and the New-dif-
covered iflands : a fupply however not fully
adequate to the demand of the market. Fo-
reign furs are therefore imported to St. Peterf-
burg, and from thence fent to Kiakta. England
alone furnifhes a large quantity of beaver and
* Pallas Reife, P. III. p, 135.
t The lift of all the furs and (kins brought to Kiakta,
with their feveral prices , is to be found in Pallas Reife,
Part III. p. 136 to p. 142.
Z other
338 COMMERCE BETWEEN
other Ikins, which (he procures from Hud-
fon's Bay and Canada *.
CLOTH. Cloth forms the fecond article
of exportation which Ruflia exports to China.
The coarfe fort is manufactured in Ruflia ;
the finer is foreign, chiefly Englifh, Pruflian,
and French. An arfhire of foreign cloth
fetches, according to its finenefs, from 2 to 4
roubles. Camlets. Calimancoes. Druggets.
White flannels, both Ruflian and foreign.
The remaining articles are, Rich fluffs.
Velvets. Coarfe linen, chiefly manufactured
* Lift of furs fent from England to Peter fburg in tkc
following years :
Beaver-fldns. Otter-Jkins.
1775 46460
1776
1777
27700
27316
7H3
12086
10703
The fineft Hudfon's beavers have been fold upon an ave-
rage at Peterftmrg, from 70 90 roubles per 10 sktoa.
Inferior ditto and beft Ca-
nada heavers from 50 75
Young or cub-beavers from 20 3
Beft otter- skins from 90 100
Inferior ones from 60 80
The qualities of thefe skins being very different occafion
great variations in the prices.
At Kiakta, the beft Hud-
fon's Bay beaver is fold from 7 to 20 roubles per skin.
Otter's ditto 6 35
Black foxes skins ftom Canada are alfo fometimes fent from
England to Feteriburg.
At Kiakta they fetch from i to 100 roubles per skin.
in
RUSSIA AND CHIKA.
in Ruffia. Ruffia leather. Tanned hides.
Glafs ware and looking glaffes. Hardware,
namely knives, fciflars, 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 *.
Meal. The Chinefe no longer import iuch
large quantities of meal as formerly ; fince
they have employed the Mongols to culti-
vate the lands lying near the river Orchon f *
&c. &c.
Lift of the moft valuable commodities
procured from China.
RAW AND MANUFACTURED SILK.
The exportation of raw iilk is prohibited in,
China under pain of death : large quantities
however are fmuggled every year into Kiakta,
but not fufficient to anfwer the demands of
the Ruffian merchants.
* In the year 1772, the Chinefe purchafed meat at Ki
akta, at the following prices :
A pound of beef 3! copecs.
Horfe-flefh for the Tartars |. Pallas Reife, P. III.
t S. R. G. III. p, 49557!. Pallas Reife, P. 111. p.
136144.
Z 4 A poad
K/l
34 COMMERCE BETWEEN
A pood of the beft fort is efti-
mated at 1 50 roubles ;
of the worft fort at 75
The manufactured (ilks are of various forts,
fafhions, and prices, viz. fattins, tafFaties, da-
mafks, and gauzes, fcanes of filk died of all
colours, ribbands, &c. &c.
RAW AND MANUFACTURED COT-
TON. Raw cotton is imported in very large
quantities ; a great part of this commodity
being employed in packing up the china-ware
is conveyed into 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 good-
riefs, the cheapeft of all the Chinefe fluffs ;
it is flamed red, brown, green, and black.
TEAS. The teas which are brought into
Ruffia are much fuperior in flavour and qua-
lity 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-
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 341
conjectured, that the tranfport by fea con-
fiderably impairs the aromatic flavour of the
plant. This commodity, now become fo fa-
vourite an object of European luxury, is
efteemed by the Ruffian merchants the moft
profitable article of importation.
AtKiaktaapoundofthebefttea *is
eftimated at 2 roubles.
Common ditto at I
Inferior at 40 cop.
PORCELAIN OF ALL SORTS. For
fome years paft the Chinefe have brought to
Kiakta, parcels of porcelain, painted with
European figures, with copies of feveral fa-
vourite prints and images of the Grecian and
Roman deities.
Furniture, particularly Japan cabinets and
cafes, lackered and varnifhed tables and
chairs, boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl,
&c. &c.
Fans, toys, and other fmall wares. Arti-
ficial flowers. Tiger and panther fkins. Ru-
bies f , but neither in large quantities nor of
* At Peterlburg a pound of the belt green tea fetches 3
roubles.
f Rubies are generally procured byfmuggling; 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.
Z 3 great
34* COMMERCE BETWEEN
great value. White lead, vermilion, and
other colours. Canes. Tobacco. Rice. Su-
gar - candy. Prelerved ginger, and other
fweatmeats. Rhubarb *. Mufk, &c. &c.
It is very difficult to procure the genuine,
Thibet mufk, becaufe the Chinefe purchafe a
bad fort, brought from Siberia, with which
they adulterate that which is brought from
Thibet f.
Ruffia derives 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
3 vejy high price, would, on account of their
dearnefs, feldom meet with purchafers in the
Ruffian dominions. In exchange for thefe
commodities the Ruffians receive from China
feverai valuable articles of commerce, which
they would otherwife be obliged to buy at a
* See Chap. VI. p. 351.
t S. R. G. III. j>. 572592. Pallas Reife, P. III. p.
144153-
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 343
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 va-
luable goods were prohibited to individuals ;
at prefent only the following articles are pro-
hibited. Among the exports, fire-arms and
artillery; gun- powder and ball; gold and
filver, coined and uncoined ; ftallions and
mares ; {kins of deer, rein-deer, elks, and
horfes; beaver's hair, potafh, rofin, thread,
and * tinfel-lace : among the imports, fait,
brartdy, poifons, and copper-money.
The duties paid by the Ruffian merchants
are very conliderable ; great part of the mer-
chandife is taxed at 25 per cent.
Furs, cattle, and provifions, pay
a duty of 23.
Ruffian manufactures j 8.
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 fup-
port of the cuflom-houfe.
* Tinfel-lacc is fmuggled to the Chinefe, with confi-
derable profit ; for they pay nearly as much for i; as if it
was folid filver. S. R. G. III. p. 588.
344 COMMERCE BETWEEN
Some articles, both of export and import
pay no duty. The exported are, writing,
royal, and poft paper ; Ruffian cloth of all
forts and colours, excepting peafants cloth.
The imported are, fattins, raw and flamed
cottons, porcelain, earthen-ware, glafs co-
rals, beads, fans, all mufical inflruments,
furniture, lackered and enamelled ornaments,
needles, white-lead, rice, preferved ginger,
and other fweet-meats *.
The importance of this trade will appear
from the following table.
Table of exportation and importation at
Kiakta, in the year 1777.
Roubles. Cop.
Cuftom-houfe duties, 481,460. 59^,
Importation of Chinefe
goods, to the value of 1,466,497. 34..
Of gold and.filver, 18,215.
Total of importation 1,484,712. 31.
Exportation of Ruffian
commodities 1,583,621. 35,
From this table it appears,
that the total fum of expoi/t
and import amounts to 2,868,333.
* Pallas Reife, P. III. p. 154. *
4 In
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 345
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 preceding years *, we may
venture to eftimate the grofs amount of the
average trade to China at near 4,000,000
roubles.
CHAP. V.
Defcrlption of Zurukaitu and Its trade
*Tr an/port of the tnerchandtfe through Siberia.
AS almoft the whole intercourfe between
Ruffia and China is confined to Kiakta,
the general account of the traffic has been
given in the preceding chapter. The defcrip-
tion therefore of Zurukaitu, the other place
fixed upon by the treaty of Kiakta for the
* In the years 1770, 1771, 1772, the cuftom-houfe duties
at Kiakta (according to Mr. Pallas, P. III. p. 154.) pro-
duced 550,000 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 515,730 ; 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 im-
ports at 3,094,380. But as feveral goods pay no duty , and
as the contraband trade, according to the lowett valuation, is .
cftimated 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 ftated above.
pur-
346 COMMERCE BETWEEN
purpofe of carrying on the fame trade, will
neceflarily be comprifed in a narrow com-
pafs.
Zurukaitu is iltuated in 137 longitude,
and 49 20' N. latitude, upon the Weftern
branch of the river Argoon, at a fmall di-
ftance from its fource. It is provided with a
fmall garrifon, and a few wretched barracks
furrounded with chevaux de frife. No mer-
chants are fettled at this place : a few traders
come every fummer from Nerminfk, and
other Ruffian towns, in order to meet two
parties of Mongol troops, who are fent from
the Chinefe towns Naun and Merghen, and
arrive at the frontiers about July. Thefe
troops encamp near Zurukaitu upon the other
fide of the river Argoon, and barter with the
Siberian merchants a few Chinefe commodi-
ties, which they bring with them.
Formerlv the commerce carried on at Zu-
^ t
rukaitu was more confiderable ; but at prefent
it is fo trifling, that it fcarcely deferves to be
mentioned. Thefe Mongols furnim the di-
ftric~t of Nerfhinfk with bad tea and tobacco,
bad filks, and fome tolerable cottons. They
receive in return ordinary furs, cloth, cattle,
and Ruffian leather. This trade lails about a
month
RUSSIA AND CHINA*
month or fix weeks ; and the annual duties
of the cuftoms amount upon an average to no
more than 500 roubles. About the middle of
Auguft the Mongols retire : part proceed im-
mediately 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 ufur-
pation upon the limits. At the fame time the
Ruifian merchants return to Ner(hin(k, and,
were it not for a fmall garrifon, Zurukaitu
would be quite deferted *.
The Ruffian commodities are tranfported
by land from Peteifb'urg and Mofcow to To-
bolik. From thence the merchants fome-
times embark upon the Irtim down to its
junction with the Oby ; then they either tow
up their boats, or fail up the laft mentioned
river as far as Narym, where they enter the
Ket, which they afcend to MakofHkoi Oflrdg.
At that place the merchandize is conveyed
about ninety verils by land to the Yenisei.
The merchants then afcend that river, the
Tungulka, and Angara, to Irkutfk ; crofs the
lake Baikal ; and gp up the river Selenga al-
moft to Kiakta.
* 5. R. G. III. p. 465. Pallas Reife, P. m. p. 428.
It
348 COMMER CE BETWEEN
It is a work of fuch difficulty to afcend
the ftreams of fo many rapid rivers, that this
navigation Eaftwards can hardly he fmifhed
in one fummer* ; for which reafon the mer-
chants commonly prefer the way by land.
Their general rendezvous is the fair of Irbit
near Tobolfk : from thence they go in fledges
during winter to Kiakta, where they arrive
about February, the feafon in which the
chief commerce is carried on with the Chi-
nefe. 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 fpring with the Chi-
nefe goods, which are of greater bulk and
weight than the Ruffian commodities, they
proceed by water : they then defcend the
tfreams of moft of the rivers, namely, the
Selenga, Angara, Tungulka, Ket, and Oby
to its junction with the Jrtifh ; they afcend
that river to Tobolfk, and continue by land
to Mofcow and Peterfburg.
Before the paflage from Okotfk to Bolche-
refk was difcovered in 171 6, the only com-
* Some of thefe rivers are only navigable in fpring when
the fnow water is melting ; in winter the rivers are in ge-
neral frozen.
munication
RUSSIA AND CHINA. 349
munlcation between Kamtchatka and Siberia
was by land ; and the road lay by Anadirfk
to Yakutlk. The furs * of Kamtchatka and
of the Eaftern Ifles are now conveyed from
that peninfula by water to Okotlk ; from
thence to Yakutik by land on horfe-back, or
by rein- deer: the roads are fo very bad, ly-
ing either through a rugged mountainous
country, or through marmy forefts, that the
journey lafts at leaft fix weeks. Yakutfk is
fituated upon the Lena, and is the principal
town, where the choiceft furs are brought m
their way to Kiakta, as well from Kamt-
chatka as from the Northern parts of Siberia,
which lie upon the rivers Lena, Yana, and
Indigirka. At Yakutlk the goods are em-
barked upon the Lena, towed up the ftreana
of that river as far as Verkolenik, or frill far-
ther to Katfheg ; from thence they are tranf-
ported over a mort tract of land to the rivukt
Buguldeika, down that ftream to the lake
Baikal, acrofs that lake to the mouth of the
* The furs, which are generally landed upon
coaft of Kamtchatka, are either lent by fea to Bolcheretsk,
or are tranfported acrofs the psninfula in fledges drawn by
dogs. The latter conveyance is only ufed in winter : it is
the common mode of travelling in that country. In lummer
there is no conveyance, as the Peninfula contains neiihcr
oxen, horfes, or rein-deer. S. R. G. III. p\ 478.
Se-
350 COMMERCE, &C.
Selenga, and up that river to the neighbour*
hood of Kiakta.
In order to give the reader fome notion of
that vaft tract of country, over which the
merchandize is frequently tranfported by
land-carriage, a lift of the diftances is here
fubjoined.
From Peter{burg to Mofcow 734 verfb.
Mofcow to Tobollk 2385
Tobollk to Irkutlk 2918
Irkutlk to Kiakta 471
6508
or 4338 miles and 4*
From Irbit to Tobolfk 420
From Irkutlk to Nerfliinlk 1129
Nerlhinlk to Zurukaitu 370
From Okotlk to Yakutfk 927
Yakutfk to Irkutlk 2433
From Selenginfk to Zurukaitu 856
Zu rukaitu to Pekin 1588
Kiakta to Pekin 1532
The Chinefe tranfport their goods to Kiakta
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 Kiakta *.
* Pallas ReUe, P. III. p. 134.
CHAP.
*ARTARIA* RHUBARB. 35?
CHAP. VL
Tartarian rhubarb brought to Kiakta by the Bu-
chanan Merchants Method of examining
and pur chafing the roots Different fpecies of
rheum which yield the finejl rhubarb Price
of rhubarb In Ruffia Exportation Supe-
riority of the Tartarian over the Indian rhu-
barb.
EUROPE 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 import it from
the Levant in our commerce with the Turks,
who procured it through Perfia from the Bu-
charians ; and it ftill retains its original name,
although inftead of being carried, as before,
to Conftantinople, it is now brought to Kiakta
by the Bucharian merchants, and there dif-
pofed of to the Ruffians. This appellation is
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
2 through
35* TARTARIAN RHUBARB.
through the middle : they are externally of a
yellow colour, and, when cut, appear va-
riegated with lively reddifh ftreaks.
The other fort is called by the Druggifls
Indian Rhubarb ; and is procured from Can-
ton in longer, harder, heavier, more compact
pieces, than the former : it is more aftrin-
gent, and has fomewhat lefs of an aromatic
flavour ; but, on account of its cheapnefs, is
more generally ufed than the Tartarian or
Turkey Rhubarb.
The government of Ruffia has referved to
itfelf the exclufive privilege of purchafing
rhubarb ; it Is brought to Kiakta by fome Bu-
charian merchants, who have entered into a
contract to fupply the crown with 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. Kafhkar, Yerken, Atrar,
&c. are fubjecl: to China.
The beft rhubarb purchafed at Kiakta is
produced upon a chain of rocks, which are
very high, and for the moft part deftitute of
wood : they lie North of Selin, and ftretcfr
as far as the Koko-Nor. The good roots are
diftin-
TARTARIAN R & U B A R B. 35 j
dtftinguifhed by large and thick ftems. The
Tanguts, who are employed in digging up
the roots, enter upon that bufinefs in April
or May. As faft as they take them out of
the earthj they cleanfe diem from the foil^
and hang them upon the neighbouring trees
to dry, where 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, care*
fully preferved from the leaft humidity ; and
are in this manner tranfported to Kiakta upon
camels*
The exportation of the beft rhubarb is pro-
hibited by the Chinefe, under the fevereft pe-
nalties. It is procured however in fufficient
quantities, fometimes by clandeftinely mixing
it with inferior roots, and fometimes by
means of a contraband trade. The College
of Commerce at Peterfburg is folely * em-
powered to receive this drug, and appoints
agents at Kiakta for that purpofe. Much
care is taken in the choice ; for it is examined,
* The Emprefs has lately aboliflied this exclufive privi-
lege vefted in the College of Commerce for the purchafe
of rhubarb at Kiakta ; and now all peribns'are indifcrimi-
nately permitted to buy that drug from the Buchanan raer
chants.
A a in
354- TARTARIAN RHUBARB.
in the prefence of the Bucharian merchants,
by an apothecary commiffioned by govern-
ment, and refident at Kiakta. All the worm-
eaten roots are rejected ; the remainder are
bored through, in order to afcertain their
foundnefs ; and all the parts which appear in
the leaft damaged or decayed are cut away.
By thefe means even the befl roots are di-
minimed a fixthpart ; and the refufe is burnt,
in order to prevent its being brought another
year *.
Linn<cus has diftinguifhed the different fpe-
cies of rhubarb by the names Rheum Palma-
tum, R. Rhaphonticum, -{-& Rhabarbarum,
R. Compa&um, and R. Ribes.
Botanifts have long differed in their opi-
nions, which of thefe feveral fpecies is the
true rhubarb ; and that queftion does not ap-
pear to be as yet fatisfactorily determined.
According to the moft general opinion, it is fup-
* Pallas Reife, P. III. p. 155157. When Mr. Palla*
.was at Kiakta, the Bucharian merchant, who fupplies the
crown with rhubarb, brought lome pieces of white rhu-
barb (von milchveiflen rhabarber) which had a fweer tafte,
and was equa-1 in its effects to the beft fort.
f See Murray's edition of Linnxus Sydema Vegetab.
Gott. 1744. In the former editiun of Linnxus Rheum Rha-
"barbaruui is called R. Uadulatum.
pofed
TARTARIAN RHUBARB. 355
pofed to be the Rheum * Palmatum ; the
feeds of which were originally procured from
a Bucharian merchant, and diflributed to the
principal botanifts of fiurope. Hence this
plant has been cultivated with great fuccefs ;
and is now very common in all our botanical
gardens. The learned doctor -f Hope, pro-
feflbr of medicine and botany in the univer-
fity 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 appear-
ance of probability, that this is the plant
which produces the true rhubarb. But this
inference does not appear to be abfolutely
conclufive ; for the fame trials have been re-
peated, and with fimilar fuccefs, upon the
roots of the R. Rhaponticum arid R. Rhabar-
barum.
The leaves of the R. Rhaponticum arfr
round, and fometimes broader than they are
long. This fpecies is found abundantly in
* Mr. Pallas (to whom I am chiefly indebted for
account of the Tartarian and Siberian Rhubarb) affixed
me, that he never found the R. Palmatum in any part ot"
Siberia.
f Phil. Tranf. for 1765, p. 290.
A a 2 the
356 TARTARIAN RHUBARB.
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 applied by the Ara-
bian phyficians to the feveral fpecies of rheum.
The roots however which grow in thefe warm
plains are rather too aftringent ; and there-
fore ought not to be ufed in cafes where
opening medicines are required. The Cal-
mucs call it Badfhona, or a ftomachic. The
young (hoots of this plant, which appear in
March or April, are deemed a good anti-
fcorbutic ; and are ufed as fuch by the Ruf-
fians. The R. Rhaponticum is not to be
found to the Weft of the Volga. The feeds
of this fpecies produced at Peterfburg plants
of a much greater fize than the wild ones :
the leaves were large, and of a roundifh cor-
dated figure.
The R. Rhabarbarum grows in the crevices
of bare rocky mountains, and alfo upon gra-
velly foils : it is more particularly found in
the high yallies of the romantic country
iituated beyond Lake Baikal. Its buds do not
* The Yaik, now called the Ural, falls into the Cafpian
Sea, about four degrees to the Eail of the Volga.
fhoot
TARTARIAN RH,UBARB. 357
flioot before the end of April ; and it con-
tinues in flower during the whole month of
May. The {talks of the leaves are eaten raw
by the Tartars : they produce upon moft per-
fons, who are unaccuftomed to them, a kind
of fpafmodic contraction of the throat, which
goes off in a 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: accord-
ingly, foups of this fort affecl: grangers in
the manner above-mentioned. In Siberia the
{talk is fometimes p refer ved as a fweetrneat ;
and a cuftom 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 near the torrents has, as well as the
R. Rhabarbarum of Siberia, the upper part of
its roots generally rotten, from too much
moifhire : 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 hofpital, large quantities
of thefe roots to be dug up in Siberia, which
are prefcribed under the name of rhapontic.
A a 3 But
358 TARTARIAN RHUBAfcfc.
But the per Cons employed in digging and pre-
paring it are fo ill inftru&ed for that pur->
pofe, that its beft juices are frequently loft.
Thefe roots ought to be drawn up in the
fpring, foon after the melting of the fnows,
when the plant retains all its fap and ftrength ;
whereas they are not taken out of the ground
before Auguft, 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
diced in fmali pieces, and thus clried : by
which means the medicinal qualities are fen-
fibly impaired.
But the fame roots, which in the inftance
laft-mentioned were of fuch little efficacy,
were, when dried with proper precaution,
found to yield a very excellent rhubarb. The
procefs obferved for this purpofe, by the in-
genious 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
adually taken up in autumn, they fa nearly
refembled the beft Tartarian rhubarb in co-
lour, texture, and purgative qualities, that
TARTARIAN RHUBARB. 359
they anfwered, in every refpeft, the fame me-
dicinal purpofes.
A German apothecary, named Zukert,
made fimilar trials with the fame fuccefs,
both on the Rheum Rhabarharum and R.
Rhaponticum, which grow in great perfec-
tion on the mountains in the neighbourhood
ofNerfhinlk, He formed plantations of thefe
herbs on 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 made to dry, and then replanted
them. By this method of cultivation he pro-
duced in feven or eight years very large and
found roots, which the rock had prevented
from penetrating too deep ; and when they
were properly dried, one fcruple was as ef-
ficacious as half a drachm of Tartarian rhu-
barb.
From the foregoing obfervations it follows,
that there are other plants, befides the Rheum
* In order to fucceed fully in the plantation of rhubarb,
and to procure found and dry roots, a dry, light foil with a
rocky foundation, where the moifture eafily filters off, is ef-
fentially neceffary.
A a 4 Pal-
360 T A RT A R I A N RHUBARB.
Palmatum,- the roots xvhereof have been
found to be fimilar, both in their appearance
and effects, to what is called the befl rhu-
barb. And indeed, .upon enquiries made at
Kiakta concerning the form and leaves of the
plant which produces that drug, it feems not
to be the R. PalmatuiB, but a fpecies with
roundifh fcalloped leaves, and moft probably
the R. Rhaponticum : for Mr. Pallas, when,
he was at Kiakta, applied for information to
a Buchanan merchant of Selin Chotton, who
now fupplies the crown with rhubarb ; and
his defcription of that plant anfwered to the
figure of the Rheum Rhaponticum. The
truth of this defcription was dill further con-
firmed 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 Zukert and
others, upon the roots of the R. Rhabarbarum
and R. Rhaponticum, fufficiently prove, that
this valuable drug was procured from thofe
roots in great perfedtion. But, as the feeds of
the Rheum Palmatum were received from the
father of the above-mentioned Buchanan mer-
chant as taken from the plant which fur-
nilhes
TARTARIAN R IT B A R &. 36 1
niflies the true rhubarb, we have reafon to
conjecture, that thefe three fpecies, viz. R.
Palmatum, R. Rhaponticum, and R. Rha-
barbarum, when found in a drier and milder
alpine climate, and in proper fituations, are
indifcriminately drawn up, whenever the fize
of the plant feems to promife a fine root. And
perhaps the remarkable difference of the rhu-
barb, imported to Kiakta, is occafioned by
this indifcriminate method of collecting them.
Moft certain it is, that thefe plants grow wild
upon the mountains, without the lead culti-
vation ; and thofe are efteemed the beft which
are .found near the Koko-Nor, and about the
fources of the river Koango.
Formerly the exportation of rhubarb was
confined to the crown of Ruffia : and no per-
ions but thofe employed by government en-
joyed the permiifion 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. Peterfburg
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. Pe-
terfburg.
362 TARTARIAN RHUBARB.
terfburg. The current price is fettled every
year by the College of Commerce.
It is received from the Bucharian mer-
chants at Kiakta in exchange for furs ; and
the prime coft is rated at 1 6 roubles per pood.
By adding the pay of the commiffioners who
purchafe it, and of the apothecary who ex-
amines it, and allowing for other neceffary
expences, the value of a pood at Kiakta
amounts to 25 roubles ; add to this the car-
nage from the frontiers to St. Pererfburg,
and it is calculated that the price of a pood
ftands the crown at 30 roubles. The largeft
exportation of rhubarb from Ruffia was made
in the year 1765, when 1350 pood were ex-
ported, at 65 roubles per pood.
EXPORTATION of RHUBARB
from St. PETERSBURG.
fat 764. Dutch *dol-
Ini777. /9 poods i3! lars , orol roubles ,
pounds ,
3ocopecs, per pood.
In 1/78, 23 poods 7 pounds, at 80 ditto, or
96 roubles.
* If we reckon ff Dutch 4oUar, upon an average, to be
wtfrth i rouble 20 capecs.
In
TARTARIAN RHUBARB. 363
Jn 1779, 1055 poods were brought by the
pucharian merchants to. Kiakta ; of which
80 poods 19 pounds were felecled. The in*
terior confumption of the whole empire of
Ruflia for 1777 amounted to only 6 poods 5
pounds *.
The fuperiority of this Tartarian rhubarb
over that procured from Canton arifes pro-
bably from the following circumftances. i.
The fouthern parts of China are not fo proper
jfor the growth of this plant, as the mountains
pf Little Bucharia. 2. There is not fo exact
an examination in receiving it from the Chi-
nefe at Canton, as from the Buchanans at
Kiakta. For the merchants, who purchafe
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 Kiakta. 3. It is alfo probable, that the
long tranfport of this drug by lea is detri-
mental to it, from the humidity which it mufl
neceffarily contract during fo long a voyage.
* This calculation comprehends only the rhubarb pur-
ahafed at the different magazines belonging to the College of
Commerce ; for what was procured by contraband is of
courk not included*
APPENDIX.
[367]
APPENDIX, N I.
Concerning the longitude o/*Kamtchatka, and of
the Eaftern extremity of Afia, as laid dowtt
by the Ruffian Geographers.
THE important queftion concerning the
longitude of the extreme parts of Afia
has been fo differently ftated by the mofl ce-
lebrated geographers, that it may not be
amifs to refer the curious reader to the prin-
cipal treatifes upon that fubjeft. The proofs
by which Mr. Muller and the Ruffian geo-
graphers place the longitude of the Eaftern
extremity of Afia beyond 200 degrees from
the firft meridian of Fero, or 180 6' 15"
from Paris, are drawn from the obfervations
of the fatellites of Jupiter, made by Kraffil-
nikof, as well at Kamtchatka, as in different
parts of Siberia ; and from the expeditions of
the Ruffians by land and fea towards Tfchu-
kotfkoi Nofs.
Mr. Engel calls in queftion the exa&nefs of
thefe obfervations, and takes off twenty-nine
degrees from the longitude of Kamtchatka, as
laid
368 A P P E N D I X, N 3 I.
laid down by the Ruffians. To this purpofe
he has given to the public,
i. Memoires et obfervations geographiquea
et critiques fur la iituation des Pays Septen-
trionaux de 1'Aiie et de I'Amerique. A Lau-
fanne, 1765. 2. Geographifche und Cri-
tifche Nachricht ueber die Lage der noerd-
lichen Gegenden von Afien uhd America.
Mittau, 1772.
It appears to Monfieur de Vaugondy, that
there are not fufficient grounds for fo extra-
ordinary a diminution : accordingly he fhortens-
the continent of Afia only eleven degrees of
longitude ; and upon this fubjeft he has given
the two following treatifes : i. Lettre au fu-
jet d'une carte fyftematique des Pays Septen-
trionaux de 1'Afie et de TAmerique. Paris,
1768. 2. Nouveau fyftemc geographique,
par lequel on concilie les anciennes connoif-
fances fur les Pays au Nord Oueft de FAme-
rique. Paris, 1774*
In oppofition to thefe authors, Monfieur
Buache has publifhed an excellent treatife, en-
tituled Memoires fur les Pays de 1'Afie et de
rAmerique. Paris, 1775.
In this memoir he dhTents from the opinions
of Meffrs Engel and Vaugondy j and defends
*: the
APPENDIX, N I* 369
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 Kraf-
iilnikof, with the tables, has determined the
longitude of Okotfk, Bolcheretfk, and the
port of St. Peter and Paul, from the firft
meridian of Paris as follows :
h . .
* Longitude of Okotfk 9 23 30
of Bolcheretfk i o 17 17
of the Port 10 25 5
Latitude of Okotfk 59 22', of Bolcheretfk
52 55', of the Port 53 i '. The
* Kraffilnikftf compared his obfervations with corre-
fponding ones taken at Peterfburg, which gave refults as
follow :
From comparing an obfervation of an eclipfe of the firft
fatellite, taken at Okotlk the I7th of January,, I743 with
an obfervation of an eclipfe of the fame fatellite taken at
Peterlburg on the 1 5th of January in the fame year, the
difference of longitude between Peterfburg and Okotsk ap-
peared to be 7 h 31' 29" ; from a companfon of two other
fimilar obfervatiorts the difference of longitude was 7*31'
34", a mean of which (rejecting the | fecond) is 7** 3 i' 31",
being the true difference between the meridians of Peterf-
burg and Okotsk according to thefe obfervations. By ad-
ding the difference of the longitude between Petersburg and
Paris, which is i*> 52' 25", we have the longitude of Okotsk
from Paris ; h 23' 56", which differs only 26" from the re-
Cult of Monf. Maraldi. Nov. Comm. Pet. III. p. 476.
In the fame manner the longitude of Bolchcretsk appears
from the correfponding obfervations taken at that place and
at Peterlburg to be io h 20' 22", differing from Mr. Maraldi
about 2' 5". Nov. Com. p, 469.
B b But
3/0 A P P E N D I X, N I.
The comparifon of the following refults,
deduced from correfponding obfervations *
of the eclipfes of Jupiter's fatellites taken at
Bolcheretfk and at the port of Peter and Paul
by Kraffilnikof, and at Pekin by the Jefuit
miflionaries, will (hew from their near agree-
ment the care and attention which muft have
been given to the obfervations; and from hence
there is reafon to fuppofe, that the fufpicions
of inaccuracy imputed to Kraffilnikof are ill
founded.
1741, Old Style.
Jan. 27, Em.
I Sat.
12 9
^ - at the port of St.
5 Peter and P aut.
Difference of the meridian at Pekin
and the Port
Jan. 30, Imm. i r r Sat.
9 20
35 at Pekin.
2 48
5
h ,
12 5
30 at the Port.
9 1 6
30 at Pekin.
2 49
But the longitude of the port of St. Peter and Paul,
cftynated in the fame manner from correfponding obferva-
tions, differs from the longitude as computed by Mortf.
Maraldi no more than 20 feconds ; p. 469.
* Obf. Aft. Ecc. Sat. Jovis, &c. Nov. Com. Petr.vol.
III. p. 4.52, &c. Obf. Aft. Pekini fads. Ant. Haller-
flein. Curante Max. Hell. Vindibonae. 1768.
Feb.
A P P fi N D I
L
Feb. 5, i Sat.
8 33 2 6 at the Port.
5 43 45 at Pekin.
2 49 41
h i *
Feb. 12, Em. i Sat. 10 28 49
7 59 2 9
2 49 ao
And the longitude from Paris x>^j 22
to Pekin being I 3 J
The difference of the meridians TQ r 9(1
f Paris and the Port will be J 3
Which differs only 31 fecOnds from the determination of Mr, Maraldi,
1741. Old Style*
March 23, Em. 1 1 Sat. 1055 2 *
8 14 o at Pekin*
2 41
<
Dec. 31, Im. i Sat. 10 51 ^8 atBolcheretfl&
8 9 45 at P$kin.
Difference of the meridian at Pekin
nd Bolchereiflc
By taking the medium , the difference -\
of the longitude between Bqjcheretijc ? 2 4* 37
and felon will be fou*:d to be J
B b 2 Betvvee
372 APPENDIX, N I.
Between Bokheretfk and Paris I O 1 8 O
Which differs only one minute and one fecond from the determination *f
Mr. Maraldi-
In order to call in queftion the conclufionS
drawn from the obfervations of Kraffilnikof,
Monfieur de Vaugondy pretends that the in-
ftruments and pendulums, which he ufed at
Kamtchatka, were much damaged by the
length of the journey; and that the perfon,
who was fent to repair them, was an unfkil-
ful workman. But this opinion feems to
have been advanced without fufficient foun-
dation. Indeed Kraffilnikof * himfelf allows
that his pendulum occafionally flopt, 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 flars) are not to be depended upon, and
has accordingly diftinguimed them by an
afterifk : there are however a number of
others, which were not liable to any excep-
tion of this kind ; and the obfervations al-
ready mentioned are comprifed under this
ctafs.
* Nov. Com. Pet. III. p. 444.
If
APPENDIX, N I. 373
If the arguments which have been already
produced fhould not appear fufficiently fatis-
factory, 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 refpectable author has given
me the moft potitive affurances, that the in-
ftruments were not damaged in fuch a manner
as to affect the accuracy of the obfervations
when in the hands of a fkilful obferver.
That the longitude of Kamtchatka is laid
down with fufficient accuracy by the Ruffian
geographers, will appear by comparing it
with the longitude of Yakutik ; for as the
latter has been clearly eftablimed 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 Yakutik
and Bolcheretik. A fhort comparifon there-
fore of fome of the different obfervations
made at Yakutik will help to fettle the lon-
gitude of Kamtchatka ; and will flill farther
confirm the character of a fkilful obferver,
which has been given to Kraffilnikof.
B b 3 Kraf-
374 APPENDIX, N I.
Kraffilnikof in returning from Kamtchatka
obferved at Yakutlk feveral eclipfes of the fa-
tellites of Jupiter, of which the following are
mentioned by him as the moft exa.
1744, Old Style.
% t
* Feb. 7. Imm. i. Sat. 11 18 35
fomewhat doubtful.
22. Imm, n. Sat. TO 31 ui
29. Imm. ii. Sat. 13 6 54 I
Mar. i. Imm. i, Sat. 1 1 23 o|
Apr. 9. Em. i. Sat. 12 23 50 J
The fame eclipfes, as calculated by the
tables of Mr. Wargentin, for the Meridian
of Paris, are as follow :
Difference of the me-
ridians of Paris and
Yakutsk.
h
h
*
Feb.
7.
Imm.
i.
2
49
o
8
29
35
27.
Imm.
11.
2
3
jo
8
28
i
29.
Imm.
11.
4
38
1 7
8
28
37
Mar.
i.
Imm.
r.
3
3
37
8
29
2 3
Apr.
9-
Em.
i.
3
54
12
8
29
46
The mean of which is 8295
* Nov. Comm. Petr. T. III. p. 460.
APPENDIX, N c I. 375
The obfervations of Mr. Iflenief *, made
at Yakutfk in the year 1769, to which place
he was fent to obferve the tranfit of Venus,
have received the fan&ion of the Imperial
Academy. The longitude which he fixes for
Yakutfk is 8 h 29' 34" ; this correfponds, to a
fufficient degree of exa&nefs, with the lon-
gitude inferred from the obfervations of
Kraffilnikof.
Thus the longitude of Yakutlk from Paris
being 8 h 29 4". or in degrees 127 16 o. and
of Bolcheretfk 10 17 17, or in degrees 150
19' 15. the difference of the longitude of thefe
two places, from agronomical obfervations,
amounts to i 48 8. or in degrees 27 3' o".
The latitude of Bolcheretik is 52 55' o". and
that of Yakutfk 62 i' 50" ; and the dif-
ference of their longitude being from the
preceding determination 27 3 o. the diredl
diftance between the places meafured on a
great circle of the earth will appear by trigo-
nometry to be 1 6 57'. or about 1773 verfU,
reckoning 104^ verfts to a degree. This
diftance confiils partly of fea, and partly of
land ; a-nd a conftant intercourfe is kept up
* For IflenieFs obfervations at Yakutsk, fee Nov. Com.
Tain. XIV. Part III. p. 268 to 321.
B b 4 be-
376 APPENDIX, N I.
between the two places by means of Okotfk
which lies between them. The diftance by
fea from Bolcheretfk to Okotfk is eftimated
by (hips reckonings to be 1254 tferfts, and the
diftance by land from Okotfk to Yakutfk is
927 verfts, making altogether 2118. The
direct diftance deduced by trigonometry (on a
fnppofition that the difference of longitude
between Bolcheretfk and Yakutfk is 27 s'.)
is 1773? falling fhort of 2181 by 408 ; a dif-
ference naturally to be expected from confi-
dering, that neither roads by land, nor the
courfe of mips at fea, are ever performed pre-
cifeiy 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 compu-
tation, on fuppofmg the difference of longi-
tude between Yakutfk and Bolcheretfk to be
27 3'. it leems very improbable, that there
fhould be an error of many degrees in the aftro-
nomical determination.
Since then the longitude between Fero and
Peterfburg is acknowledged to be 48- that
between Peterfburg and Yakutfk 99 21'-^-
and as the diftance in longitude between Ya-
4' kutfk
APPENDIX, N I. 377
kutlk and Bolcheretfk cannot be materially
lefs than 27 3' ; it follows that the longitude
of Bolcheretfk from Fero cannot be much
lefs than 174 24'. Where then (hall we
find place for fo great an error as 27 degrees,
which, according to Mr. Engel, or even of
1 1, 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 1 47 o o
ofOkotflc 1 60 7 o
of Bolcheretfk > - 174 13 o
of the Port of St. Pe-
ter and Paul 176 10 o
As no agronomical obfervations have been
made further to the Eaft than the Port of St.
Peter and Paul, it is impoffible to fix, with
any degree of certainty, the longitude of the
North-Eaftern promontory of Afia. It ap-
pears however from Beering's and Synd's
coafting voyages towards Tfchukotfkoi Nofs,
and from other expeditions to thole 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.
A P P E N-
[378]
APPENDIX, No II.
f *t> e principal charts reprefenting the
Ruffian difcoverics.
THE following is an authentic lift of the
principal charts of the Ruffian difco-
veries hitherto publimed. It is accompanied
with a few explanatory remarks.
i . Carte des nouvelles decouvertes au nor4
de la mer du fud, tant a 1'Eft de la Siberie et
du Kamtchatka, qu'a TOuefl de la Nouvelle
France drefiee fur les memoires de Mr. de
rifle, par Philippe Buache, 1750. A me-
moir relative to this chart was foon after-
wards publimed, with the fallowing title,
Explication de la carte des nouvelles de-
couvertes au Nord de la mer du fud par Mr.
de I'lfle; Paris, 1752, 4to. This map is
alluded to, p. 28 of this work. 2. Carte des
nouvelles decouvertes entre la partie orientale
de TAfie et TOccidentale de FAmerique, avec
des vues fur la grande terre reconnue, par les
Ruffes, en 1741, par Phil. Buache, 1752.
3. Nouvelle carte des decouvertes faites par
des vaifTeaux Ruffiens aux cotes inconnues de
TAmerique
APPENDIX, N II. 379
I'Amerique feptentrionale avec les pais ad-
jacens, dreffee fur les memoires authentiques
de ceux qui ont affifte a ces decouvertes, et
fur d'autres connoiflances ; dont on rend rai-
fon dans un memoire fepare : a St. Peterf-
burg, a 1' Academic Imperiale des fciences,
1754. 1758. This map was publimed under
the infpection of Mr. Muller, and is frill pre-
fixed to his account of the Ruffian difco-
veries *. The part which exhibits the New-
difcovered Ifles and the coaft of America was
chiefly taken from the chart of Beering's ex-
pedition. Accordingly that continent is re-
prefented as advancing, between 50 and 60
degrees of latitude, to within a fmall diftance
of Kamtchatka. Nor could there be any rea-
fon to fufpe&, that fuch experienced failors
as Beering and Tfchirikof had miftaken a
chain of iflands for promontories belonging to
America, until fubfequent navigators had ac-
tually failed through that very part which was
fuppofed to be a continent.
* This map was publifhed by Jefferys \inder the follow-
ing title : " A map of the Difcoveries nqadeby the Ruiliani
** on the North Wefl coaft of America, piiblifhed by the
** Royal Academy of Sciences at Peterfourg. Repub-
" liflied by Thomas Jefierys, Geogragher to his Majefty,
1761."
4. A fc-
380 APPENDIX, N II.
4. A fecond chart publifhed by the Aca-
demy, but hot under the infpecYion of Mr.
Muller, bears the fame title as the former.
Nouvelle carte des decouvertes faites par des
vaifleaux Ruffiens aux cotes incomiues de
FAmerique, &c. 1773.
It is for the moft part a copy of a manu-
fcript chart known in Ruffia by the name of
the chart of the Promyfchlenks, or merchant
adventurers, and which was iketched from
the mere reports of perfons who had failed to
the New-difcovered Iflands. As to the fize
and pofition of the New-difcovered Iflands,
this chart of the Academy is extremely er-
roneous : it is however free from the above-
mentioned miftake, which runs through all
the former charts, namely, the reprefenting
of the coafl of America, between 50 and 60
degrees of latitude, as contiguous to Kamt-
chatka. It likewife removes 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 lati-
tude 64 and 71 30', from 207 longitude to
218, to within a fmall diftance of both con-
tinents. But whether this latter alteration
be equally juftiflable or not, is a quefHon,
the
APPENDIX, N II. 581
the decifion of which muft be left to future
navigators *.
5. Carte du nouvel Archipel du Nord de-
couvert par les Ruffes dans la mer de Kamt-
chatka et d'Anadir. This chart is prefixed
to Mr. Stsehlin's account of the New Northern
Archipelago. In the Englifli tranflation it is
called, A Map of the New Northern Archi-
pelago, 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
* Mr. Muller has long ago acknowledged, in the moil
candid and public manner, the incorre&nefs of the former
chart, as far as it relates to the part which reprefents Ame-
rica as contiguous to Kamtchatka : but he ftill maiotains
his opinion concerning the actual vicinity of the two conti-
nents in an higher latitude. The following quotation is
taken from a letter written by Mr. Muller in 1774, of which
1 have a copy in my pofieffion. " Poflerity muft judge if
" the new chart of the Academy is to be preferred to the
" former one for removing the continent of America
" (which is reprefcnted as lying near the coaft of Tfchutlki)
** to a greater diftance. Synd, who is more to be trufted
** than the Promyfchlenics, perfifts in the old fyftem. He
" places America as near as before to Tfchukotfkoi Nofs,
" but knows nothing of a large ifland called Alafhka,
" which takes up the place of the continent, and which
" ought to be laid down much more to the South or South
" Baft."
are
382 APPENDIX, N II.
are claffed in this chart into three groups,
which are called the Ides of Anadyr *, the
Olutorian i Hies, and the Aleutian Ifles.
The two laft-mentioned charts are alluded to,
p. 29 of this work.
6. An excellent map of the Empire of
Ruffia, publimed by the geographical depart-
ment of the Academy of Sciences at St. Pe-
terfburg in 1776, comprehends the greateft
part of the New-difcovered Iflands. A re-
duced copy of this chart being prefixed to this
work, I mall only mention the authorities
from whence the compilers have laid down
* Monfieur Buffon has adopted the appellation and er-
roneous reprefentation of the ifles of Anadyr in his Carte
de deux regions Polaires, lately publifhed. See Supplement
a 1'Hift. Nat. vol. V. p. 615.
f The Olutorian Ifles are fo named from the fmall river
of Olutora, which flows into the fea at Kamtchatka, about
latitude 61. The folloxving remarks upon this group of
iflands are taken from Mr. Mailer's letter mentioned in the
note, p. 381. " This appellation of Olutorian Ifles is not
" in ufe at Kamtchatka. Thefe iflands, called upon this
" chart Olutorians, lie according to the chart of the
*' Promyfchlenics, and the chart of the Academy, very
** remote from the river Olutora : and it feems as if they
" were advanced upon this chart nearer to Kamtchatka
, *' only in favour of the name. They cannot be fituated
4< fo near that coaft, becaufe they were neither feen by
* 4 Beering in 1728, nor by the Promyfchlenics, Novikof and
" Baccof, when they failed in 1728 from the Anadyr to
Beering's Ifland." See p. 46.
the
APPENDIX, N II. 383
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. charts of different navigators.
The iflands near the coaft of the Tfchutflu
are copied from Synd's chart. The Fox
Iflands are laid down from the chart of Ot-
cheredin. The reader will perceive, that the
pofition of the Fox Iflands, upon this ge-
neral map of Ruffia, is materially different
from that affigned to them in the chart of
Krenitzin's and Levalhef's voyage. In the
former they are reprefented as ftretching be-
tween 56 6 i x North latitude, and 210 and
230 longitude from the ifle of Fero : in the
* I have a MS. copy of Otcheredin*s chart in my pof-
feffion ; 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. The
anonymous author of the account of the Ruflian Difcove-
ries, of whofe work T 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 po-
fition of the New-difcovered Iflands. For this rcafon, I
fhould have had his chart engraved if the Fox Iflands upon
the general map had not been taken from thence : there
feemed no occafion therefore for encreafing the expence of
this work, already too great from the number of charts, by
the addition of another not absolutely neceflary.
latter
384 APPENDIX, N II.
latter they are fituated between 51 40' and
55 20' latitude, and 199 30' and 207 50'
longitude. According to the moft recent ac-
counts received from Petersburg, the portion
given to them upon this general map is con-
iiderably too much to the North and Eaft ;
confequently that affigned to them upon Kre-
nitzin's chart is probably the moft to be de-
pended upon.
7. Carte des decouvertes Ruffes dans la
mer orientale et en Amerique, pour fervir a
TEffai * fur le commerce de Ruffie, 1778,
Amfler-
* The twelfth chapter of this Eflay relates to the dif-
coveries and commerce of the Ruffians in the Eaftern
Ocean. The account of the Ruffian difcoveries is a tran-
flation of Mr. Staehlin's Defcription of the New Northern
Archipelago. In addition, he has fubjoined an account of
Kamtchatka, and a fhort flcetch. of the Ruffian commerce
to the New-difcovered Iflands, and to America. If we
may believe the author of this Effay, the Ruffians have
not only discovered America, but they alfo every year form
occafional fettlements upon that continent, fimilar to thofe
of the Europeans in Newfoundland. His words are : " 11
eJl done certain, que les Rufles ont decouvert le con-
tinent de 1'Amerique ; mais on pent affurer qu'ils n'y ont
encore aucun .port, aucun comptoir. II en eft des etab-
liffeHnents de cette nation dans la grande terre, comme de
ceux des nations Europeennes dans 1'ifle de Tcrre Neuve.
Ses vaifleaux ou fregates arrivent en Amerique ; leurs equi-
pages et les Cofaques chafleurs s'etabliflent fur la cote ; les
uns fe retranchent, et les autres y font la chafle et la
peche da chien rwarin et du narval. Us reviennem cnfuite
au
APPENDIX, N II. 385
Amfrerdam. It is natural to expect, that a
chart fo recently publiflied (hould be fupe-
rior to all the preceding ones ; whereas, on
the contrary, it is by far the moft incorrect
reprefentation of the New-difcovered Iflands
which has yet appeared.
au Kamtchatka, apres avoir etc releves par d'autres fre-
gates fus les memes parages, ou a des diilances plus ou
moins eloignes, &c. &c.'* See Eflai fur le coramerce de la
Ruffle, p. 292, 793. Thus the public is impofed upon by
fi&ious and exaggerated accounts.
C c APPEN-
APPENDIX, N III,
Specimen of the Aleutian language.
(See Part II. Chap. VII. p. 241.)
Sun
Moon
Wind
Water
Fire
Fearth hut
Chief
Man
Wood
Shield
Sea-otter
Name of the
nation.
It is very remarkable, that none of thefe
words bear the leaft refemblance to thofe of
the fame iignification, which are found in the
different dialects fpoken by the Koriacks,
Kamtchadals, and the inhabitants of the Ku-
^gaiya
One
Tagatak
Tughilag
Two
Alag
Katfhik
Three
ankoos
Tana
Four
Setfchi
Kighenag
Five
Tfhaw
Oollae'
Six
A too
foigon
Seven
Ooloo
Taiyaga
Eight
fCapoe
Yaga
Nine
Shifet
ICuyak
Ten
Afok.
Tfcholota
Kanagift
APPEN-
APPENDIX, N IV,
TABLE OF LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE.
For the convenience of the Reader, the fol-
lowing Table exhibits, in one point of view, the
longitude and latitude of the principal places
mentioned in this performance. Their lon-
gitudes are eftimated from the firft meridian
of the I fie of Fero, and from that of the
Royal Obfervatory at Greenwich. The lon-
gitude of Greenwich from Fero is computed at
1 7 34' 45 /x . The longitude of the places
marked * has been taken from agronomical
obfervations.
Latitude. Longitude.
Fero. Greenwich
D. M. S.
D. M. S.
D. M.
* Petersburg
59 5& * 3
48 o o
30 25 f
* Mofcow
55 45 45
55 6 3
37 3 1
* Archangel
64 33 24
56 15 o
38 40
* Tobolik
58 12 22
85 40 o
68 26
* Tomfk
56 30 o
IO2 50 O
85 -IS
* Irkurfk
52 18 15
122 IJ O
104 38
* SelenginJk
5160
124 18 30
1 06 44
Kiakta
35 o o
124 18 o
106 43
* Yakutfk
* Okotfk
62 i 50 147 o o
59 22 o 160 7 o
129 2;
142 3*
* Bolcherefk
52 55 o
174 13 o
156 38
* Fort of St. Peter and Paul
3$ i o
176 10 o
158 36
Eafkrn Extremity of Si- "1
beria
66 o o
2OO O O
182 25
According to^j
the general 1
map of Ruf- f
58 o o
223 o o
205 25
Unalalhka
fia J
According to^i
the chart of I
f\
Krenitzin and j
53 30 o
205 30 o
187 S5
LevalhefF
f I have omitted the feconds in the longitude from Greenwich.
C 2 INDEX.
I N D E X.
A.
AGIAK, an interpreter, p. 155.
Aguladock, a leader of the Unalafhkans, taken pri-
foner by Soloviof, 162.
Agulok, a dwelling-place on Unalafhka, 159.
Aifcbm-GbrcL chief of the Manfliurs at the be-
ginning of the i yth century, 298.
Aktunak, an ifland to the Eaft of Kadyak, 125.
Akun (one of the Fox Iflands), 186.
Akutan (one of the Fox Iflands), ibid.
Alakfu, or Alack/bat, one of the moft remote Eaf-
tern iilands, 72. Cuftoms of the inhabitants,
76. Animals found on that ifland, ibid. Con-
jectured to be not far from the continent of
America, 77.
Alaxa (one of the Fox Iflands), 208.
Albajin, and the other Ruffian forts on the A moor,
deftroyed by the Chinefe, 299. The Ruffians
taken there refufe to return from Pekin, 309.
'dietitian IJles difcovered, 22. 30. Their fituation
and names 25. Names of perfons there bear
a furprifing, refemblance to thofe of the Green-
landers, 43. Inhabitants defcribed, 44. 50.
Account of thofe Iflands, 49. 50. 61. The man-
ners and cufloms of the inhabitants refemble
thofe of the Fox Iflands, 202. Are entirely
fubject to Ruffia, ibid. Their number, 231.
C c 3 Spe-
INDEX.
Specimen of the Aleutian language, 386. See
Fox I/lands, Ibiya, Novodtfikof, Iftuprof.
Alexeef (Feodot). See Dejbnef.
Aleyult. See Fox J/lands.
Allai (a prince of the Calmucs), his fuperflitious
regard for the memory of Yermac, 294.
Amaganak, a toigon of Unalaflika, 167.
America, moft probable courfe for difcovering the
neareft coafl of that continent, pointed out, 28.
See I/lands, Del'Jle, Alakfu, Kadyak, Fox I/lands,
Steller.
Amlak^ one of the Andreanofskye Iflands, 86.
Anadirsky IJIes, or JJles of Anadyr, fo called by Mr.
Stashlin, and after him by Buffon, p. 26. 229.
381.
Amoor river, called by the Manftiurs Sakalin-Ula ;
and, by the Mongols, Karamuran, or the Black
River, 297.
Andrianofskie J/lands, their fituation doubtful, 2.6.
Defcription of, 83. 84. Muft not be blended
with the Fox Iflands, 83. Account of the in-
habitants, 86. Other iflands beyond them to
the Eaft, ibid. Pofition of the Andreanofskie-
Iflands, 230.
Arakulla^ fuppofed by the Chinefe a wicked fpitit
of the air, 332.
Archangel, voyages from thence to the Yenisei,
Artie, or Ice Foxes, defcription of, 15.
Afia, the firft report of its vicinity to America,
learned from the Tfchutfki, 235.
Ataktak, a great promontory N. E. of Alakfu, 136.
Ataku, one of the Aleutian Iflands, 50.
Atchu, one of the Andreanofsky Iflands, defcrip-
tion of, 85.
Atcbu, Atchak, Atak, Goreki, or Burnt I/land, one
of the Fox Iflands, 68.
At-
INDEX.
AtlqfloJ (yolodimir), takes poflefiion of the rivet
Kamtchatka, 4.
Atrar, a town of Little Bucharia, 352.
Att> one of the Aleiitian Hies, 31.
Aya%b, or Kayachu, one of the Andreanofsky
lilands, 81. Defeription of, 84.
B.
Bacchof. See Novikof.
Baranei Kamen, or Sheep's Rod, defcription of,
268, 269.
Bear I/lands. See Medvioedkie OJlrova.
Beering, his voyage made at the expence of the
crown, 8. His voyage (with Tfchirikof) in
fearch of a junction between Afia and America,
in 1728 and 1729, unfuccefsful, 20. 21. Ship-
wrecked, 21. and death on an ifland called af-
ter his name, ib. See Difcovtries, S teller ; fee
alfo p. 262, 263.
Beering's IJland, the winter-ftation of all the ihips
failing for the new-difcovered iilands, 57.
Belayeff (Larion), treats the inhabitants of the
Aleutian Iflands in an hoftile manner ; in which
Jie is under-hand abetted by Tliuprof, 36.
Bolcheretjky a diftri6t of Kamtchatka, 5. See Kamt
chatksi OJlrcgs.
Eolko/ky (prince), appointed waywode of Siberia,
290. See Yermac*
Boris and Glekb. See Trapefmkof.
Bucbaria (Little), all fubjecl to China, 352.
Buache (Mr.). See Longitude*
Burgoltei, a mountain in the valley of Kiakta, 315.
Burnt Ifland. See Atchu.
Buttons (of different colours), ufed as marks of
diftinftion among the Chinefe, 320.
C c 4 C.
INDEX.
C.
Calumut of peace, a fymbol of friendfhip peculiar to
America, 229.
Cam/jjy the fecond Chinefe emperor of the Man-
fhur race, 298. Expels the Ruffians from his
dominions, for their riots and drunkennefs, 306.
Camphor-wood (the true), drove by the fea on Cop-
per Ifland, 124.
Caravans (Ruffian), allowed to trade to Pekin, 304.
Difcontinued, and why, 310. See Ruffia.
Cbinefe, origin of the difpures between them and
the Ruffians, 297. Hoftilities commenced be-
tween them, 298. Treaty of Nerihinfk con-
cluded, 300. 301. Beginning of the commerce
between the two nations, 303. Their trade with
the Ruffians, 309, &c. Ileckon it a mark of
difrefpeft to uncover the head to a fuperior, 330.
Their fuperflition in regard to fires, 332, Man-
ner of their pronouncing foreign expreffions, 334*
335. No'fpecie but bullion current among
them, 335. Advantage of the Chinefe trade to
Uuffia, 342.
Cboladiloff. Voyage of a veffel fitted out by him,
5 2 -
Copper I/land, why fo called, 21. 107. 123. 206.
Probable that all the hillocks in that country
have formerly been volcanoes, 207. Subject to
frequent earthquakes, and abound in fulphur,
Ibid.
Cypnan (firft archbifhop of Siberia), collects the
archives of the Siberian hiflory, 292.
D.
Daurkin (a native Tfchutiki), employed by Ple-
nifner to examine the iflands to the Eaft of Si-
beria,
INDEX.
beria, 236. The intelligence he brought back 5
236, 237.
De'ijle, miftaken concerning the Weftern coaft of
America, 27.
Dejhnef, his voyage, 252. Extracts from his pa-
pers, 253, 254, 255. His defcription of the
great promontory of the Tfchutski, 255, 256.
Ankudinofs veflel wrecked on that promontory,
256. Defhnef builds Anadirskoi-Oftrog on the
river Anadyr, 257. Difpute between him and
Soliverftof, concerning the difcovery of the
Korga, 258, 259. No navigator iince Defh-
nef pretends to have pafled round the N. E. ex-
tremity of Afia, 261, 262.
Difcoveries. The profecution of thofe begun by
Beering moftly carried on by individuals, 8.
The veffels equipped for thofe difcoveries de
fcribed, 9. Expences attending them, 9, 10.
Profits of the trade to the new-difcovered iflands
very confiderable, n. 'Lift of the principal
charts of the Ruffian difcoveries hitherto pub-
lilhed, 378.
Dogs, ufed for drawing carriages, 349.
Drujinin (Alexei], wrecked at Eeering's Ifland, 51.
His voyage to the Fox Iflands, go 100. Win-
ters at Unalafhka, 92 All the crew, except
four Ruffians, viz Stephen Korelin, Dmitri
Bragin, Gregory Shaffyrin, and Ivan Kokovin,
deftroyed by the natives, 94. See Unalafoka,
Durneff (Kodion). His voyage, 49.
E.
Ecliffe, behaviour of the Chinefe at one, 331.
Emprefs of Ruffia. See RuJJla.
Engel (Mr.) Difputes the exadnefs of the longi-
tudes laid down by Muller and the Ruffian geo-
graphers, 367, 368.
INDEX.
Efquimaux Indians, fimilarity between their boats
and thofe of the Fox lilands, 215, 220.
F.
Feathers (peacocks'), ufed for a distinction of rank
by the Chinefe, 320.
Fedotika. See Nikul.
Foxes , different fpecies of, defcribed, 14. Value
of their skins, 16.
Fox I/lands, fometimes called the fartheft Aleutian
Ifles, 30. Their land and fea- animals, 173, 174.
Manners and cuftoms of the inhabitants, 174,
175. Warm fprings and native fulphur to be
found in fome of them, 174. Their drefs, 177.
197. Their veffels defcribed, 178. Are very
fond of fnuif, 179. Their drums defcribed,
180. Their weapons, 155. 198. Food of the
inhabitants, 196. Their feafts, 199. Their
funeral ceremonies, 201, 202. Account of the
inhabitants, 211 216. Their extreme naftinefs,
213. Their boats made like thofe of the Efquimaux
Indians in Korth America, 215. 220. Are
faid to have no notion of a God, 217. yet have
fortune-tellers, who pretend to divination, by
the information of fpirits, ib. The inhabitants
called by the Ruffians by the general name of
Aleyut, 219. Proofs of the vicinity of thofe
iflands to America, 232.
G.
Geographers (Ruffian), their accuracy, 373.
GheJfur-Chan, the principal idol at Maimatfchin,
326.
Glottof (Stephen), his voyage, 122 142. Winters
upon Copper Ifland, 123. Arrives at Kadyak,
the moil Eaitvvard of the Fox Iflands, 124. Is
at-
INDEX.
attacked by the natives, whom he defeats, 128.
and finally repulfes, 130. Winters at Kadyak,
ib. Is reconciled to the natives, 132. Cu-
riofities procured by him at that ifland, ib. No
chart of his voyage, 136. Departs from Ka-
dyak, and arrives at Umnak, 137. Defeats a
defgn formed againft him by the natives, 139,
140. Meets with Korovin, 141. Winters on
Umnak, ib. Journal of his voyage, 143 152.
See Solovioff, Korovin.
Glottoff (Ivan ), an Aleiitian interpreter, 116.
Gokdoff, killed at Unyumga, 73.
Goreloi. See Atchu.
Greenlanders, their proper names nearly fimilar to
thofe ufed in the Aleutian Hies, 43.
H.
Hare's Rock. See Saet/hie Kammen.
Hot Springs, found in Kanaga, 85. in Tfet china,
ibid.
L
Ibiya, Rickfa, and Otas, three large populous
iflands to the Eaft of the Aleutian Iflands, 50.
Jefaits, their compliance with the Chinefe fuper-
flition, 322.
Igonok, a village of Unalalhka, i65.
Jgunok, a bay N. E. of Unalafhka, 210.
Jkutcblok, a dwelling-place at Unalalhka, i6c.
Imperial Academy, their chart of the New-difco-
vered Iflands not to be depended on, 25.
Indigirka, a river of Siberia, 14.
Inlogitfak, a leader of the Unalalhkans, killed, 162.
JJanak, one of the iflands to the Weft of Kadyak,
125.
I/lands (New-difcovered), firft tribute brought from
thence to Ochotsk, 22. Lift of thofe Iflands, ac-
cording
INDEX.
cording to Mr. Muller, 238 241. Their name-
altered and corrupted by the Ruffian naviga
tors, 240, 241. See Aleutian IJles and Fox
I/lands.
I/Ienieff(Mr.) fent to Yakutsk, to obferve the tranfit
of Venus, 375.
Itchadek and Kagumaga, two friendly Toigons, 1 60.
Ivan Shitkin, his voyage, 63 66. Shipwrecked
on one of the Fox lilands, 64. Great diftrefTes
of his crew on that ifland, 65, 66. Ship-wrecked
a fecond time, 66.
Ivan Vaffilievitch I. makes the firft irruption into
Siberia, 275.
Ivan VaJJiliei)itch II. took the title of Lord of all
the Siberian lands before the conquefls of Yer-
mac, 278. See RuJ/ia.
Ives (I/brand), a Dutchman. Embaflador from
Peter I. to Pekin, 303.
fviya, one of the Aleutian Iflands, 61.
K.
Kadyak, one of the Fox Iflands, 124. The fond-
nefs of the natives for beads, 131. Animals
and vegetables found there, 133, 134. Great
reafon to think it is at no great diftancc from
the continent of America, 136. Account of the
inhabitants, ib. See Glottojf.
Kagumaga. See Itchadek.
Kalaktaky a village of Unalalhka, 167.
Kama, a river, 279.
Kamtchatka, difcovered by the Ruffians, 3. The
whole peninfula reduced 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, 5. Its fitua-
ation and boundaries, ib. Its diftrids, govern-
ment,
INDEX.
merit, and population, ibid. Fixed and other
tributes to the crown, 6. Its foil and cli-
mate not favourable to the culture of corn ; but
hemp has of late years been cultivated there
with great fuccefs, 7, 8. Supplied yearly with
fait, provifions, corn, and manufactures, from
Okotsk, 8. Route for tranfponing furs from
thence to Kiakta, 349. Manner of procuring
fire there, and which Vakfel, Beering's lieute-
nant, found practifed in that part of North
America which he faw in 1741, 213. See Mo-
ro/ko y Atlaffoff, Koriacs, Okotjk and Penjhinjk,
Bolcheretjk, Tigiljkaia, Krepoft, Verchnei, Nijh-
nei, Kamtchatka OJirogs 9 Vo/canos, Furs and
Skins.
Kamtchatkot Oftrogs (Upper and Lower,) and Bol-
cheretsk built, 4.
Kanaga, one of the Andreanofisky Iflands, 81. De
fcription of, 84, 85.
Karaga I/land, tributary to Ruffia, 37. See OIo~
torians.
Kajhkar, a town of Little Bucharia, 352.
Kajhmak, an interpreter employed by the Ruffians,
105.
Kataghayekiki, name of the inhabitants of Unimak
and Alaxa, 219.
Katanga, the cape between that river and the Pia-
fida never yet doubled, 247 251.
Kayachu. See Ayagh.
Kiakta, a frontier town of Siberia, 12. Treaty-
concluded there between the Ruffians and Chi-
nefe, 307. 310. Isatprefent the centre of the
Ruffian and Chinefe commerce, 311. That
place and Zuruchaitu agreed on for tranfacYmg
the commerce between Ruffia and China, 312.
Defcription of Kiakta, 312. 313.
Kighigufi, inhabitants of Akutan fo called, 219.
4 Kitaika,
INDEX.
Kitaika, a Chinefe fluff, 340.
Kogholaghi, inhabitants of Unalafhka fo called, 219.
Kopeikina, a bay of the river Anadyr, 46.
Ktrenof* See Solovioff.
Korga, a fand-bank at the mouth of the river Ana-
dyr, 257. See Saliver/tof.
Koriacs* their country the Northern boundary of
Kamtchatka, 5. Tributary to Ruflia, 47.
Korovin (h-an), his voyage, 101 121. Arrives at
Unalaihka, his tranfa&ions there, 103 no.
Builds an hut, and prepares for wintering, 106.
Being attacked by the favages, deftroys his hut,
and retires to his veffel, 109. Attacked again,
repulfes the favages, and is flranded on the
iiland of Umnak, 120. After different skir-
miihes with the natives, is relieved by Glottoff,
114. His defcription of Unmak and Unalaihka,
with their inhabitants, 118, 119. See Solovioff.
Koiyma, a river of Siberia, 14.
Krenitzin (Captain,), commands a fecret expedi-
tion, 23.
Krenitzin and Leva/he/^ their journal and chart
fent, by order of the Emprefs of Ruffia, to Dr.
Robertfon, 23. Extract from their journal,
205 210. They arrive at the Fox Iflands, 208.
Krenitzin winters at Alaxa, and Levaihef at
Unalafhka, 208, 209. They return to the river
of Kamtchatka, 222. Krenitzin drowned, ibid.
See Yakoff.
Kra/filnikof, voyage of a veffel fitted out by him,
57. Shipwrecked on Copper Ifland, 58. The
crew return to Beering's Iiland, ibid.
Krafftlnikof (a Ruffian aflronomer), his accuracy
in taking the longitude of Kamtchatka, 374.
Kra/hinikoff, his hiftory of Kamtchatka, 211.
Krejlova 9 a river of Siberia, 264.
Krvgloi,
INDEX.
Kru^loi, or Round I/land, one of the Aleutian
Mauds, 78.
Kulkoff, his veflel deftroyed, and his crew killed by
the favages, 108. 184.
Kullara, a fortrefs belonging to Kutchum Chan,
290.
Kuril IJles, fubjeft to Ruffia, 6.
KuJ/jo (or the Fftre god), a Chinefe idol, 329. See
Chinefe.
Kutchum Chan (a defcendant of Zinghis Chan),
defeats Yediger, and takes him prifoner, 277,
278. The moft powerful fovereign in Siberia,
23 1. wTermac y Sibir.
Laptief (Cbariton), his unfuccefsful attempt to pafs
from the Lena to the Yenisei, 247. See p. 261,
262.
Latitude of Bolcheretft, 375. See Longitude.
Lena, -a river of Siberia, 14. Attempts of the
Ruffians to pafs from thence to Kamtchatka,
248. See Menin.
Leontief(z Ruffian}, has tranflated feveral interefk
ing Chinefe publications, 309.
Leva/bef. See Krenitzin and Levajbef.
Lobafchkof (Prokopei] killed at Alakfu, 73.
Longitude of the extreme parts of Aria, by Mr.
Muller and the Ruffian geographers, 367. By
Mr. Engel, ib. By Mr. Vaugondy, q68. The
Ruffian fyftem fupported by Monf. Buache, a-
gainft Engel and Vaugondy, ibid. See Kraffil-
nikof.
Longitude of Okotjk, Eolcheretjk, and St. Peter and
St. Paul, 369.
Longitude and Latitude of the principal places men-
tioned in this work, 386.
INDEX.
Lvffte Oftrova, or Fox JJlands, 14. Their fituation
and names, 26. Defcription of the inhabitants,
68.
M.
Maimatfclin (the Chinefe frontier town), defcribed,
315. Houfes there defcribed, 317. An ac-
count of the governor, 319. 320. Theatre de-
fcribed, 321. The fmall pagoda, ibid. The
great pagoda, 322, 323. Idols worfhiped
there, 322 330. See Sitting- Rooms*
Man/burs, their origin, 298.
Maooang, a Chinefe idol, 328.
Mednoi Oftroff, or Copper I/land, difcovered, 21, 22.
See Copper JJland.
Med-vedtff (Dennis), his crew mafiacred by the
favages, 102. He and part of ProtaflbfPs crew
found murdered on the iiland of Umnak, 1 1 3.
Menin (Fecdor), his unfuccefsful attempt to pafs
from the Yenisei to the Lena, 243, 244.
Merghen, a Chinefe town, 346.
Medviodkie Ojlrwa, Kreffjloffskie 0/lrova, or Bear
JJlands. Difcovery of, 264, 265.
Minyacbin (a Coflac), a collector of the tribute, 78.
Mongol, the commerce between the Ruffians and
Chinefe, moftly carried on in that tongue, 334.
Morojko (Lucas Sem<enoff], commanded the firfl ex-
pedition towards Kamtchatka, 3.
Muller (Mr.). His conjecture relating to the coaft
of the fea of Okotfk, confirmed by Captain
Synd, 24. Part of a letter, written by him in
1774, concerning the vicinity of Kamtcharka
and America, 381. His lift of the New-diico-
vered Iflands, 238, 239.
N.
Nab kin, 333.
a Chinefe town, 346-
INDEX.
NerJJoin/k. See Chlnefe.
Nevodjikoff (Michael}^ fails from Kamtchatka river,
30. Difcovers the Aleutian lilands, ib. Narra-
tive of his voyage, 32 38.
New Moon, ceremonies obferved at by the Chi-
iiefe, 330.
Nikitl, or Fedotika, a river which falls into that of
Kamtchatka, 260.
Nijhnei, or Lower liamtchatkol Ojlrog, a diftrid: of
Kamtchatka, 5.
Niu-o, a Chinefe idol, 329.
North Eaft Pajfage, Ruffians attempt to difcover,
242 272.
'Novikoff and Bacchoff, their voyage from Ana-
dyrsk, 46, 47. Are fhipwreckecl on Beering's
Illand, where they build a fmall boat, and re-
turn to Kamtchatka, 48.
O.
Oby (bay of), 243.
Okotsk and Penjhinsk, Weftern boundaries of
Kamtchatka, 5. See Kamtchatka, Mutter.
Ojfzin ana Koskeleff (Lieutenants), firfl effected the
paffage from the bay of Oby to the Yenisei,
Olas. See Ibiya.
Olotorian IJles, whence fo called, 382.
Olotorians, invade the ifland of Karaga, and threaten
to deftroy all the inhabitants who pay tribute to
Ruffia, 38.
Onemenskaya, a bay in the river Anadyr, 46,
Oracles (Chirufe}, 330.
Orel, a Ruffian fettlement, 280.
Otchercdin (Apbonaffefy t his voyage to tl>e Fox
Iflancls, 182 190. Winters at Umnak, 183.
The toigon of the Five Mountains gives him
holtages, for which the other toigons kill one of
Dd his
INDEX.
his children, 184, 185. A party, fcnt by him
to Ulaga, repulfed the inhabitants, who had at-
tacked them, 185. Is joined by Popoff from
Beering's Ifland, and prevails on the inhabitants
to pay tribute, 188. Receives an account of
Levafhef's arrival at Unalafhka, 188, 189. Re-
turns to Okotfk, with a large cargo, leaving
PopofF at Umnak, 190. Brings home two
rflanders, who were baptized by the names of
Alexey SolovicfT and Boris Otcheredin, 190. See
Poloskoff.
P.
Pagoda. See Maimatfchin.
Paikoff (Demetri}, his voyage, 67 70.
Pallas, receives from Bragin a narrative of his ad-
ventures and efcape, 100. Account of Kiakta
and Maimatfchin, extracted from his journal,
332. His publication concerning the Mongol
tribes, 333. Lift of plants found by Steller
upon the coaft difcovered by Beering in 1741,
communicated by Mr. Pallas quotation from a
treatife of his, relative to the plants of theNew-
difcovered iflands, 228. Extracts made by him
relative to DelhnefFs voyage, 253 255.
Pauloffsky, his expedition, in which, after feveral
fuccefsful fkirmilhes with the Tfchutski, he is-
furprifed and killed by them, 237.
Peacock. See Feathers.
Pfkin. Ruffian fcholars allowed to fettle there, to*
learn the Chinefe tongue, ^cg> See Caravans.
Penflrinsk, 5.
Peter I. firit projected making difcoveries in the
feas between Kamtchatka and America, 20.
Peterjlurg, length of the different routes'between
that city and Pekin, 350.
Piaftda, a river of Siberia, 247.
4
INDEX.
Plemfner (a Courlander), fent on difcoveries to the
N. E. of Siberia, 235, 236. See Daurkin.
Poloskoff (Matthew], fent by Otcheredin to Una-
lafhka, 186. Spends the autumn at Akun, and,
after twice repulfing the favages, returns to Ot-
cheredin, 186188.
Popoff (Ivan), a vcflel fitted out by him arrives at
Unalafhka, 1 84. See Otcberedin.
Prontjbijlfoejf (Lieutenant}, his unfucoefsful attempt
to pafsfrom the Lena towards the Yenisei, 244
247.
Protaffqff, with his crew, deftroyed by the favages,
155. 183. See Medvedeff.
Pu/hkaref (Gabriel}, his voyage, 71 77. Win-
ters upon Alakfu, 72. He, with Golodoffand
twenty others, attempting to violate fome girls
on the ifland Unyumga, are fet upon by the
natives, and at laft obliged to retreat, 73. He
and his crew tried for their inhuman behaviour
to the iilanders during their voyage, 74, 75.
R.
Rheum. See Rhubarb.
Rhubarb, that from Ruffia generally called Turkey-
rhubarb, and why, 351. Defcription of, 352.
Indian rhubarb inferior to the Tartarian or Tur-
key, 352. A milk-white fort defcribed, 354.
Different fpecies, 354 362. Planted in Sibe-
ria by M. Zuchert, a German apothecary, 359.
Exportation of, 362, 363. Superiority of the
Tartarian over the Indian rhubarb accounted for,
363.
Rickfa. See Ibiya.
Roaring Mountain. See Unalajhka.
Robertfon (Dr.) See Kreniizin and Letajheff.
Rounds/land. See Kntgloi.
D d 2 Ruffia
INDEX.
Rn/fia (preftnt Emprefs of), a great promoter of
new difcoveries, 23. The emprefs abolifhes the
monopoly of the fur-trade, and relinquifhes the
exclufive privilege of fending caravans to Pekin,
3 11 -
Rujfia, no communication between that country and
Siberia till the reign of Ivan Vaffilievitch II. 276.
A curious and interefting " Hiftorical Account
of the Nations which compofe that Empire,"
lately publifhed by Mr. Tooke, 319.
Ruffians, quit Siberia after the death of Yermac,
294. Recover their antient territories in that
country, 296. Their progrefs checked by the
Chinefe, 297. Are expelled from the Chinefe
dominions, 306. Are allowed to build a church
(and to have four priefls to officiate in it) within
their caravanfery at Pekin, 309. Commerce be-
tween them and the Chinefe carried on only by
barter, 335. Method of tranfafting bufi-
nefs between them, 336, 237. Ruffian ex-
ports, 337 339. Imports, 339 342. Articles
of trade prohibited to individuals, 343. Duties
paid by the Ruffian merchants, ib. '\ he Ruffian
manner of trading to the Fox lilands, 220, 221.
Their attempts to difcover a North Eafl paffage,
241 272. Held in great veneration by the
Kamtchadals, till they quarrelled among them-
felves, 261. See Albafm, Cbinefe, Lena, Si-
beria.
S.
Sabya, an ifland at a diftance from Att, 31. See
Att.
Sacred Helmet at Maimatfchin, 330.
Sactjbif Kamen, or Here's Rotk, defcription of, 268.
Sagaugamak, one of the Fox Iflands, 183.
St.
INDEX.
St. Peterjburg, the geographical calendar of, not to
be depended on, 25.
Saktunak, an ifland near Alakfu, i<8.
Sandcbue^ a northern province ot China, 333.
Sea-horfe teetk, their value, i 6.
Sea-lion, or Scivutcba, its flefh delicate food, 221.
Sea-otters, many writers miftaken concerning them,
13. Defcription of, ib. Value of their ikins, ib.
Sefin, a town of Little Bucharia, 352.
Se/ebranikoff, voyage of a veffel fitted out by him,
53 5 6 * Shipwrecked on an ifland oppofite
Katyrskoi Nofs, in the peninfula of Kamtchatka,
54. Defcription of the ifland, 56.
Sbaffyrm (Sila\ a Coifac, collector of the tribute,
42, 43. 49. 67. killed, 69, 70.
Shfllsufoffjbi* firft voyage from the Lena, 263 269.
Winters at a mouth of the Kovyma, 265. Not
being able to double Sheletlkoi Nofs, returns to
the Kovyma, winters there a fecond time, and
returns to the Lena, 268. No account of his
fecond expedition, he and his crew being killed
by the Tfchutfki, 269.
Sleefs Rock. See Earanei Kamen.
Sbelatjkoi Nofs, whence that name is derived, 267.
Sbeinyia, one of the Aleutian Iflands, 88.
Shilkin (Ivan) his voyage, 48, 49. Wrecked on
one of the Fox Iflands, 64. where the Ruffians
are attacked by the favages, whom they repulfe,
63. After fuffering the greateft diftrefs, they
build a fmall veflel. in which they are a fecond
time wrecked, and return at laft in Serebrani-
koff s veffel to Kamtchatka. 65, 66.
SbuNtfiki, the firit Chinele emperor of the Manfhur
race, 298.
Sbufou, the firft of the Kuril Lies, 724.
Stbir, the principal refidence of Kuichum Chan,
281.
D d 3 Siberia s
INDEX.
Siberia, conqueft of by Yermac, 19, 20. Second
irruption of the Ruffians into that country, 277.
State of at the time of Yermac's invafion, 281.
Conjecture concerning the derivation of that
name, ibid. Totally reduced by the Ruffians,
296. Tranfport of the Ruffian and Chinefe
commodities through that country, 347. See
Ivan Vajjilie'vitch I. Rujfia, Kutchwn Chan.
Sitkin, one of the Fox lilands, 68.
Sitting- Rooms (Chinefe), defcribed, 317.
SoliverJtof(Tusko), his expedition to the Korga, to
colled: fea-horfes teeth, 258.
Soloviof (Fvan), his voyage, 152 181. Arrives at
Unalafhka, 154. Learns the particulars of a
confederacy formed by the Toigons of Unaiafh-
ka, Umnak, Akutan, and Tolko, againfl the
Ruffians, 156. Js joined by Korovin, 158.
Hoftilities between him and the natives, ibid.
Winters at Unalaflika, with other tranfa&ions at
that ifland, ibid. Makes peace with the natives,
and receives hoftages, 162. Meets with Koro-
vin, 164. His crew being greatly afflifted with
the fcurvy, the inhabitants of Makulhinfk con-
fpire to feize his veffel, 165. But are happily
prevented, 165, 166. Is vifited by Glottoff,
166. Receives hoftages from the inhabitants of
Kalaktak, 168. Sends Korenoff on different
hunting parties, ibid. Journal of his voyage
homewards, ibid. His defcription of the Fox
Ifland s, 173.
Solvytjhegodskaia. See Strogonoff.
S teller, his arguments to prove that Beering and
Tfchirikiff difcovered America, 226.
Strogonoff (Amlta}, a Huifian merchant, eftabllfhes
- a trade with holvytfhegodfkaia in Siberia, 276.
Makes fettlements upon the Kama and Tfchuf-
fovaia, 279. See Yermac.
Stu-
INDEX.
Studentzof, a Coflac, collector of the tribute,
6 3'. .
Svato'i Nofs, that name explained, 259.
Sulphur found on the ifland of Kanaga, 84, 85.
See Copper I/lands.
Synd (capt.), his voyage to the N. E. of Siberia,
223. Difcovers a clufter of iflands, and a pro-
montory, which he fuppofes to belong to Ame-
rica, 224, 225.
T.
Tabaetjhinskiarii a mountain of Kamtchatka, emitting
a conftant fmoke, 7.
Tagalat, one of the Andreanoffskye Iflands, de-
fcription of, 85.
Tartarian Rhubarb. See Rhubarb.
ij a town on the banks of the Tura, 284. See
Termac.
a^ finer in Ruffia than in Europe, and why, 340,
Temnac, an Aleutian interpreter, 31.
/Vw, an idol worfhiped in the fmall pagoda at
Maimatfchin, 321.
kaia Krepoft, a diftridt of Kamtchatka, 5.
Toljlyk (dndreari), his voyage to the Aleutian Ifles,
in 1748, 40. Again, in 1756, 59. Again, in
1760, 79 89. Discovers the Andreanoifikye
Jflands, 8 1. Shipwrecked near the mouth of
the Kamtchatka river, 89.
Tojhko. See Solovicff.
Totchikala, a village of Unalaihka, 161.
Trapefnifoff (Nikipbor\ Boris and Glebb, a veflel
fitted out by him, her voyage and return, 42.
43, &c. Another veflel fitted out by him de-
it roved, and the crew cut off, by the natives of
Unimak, 163.
Tfaadutk, a kind of lamp, 176.
Tj'audfing, a Chinefe idol, 3.8.
D d 4
INDEX.
Yfchirikoff. See Beering.
YjchuJJbvaia (a river). See Strogonoff.
Tfchutski, a people on the river Anadyr, 47. Boun-
claries of their country, 234. See AJia.
<Tfcbukofskoi Nofs, the N. E. cape of the country of
the Tfchutfki, 234. Stadukin and Soliverftoflf
claim the difcovery of the paflage round that
promontory, 253. See Deflmeff, Svatoi Nojs,
Shelatskoi Nofs ; fee alfo p. 261, 262.
'Tfchuvatch. See Termac.
'Tfelcbina, one of the Andreanoffskye Iflands, dc-
fcription of, 85.
Tfikanok, or Ofernia, a river of Unalafhka, 1 54.
i ffiuproffy his adventures at the Aleutian Iflands,
33. See Belay eff.
Turkey Rhubarb. See Rhubarb.
U.
Vakfeh See Kamtchatka.
Vaffilievitch. See Ivan Vajfilie'uitch,
Vaugondy* See Longitude.
Udagha, a bay on the N. E. of Unalaflika, 209.
Verchnei, or Upper Kamtchatkoi OJlrog, a diftridt of
Kamtchatka, 5.
Ukunadokj a village of Unalafhka, 167.
Ulaga, one of the Fox Iflands. See Otcheredin.
Umgaina, a village of Unalafhka, 167.
Unmak, one of the Fox Iflands, 91. See Koroinn^
Solovioff.
Unalafl^ka, or dgutttlajbka, one of the Fox Iflands,
92. Adventures of four Ruffians belonging to
Drufinin's crew there, 99, 100. Defcription of,
209. Ayaghifh and the Roaring Mountain, two
volcanos, on that ifland, 210. Productions,
210, 2ii. The inhabitants lefs barbarous than
thofe of the other Fox Iflands, 216.'
INDEX.
Unimak, an ifland to the Faft of Agunalafhka, 163 f
See Yrapejnikoff.
Unyumga. See Pa/bkarejf, Golodoff.
Volcano* 3 fome burning ones in Kamtchatka, an4
traces of many former ones to be obferved
there, 6. One eruption near Lower Oftrog ir*
1762, and another in 1767, 6, 7. An high
volcano on the iQand of Kanaga, 84. , See Copper
JJland, Unalajhka.
Vorobieff, his voyage, 45.
W.
Wheels, a carriage with four wheels a mark of high
dillin&ion among the Chinefe, 320.
White wo?itb, explained, 331.
Women, none allowed to live at Mairnatfchin, and
wh y> 333, 334-
Wfevidoff (Andrew), his vovage to the New-difcp-
vered Iflands, 40.
Y.
Take ff (Jacob), compofed the chart of Krenitzm
and Levaiheffs voyage, 222.
Tediger (a. 1 artar chief J, pays tribute to the Ruf-
fians, 277. See Kutcbum Chan.
Tcntfei, a river of Siberia, 243, & feq.
Terkcn, a town of Little Bucharia, 352.
Yermac, being driven from the Cafpian Sea, retires
to Orel, 279. 280, where he winters, and de-
termines to invade Siberia, 280, 281. To which
he is inftigated by Strogonoff, 282. Marches
towards Siberia, and returns to Orel, 282, 283.
Sets out on a fecond expedition, and arrives at
Tchingi, 284. Defeats Kutchum Chan atTfchu-
vatch, 285. Marches to Sibir, and feats hinv
felf on the throne, 286. Cedes his conqueft to
the
INDEX.
the Tzar of Mufcovy, 288. Who fends him a
reinforcement, under the command of prince
Bolkoiky, 290. Is furprifed by Kutchum Chan,
291. And drowned, 292. Veneration paid to
his memory, 293. See Altai, RuJJians, Siberia^
Ivan Vaffielivitch II.
efimoff (Sava), one of Yermac's followers, an ac-
curate hiftorian of thofe times, 292.
Tugoff (Emilian), his voyage, 41. Dies on Cop-
per ifland, 42.
Z.
Zuchert. See Rhubarb.
Zurukaitu. Defcription of, 346. Its trade very
inconiiderable, ibid. See Kiakta.
FINIS,
SUPPLEMENT
T O T H E
A
COMPARATIVE VIEW
O F T H E
RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES
WITH THOSE MADE BY
CAPTAINS COOK AND CLERKE;
AND A SKETCH OF
WHAT REMAINS TO BE ASCERTAINED
BY FUTURE NAVIGATORS.
BY WILLIAM COXE, A.M. F.R.S.
One of the Senior Fellows of King's College, Cambridge ;
Member of the Imperial (Economical Society at St. Pe^erf-
burgh, of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Copenhagen ; and
Chaplain to his Grace the Duke of MARYBOROUGH.
LONDON,
PRINTED BY J. NICHOLS,
FOR T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND,
MDCCLXXXVII.
T O
PETER SIMON PALLAS, M.D. F.R.S.
COUNSELLOR OF THE BOARD OF MINES
TO THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA,
MEMBER OF THE IMPERIAL ACADEMY OF
SCIENCES AT ST. PETERSBURGH, &c.
THE FOLLOWING ATTEMPT TO
.COMPARE THE DISCOVERIES
OF A NATION, WHOSE
CIVIL, TOPOGRAPHICAL, AND
NATURAL HISTORY
HE HAS AMPLY ELUCIDATED,
IS INSCRIBED,
B Y
HIS FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT
HUMBLE SERVANT,
WILLIAM COXE.
Cambridge,
April 2$, 17%,
ADVERTISEMENT.
THE author would have arranged, at a
more early period, the following Com-
parative View, which feems neceflarily con-
nected with his former publication on the
Ruffian Difcoveries ; if he had not been ab-
fent from England when Cook's Voyage firft
made its appearance ; and if continued tra-
vels and avocations had not prevented him
from confulting thofe books, charts, and
manufcripts, which the examination of fo in.
tricate a fubject required.
Mr. Pallas has lately favoured the public,
in his Neue Nordifcbe Beytraege, with feverai
curious particulars concerning the Tchutfki^
the two idands lying between Eaft Cape and
Cape Prince of Wales, and relative to the
New-difcovered iflands. An extract of fome
of thefe particulars is given by Mr. Pennant
.in his Introduction to the Arctic Zoology,
and more amply in his Supplement to that
interefting work, in which the reader will
find an excellent map of thofe parts, which
are mentioned in this Comparative View.
Ee
CHAP I.
Jl comparative View of the Ruffian Difcoveries
with thofe made by Cook and Clerke. i . On
the Coaft of Afia. 2. On that of America.
3. With refpeft to the New-difcovered I/lands,
AS my account of the Ruffian Difcoveries,
printed in 1780,, contained the prin-
cipal intelligence at that time known ; and
as, fince its publication, a new light has been,
thrown upon that important fbbjecl: by Cook
and Clerke, I (hall, in this chapter, compare
the difcoveries of the Ruffians with the fub-
fequent obfervations of the Englim naviga^
tors. i. On the coaft of Afia, 2. on that of
America ; and 3. with refpedt to the New^
difcovered Iflands.
i. The accuracy of Krafilnikof's obfervations,
at the Port of St. Peter and St. Paul, has
JDeen confirmed by Captain Copk. The lat-
ter places that harbour in lat. 53' i x , long.
P ? 158'
420 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
158' 36" eaft * ; the former in lat. 53' o /7
38", long. 176' 10" from Fero, or 158' 35''
from Greenwich. The difference is only 2Z
feconds in the latitude, and 7 minutes in
the longitude. Hence the aflertion of Vau-
gondy, that the Ruffians had advanced the
peninfula of Kamtchatka eleven degrees too
much to the eaft, and of Engel, who fup-
pofed that, error to be no Je(s than 29 de-
grees, is evidently confuted ; and the jufi>
nefs of the agronomical obfervations, made
by the Ruffian geographers, which I attempted
to prove in the firft number of the Appen-
dix to the Ruffian Difcoveries, p. 367, is now
incontrovertibly afcertained.
Though we cannot expect nearly the fame
accuracy in the longitude of thofe- places,
which have not been laid down by aftronp-
mical obfervations ; yet we (hall find, per-
haps, that the errors of the Ruffians, even
under fuch difadvantages, have not always
been fo great, as might reafonably be fup-
pofed. Thus while the latitude of Kamt-
* It is qeceflary to apprife the reader, that, in this Sup-
plement, whenever the 'ongitude given by Cook is men-
tioned, it is taken from the meridian of Greenwich. The
Deader is alfo deiired to confult the maps and charts which
accompany Book's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean.
chatka
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 421
chatka Nofs, and of Kronotfkoi Nofs the
moft north-eafterly point in the peninfulaof
Kamtchatka, agrees with the latitude of thofe
places, given by Captain Cook, their longi-
tude is laid down 2' 46" too much to the
weft ; and the fame error feems to prevail in
the bearings of the Kamtchatka Coaft, as
traced on the Ruffian charts.
Towards the north, the deficiency in the
longitude is far more confiderable. The pro-
montory of St. Thaddaeus, the moft north
eafterly point in the country of the Koriacs,
lies, according to Cook, in lat. 62' 50", long.
180' ; and is iituated, on the general map of
Ruffia, in lat. 63, long. 190, from Fero, or
172' 25" from Greenwich; which gives a
difference of only 50' in the latitude, but of
l' 35" ' m tne longitude.
The next point of land obferved by the
Englifh navigators, was that promontory
called by Bearing Tchukotfkoi Nofs, a name
adopted by Captain Cook, but which is de-
nominated by moft of the Ruffian geogra-
phers Anadirikoi Nofs, from its poiition on
the Bay of the Anadyr. The application of
the term Tchukotlkoi Nofs to this promon-
tory, may, perhaps, occafion fome confufion
E e to
422 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
to future navigators and geographers, as that
appellation has been ufually given, and ought
therefore to be appropriated, to the eaftern ex-
tremity of Afia, the Eaft Cape of Cook.
From Anadirfkoi Nofs, placed by the Eng-
lifh in lat. 64' 13", under the name of
Tchukotikoi Nofs, to Cape Serdze Kamen, in
Jat. 67. the utmofi: extent of Beering's navi-
gation to the north, Captain Cook, with great
candour, does juftice to the memory of Beer-
ing, by obferving, that " he has here de-
" lineated the coaft very well, and fixed the
*' latitude and longitude of the places better
*' than could be expedled from the methods
' he had to go by *."
* Cook's Voyage, vol. II. p. 474. The reader is defired
to correct a paiTage in the note, p. 263, of my Ruffian Dif-
coveries ; in which I aflerted, upon the authority of Muller,
that Beering, in his expedition to the northern coafts of
Ada, did not double the north eaflern promontory of that
continent, properly called Tchukotskoi Nofs. Whereas it
appears, from a comparative view of Beering's and Cook's
difcoveries, that the former actually pafled that celebrated
point ; and that Cape Serdze Kamen, the utmoft extent
of his voyage, is fituated to the north, and not, according
to Muller, to the fouth of the faid promontory. Captain
Cook, who alone could afcertain thefe points, and whofe
judgment muft be confidered as decifive, informs us, that
Muller's account of Beering's expedition, and that part of
the chart prefixed to his Ruffian Difcoveries, which refers
to that expedition, are lefs accurate, than the relation of the
fame voyage, and the annexed map publifhed by Dr. Camp-
bell in the fecond edition of Harris's Collection of Voyages^
Within
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 423
Within this fpace our great navigator ha s
Corrected the errors of the Ruffian charts,
and afcertained the pofition of the real Tchu-
kotfkoi Nofs, which Muller had erroneoufly
conje&ured to lie above the 7oth degree of
latitude. He calls this great promontory of
the Tchutfki Eaft Cape, proves it to be the
moft eaftern extremity of Afia, and fixes its
latitude in 66' 6", and long. 190' 22". Thus
he has unqueftionably (hewn, that the Ruf-
fians did not err in afferting, that the north
eaftern extremity of Afia ftretched beyond
the aooth degree of longitude from the Ifle
of Fero, or 182' from Greenwich*
The earlieft and moft important of the
Ruffian voyages in thefe parts, as it firft
afcertained the feparation of the two conti-
nents, is that remarkable expedition of Defh-
hef, in which, according to Muller, he failed
from the mouth of the Kovyma, doubled
Tchukotfkoi Nofs, or the Eaft Cape of Cook,
and was ftiipwrecked in the Sea of Kamt-
chatka. An account of this expedition is
given in my Ruffian Difcoveries *. But as
from want of circumftantial evidence, many
* See p. 2p.
E e 4 per-
424 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
perfons ftill doubt, whether Defhnef failed
round this celebrated promontory ; it may
not, perhaps, be uninterefting to flate a
few particulars in Cook's narrative, which
may feem to corroborate the authenticity of
Demnef's voyage.
Defhnef's defcription of the North Eaftern
Cape correfponds in feveral material circum-
ftances with that of the fame promontory
given by Cook. According to Defhnef, it
" confijh almojl entirely of rocks *." Cook
fays, that " it fhews a fteep rocky cliff next
*' the fea ; and at the very point zrefomf
" rocks like Jpires. The land about this prq-
" montory is compofed of hills and vallies :
** the former terminate at the fea injleep rocky
" points, and the latter in low mores. The
" hills feemed to be naked rocks -f."
Defhnef adds, that, on the eoaft near the
promontory, the natives had reared a pile
like a tower, ivith the boties of 'whales. Cook
likewife noticed thefe piles as very common
on the coaft of the Tchutlki. " Over the
" dwelling {lands a kind of fentry box, com-
** fofed of the large bones of large Jijh ;" and
* " Aus lauter Felfen beftunde." S. R. G. III. p. 17.
f Cook's Voyage, Vol. II. p. 472.
again,
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 425
again, " near the dwellings were erected ftages
" of bones, fuch as before defcribed *." Cook
aifo agrees with Demnef in placing two fmall
i (lands dire&ly oppofite to the promontory ;
and Captain King confirms another affertion
of the Ruffian navigator, that the paffage
from the fame promontory to the mouth of
the Anadyr may, with a fair wind, be per-
formed in feventy-two hours -f .
To thofe perfons who objeft to Demnef f s
narrative, becaufe Cook and Clerke were, in
two fuccefiive years, prevented by the ice
from penetrating into the frozen ocean ; it
may be replied, that Defhnef pafled in a fmall
veflel, which might more eafily be worked
through than the Englifh mips ; and that the
year, in which he failed round, is re-
prefented as more free from ice than ufual
The feafon alfo, in which Demnef probably-
doubled the great Siberian promontory, was
more favourable to navigation in the Frozen
Sea, than the times of the year employed
by the Englifh. For although he failed on
* Vol. II. p. 45 r, 472.
f The reader will find thefe two laft-menUoned point*
more fully difcufled by Captain King, Vol. IV. p, 264.
the
426 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
the firft of July *, yet 'he does not appear
to have arrived in the Eaftern Ocean until
the latter end of September. Soon after An-
kunidoFs veffel was fhipwrecked on Tchukot-
ikoi Nofs, Defhnef mentions, that he landed
on thefirft of October -f, and fkirmimed with
tlie Tchutfki. It follows therefore, from th e
length of the interval between the day of his
departure from the mouth of the Kovyma to
his arrival in the Eaftern Ocean, that he pro-
bably waited for an opportunity of getting
through the ice, which he at length ef-
fe&ed. Whereas Cook quitted that dreary
region on the 2Qth of Auguil ; and Clerke*
fo early as the month of July. The middle
and the latter end of September are generally
efleemed the moft proper periods for navigating
the Frozen Ocean.
The fole aim of Defhnef being to fail from
the Kovyma to the Anadyr, it was not incom-
patible with his plan to continue on the coafK
and to perfevere in expetling a favourable-
occafion for executing his purpofe, without
expofing himfelf to thofe difficulties and dan-
gers, which Teamen from more diftant quar-
* June ao, O. 8^ f Sept. 20, O. S.
ters
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 427
ters muft neceffarily experience. On the con-
trary, the grand defign of the Englim navi-
gators being to afcertain the practicability of
a North Eaftern paflage, and having incon.
trovertibly determined that important queftion
in the negative, they accomplished the pri-
mary object of their expedition. They could
not therefore, confidently with their views
and inftrucYions, by delaying their departure
from thofe frozen regions, hazard the danger
of being hemmed in by the ice, in order
merely to (how the poffibility of getting round
to the Kovyma.
Should all thefe circumftances be confi-
dered as proofs, that Demnef performed this
much-difputed voyage ; yet, as he neither
made any aftronomical obfervations, nor
traced a chart of the coaft, his expedition,
though it decided the long-agitated difpute
concerning the feparation of the two conti-
nents, did not, however, contribute to an ac-
curate knowledge of the north-eaftern extre-
mity of Afia, for which we are indebted to
Cook alone.
2. The difcoveries of the Ruffians on the
Continent of America come next under con-
fideration. Several of thofe coafts, vifited by
7 the
428 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
the Ruffians, which they fuppofed, though
on very uncertain grounds, to be parts of
America, and which they had imperfectly
defcribed, have been afcertained by Cook to
belong to that Continent.
Thus Cook * difcovered a great moun-
tain on the Coaft of America, in latitude
58' 53", longitude 220' 52", which he al-
lows to be the fame as Beering's Mount Sr.
Ellas, lying, according to his eftimation, in
latitude 58' 28", longitude 236', from Fero,
or 218' 25" from Greenwich. The dif-
ference in latitude is merely 28 feconds,
and of longitude only 2' 27" ; and the de-
fcriptions of it, given by Cook and Beering,
exactly agree.
Cook t likewife explored the fame Conti-
nent, fituated in latitude 54' 43" and 55' 20",
in longitude 224' 44", which makes it pro.
bable, that the land vifited by Tchirikof, and
placed by him in latitude 56', longitude 241'
from Fero, or 223' 25" from Greenwich,
was really a part of America.
Alaxa, called fometimes Alaxfu, Alach-
(hak and Alafhka, reached by many Ruf-
* Vol. II. p. 346. f Tb. p. 343.
fians,
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 429
fians *, particularly by Krenitztn and Le-
vatchef, and fuppofed to be a great ifland
in the vicinity of America, was found by
Cook to be a promontory of that Continent.
Its fouth-weftern point, reprefented on Kre-
nitzin's chart, in latitude 54' 42", longitude
2o6 7 50", from Fero, or 189' 15" from
Greenwich, is laid down by Cook in lati-
tude 54' 10'', longitude igs't which gives
only a difference of 32 minutes in latitude,
and 5' 45" in longitude.
That promontory lying oppofite to the
country of the Tchutfki, which, accord-
ing to Muller f, was firft feen by Gvofdef
in 1 730, and the rnofl weftern point of which
is reprefented on the chart that accompanies
his Ruffian Difcoveries, as lying in the 66th
degree of latitude, and in the 2iith of lon-
gitude from the Ifle of Fero, or 193' 25''
from Greenwich. This point of land is pro-
bably the fame as that touched at by Synd
and placed by him in latitude 64' 40'% and
longitude 38' 15" from Okotfk 5 or 181 2,$'
from Greenwich.
* See Ruf. Dif. p. 72, 76, 77, ap8.
t S. R.-G. III. j>. 131.
This
430 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
This promontory, named Cape Prince of
Wales, Cook found to be the moft weftern
point of America hitherto explored, lying
in latitude 65' 46', in longitude ipi^j"
which gives a difference of latitude from
Muller of only 14 minutes, from Synd of
i x 2o x '; and of longitude from Muller of
only i' 40", but from Synd of 10 degrees.
It is diftant from the eaftern cape of Siberia
only thirteen leagues. Thus Cook has the
glory of afcertaining the vicinity of the two
continents, which had only been conjectured
from the reports of the Tchutfki, and from
the imperfect obfervations of the Ruffian na-?
vigators.
It reflects the higheft honour on the Bri-
tifh name, that even our great navigator ex-
tended his difcoveries much further in one
expedition, and at fo great a diftance from
the point of his departure, than the Ruffians
accomplished in a long feries of years, and
in parts belonging, or contiguous, to their own
empire. But although we afcribe this tribute
pf applaufe to the man whofe claim is in-
difputably founded ; yet we ought not to with-
hold that portion of pratfe due to the Ruffians,
for.-having firft navigated thofe feas, and made
thofe
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 431
thofe difcoveries which the Engli(h have
confirmed and greatly exceeded.
It muft indeed be confetfed, that Cook
cenfures with juuMce Staehiin's chart of the
New Archipelago *; and ft rongly condemns
it as an impofition on the public ; fuch ficlions
in a work fo refpe&ably vouched, as the moft
accurate reprefentation of the New-diico-
vered Iflands, being calculated only to mif-
lead future navigators. In fact, Mulleralfo,
and the heft-informed Ruffians, had pre-
vioufly pronounced Mr. Staehling's account^
and the annexed map, - to be extremely err
roneous f.
But our great navigator feems to have
been too rigid in cenfuring Muller for placing
Tchukotlkoi Nofs in too high a latitude ;
and for " his very imperfect knowledge of
**> the geography of thefe parts ." He did
not fufficiently appreciate the merits of an
author, who, though he unavoidably erred
in fome particulars, yet deferves great appro-
bation for his fagacity in uniformly fup-
porting the exiftence of Beering ? s Straits,
* Vol. II. p. 47$. 486. 506. particularly,
t Ruf. Dif. p. 29, 380, 381.
j Vol. II. 470, 471. See alfo p. 503.
and
432 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
and the vicinity of the two continents ; when
thofe opinions had been treated as chime-
rical. If Cook had been able to read Mullen's
account of the Ruffian Difcoveries in the ori-
ginal German, and not in inaccurate tranfla-
tions * ; if he had fairly weighed the extreme
difficulty of drawing intelligence from imper-
fect journals of ignorant adventurers, from
vague accounts, or uncertain tradition; if he
had diftinguifhed what Muller advances as
conjectural f, from what he lays down as
fact ; if he had known that Muller had can-
didly acknowledged and rectified feveral mif-
takes ; if he had compared his trifling fources
of information with his own pofitive proofs ;
he would not have been offended by thofe in-
accuracies, which muft neceflarily arife from
fuch complicated and multifarious queftions:
he would probably have been lefs fevere in
* The Englifh tranflation of that work is the molt inac-
curate.
f Mr. Mullet's map of the north eaftern coafl of Siberia
js allowed, by Captain King, ** to bear a considerable re-
"*' femblance to the furvey of the Englifh navigators, as far
V as the latter extended J ;" and it is to be obferved, that
the great promontory, which Muller lays down in latitude
75. as Tchukotlkoi Nofs, is reprefented in his map as very
uncertain; and as a country, the extent of which is wholly
unknown. Pays des Tfcbutjki dont on ne coanoitfas /V ( nditt .
j YoLlIJ. j>. 263.
his
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 433
his judgement of a writer, who firft excited
the eurioluy of the public towards thofe di
coveries, which occafioned his own glorious
expedition, under the aufpices of the fo-
vereign who now fits upon the Britifh throne.
3. Thenew-difcovered iflands between Afia
and America form the third part of the pre-
fent inquiry.
As my former account of the Ruffian Dif-
coveries renders it unneceflary to particu-
larize all the iflands vilited by the Ruffians,
and laid down in their charts, I mall only
felect the principal iflands which were either
afcertained, or appear to have been obferved
by the Englim navigators.
Kadyak, or Kodiak, one of the moft diftant
iflands reached by the Ruffians, is fully de-
fcribed fromGlottof's journal in the tenth chap-
ter of my Ruffian Difcoveries. It is placed by
Glottof in the 23oth degree of longitude from
Fero, or 212' 25" from Greenwich; and is
Juppofed to be not far diftant from the coafl
of a wide extended woody continent, or from
that part of America which Beering formerly
touched at. This conjecture is confirmed by
Cook, who mentions it as contiguous to Ame_
rica, and forming one of an extenfive group,
F f which
434 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
which he imagines to comprife thofe called
by Beering Shumagin's Iflands *. Its true
petition is determined by Cook to be in la-
titude 55 ' 1 8", and longitude 199. The dif-
ference of longitude will not appear fo re-
markably erroneous, when it is considered
that Glottof s account was computed merely
from (hips reckonings, and that of Cook is
founded on aftronomical obfervations.
This group is part of that chain, called the
Fox Iflands; the longitude of which is very
erroneoufly given upon all the Ruffian maps,
and the latitude faithfully reprefented only
on Krenitzin's chart ; as will be more fully
{hewn in the comparative account of Unalafka.
The next ifland which Cook accurately
defcribes is that named Halibut, probably the
fame as the ifland called Sannaga by Solo-
viof, in his journal, a manufcript extract of
which I have in my pofleffion. This ifland,
termed Senagak by the Aleutian chief -j-, is
{lightly mentioned in my account of the Ruf-
fian Difcoveries J, but is not laid down in
* Vol. IT. p. 413. f Ruff. Dif. p. 238.
J It is not improbable, that this ifland is the fame as
Kita Managan, which is reprefented on Krenitzin's chart,
as lying near to Alaxa, and which has nearly the fame
pofhion as Halibut's Ifland in Cook's chart.
4 any
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 435
any of their charts under that name ; it will
probably appear to be Halibut's Ifland, by a
comparative examination of the two defcrip-
tions given by Cook and Soloviof.
" Halibut's Ifland lies near to the pro-
< montory of Alafka, is feven or eight leagues
' in circuit, and, except the bead 9 which is a
" round fall, the land of it is very low and bar-
" ren. There are feveral fmall iflands near
" it of a fimilar appearance ; but there feemed
" to be a paflage between them and the main,
*' two or three leagues broad *."
Soloviof -j- , who anchored in a bay of
Sannaga, Auguft 19, 1771, thus defcribes it :
" Sannaga is fituated not far from Unimak
" and Alaxa, and is feparated from the latter
*' by a channel of about twenty leagues. It
" appeared to be about eight leagues in length,
" and about a league and three quarters in
" breadth. On the northern fide of the wef-
" tern point is a fmall peak, joined to a low
* Vol. IT. p. 416.
f I have only printed a fmall part of his journal, as it
contains no material information, in additional to thofe jour*
nals already pobliflied in my Account of the Ruffian Dif
coverics. Soloviof failed from Okotflc on this expedition
to the Fox Iflands on the 6th of September, 1770; and
returned ou the i6th of July, 1775.
F fa " ridge
4 36 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
" ridge of hills extending to the eaft and weft,
" about a verft, or three quarters of a mile-
c 6 Except this rlfing ground, the 'whole ijland Is
' low and marfiy. It is' watered by many
<; fprings and lakes, containing fifh fimilar to
*' thofe of Okotfk. The ifland produces neither
" trees nor berries. It isfurrounded by many
" fmall iflands. It is feparated from a little
' ifland fituated near its fouthern point by a
" ftrait, about a league broad, which is fome-
61 times dry. In reconnoitring this ifland,
" Soloviof obferved feveral deferted huts, but
'< met with 110 inhabitants."
Unalalka, or Oonalalka, the largeft ifland,
next to Unimak, in the whole chain of the
Fox Iflands, and which has been frequently
vifited and defcribed by the Ruffians, was
alfo particularly obferved by Cook, who an-
chored in a fine bay on the north fide, called
by the natives Sanganoodha, and of which
he has given a chart. Unalafku is placed by
Cook in latitude 53' 55", longitude 193' 30" ;
by Krenitzin in latitude 53' 30", longitude
205' 30" from Fero ; or iS; 7 55" from
Greenwich ; on the general map of Rufjia
in latitude 58', longitude 225 / from Fero ; or
Z 5 // from Greenwich. Thus it appears,
that
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 437
that in latitude Krenitzin only differs from
Cook 25 minutes; and in longitude 5 / 35 // ;
whereas the general map of Ruffia varies 4' 5"
even in latitude, and in longitude 11' 55 /x .
The fame error alfo prevails in the pofition
of Unimak, Umnak, Amughta, and the
ether ifles adjacent to Unalafka, the Situations
of which are corrected and determined by
Cook*. Here it may be remarked, that the
relative pofition of that part of the Fox
.Iflands, which ftretches fouth eaft from the
head-land Alaxa, is well laid down in Kre-
nitzin's chart ; and that in all refpets it de-
ferves the preference over the reprefentation
of thofe iflands on the general Map of Ruffia.
The defcription of Unalafka and of the
contiguous iflands, their extent, produ&ions,
and the manners of the natives, as given by
Cook, cdrrefponds entirely with the account
of the fame iflands in the Ruffian Difco-
veries ; and ferves to prove, that the jour,
nals, from which my account was drawn,
are in thefe refpels faithful and accurate.
No iflands in the chain of the Fox Iflands
were obferved by Cook to the weft of
* See Cook's Voyage, Vol. II.
F f 3 Amughta :
438 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
Amughra : a few fcattered Iflands are in-
deed reprefented on the chart which accom-
panies his journal, not from his own ob-
fervation, but from a map communicated by
a Ruffian, named Ifmailof, which I (hall
hereafter confider *.
Whether the ifland, called by Cook Gore's
Ifland, lying in latitude 6o x 10", in longi-
tude 187', may be confidered as the ifland
of St. Matthew, placed on Synd's chart in
latitude 59' 30", longitude 34' 10" from
Okotfk ; or 176' 42" from Greenwich; is
a conjecture which may deferve inquiry.
The difference of latitude is only 40 mi-
nutes i and the deficiency in the longitude of*
ic/ 1 8" nearly coincides with Synd's error
of longitude obfervable in other instances,
while the general outline of its coaft, its
relative fize and bearings to the head-lands
of the two continents, fufficiently agree in
the two charts.
The exigence of the ifland St. Laurence,
obferved by Beering near the Coaft of Siberia,
was alfo confirmed by Cook ; and it is not
without probability, that thofe called Clerke's,
* Vql. II. p. 497, &c. See alfo Vol. III. p. 193, 194.
An-
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 459
Anderfon's, and King's Iflands, may perhaps
form part of that group obferve.d by Synd,
and reprefented, on his chart, as lying near
the head-lands of the Tchutfld.
The moft eaflern part of Copper Ifland is
laid down, in the Ruffian charts, in lati-
tude 55', longitude 184' from Fero ; or 166'
2.5" from Greenwich ; and, after the obfer-
vations of the Englim, is determined to lie in
latitude 54 X 28", longitude 167' $1", which
gives a difference of but 32', in the latitude,
and of only i' 27" in the longitude.
CHAP. II.
Sketch of what remains to be afcertained. i. On
the coajl of Afia. 2. On that of America.
3. And in relation to the New~difcovered
IJlands. Expedition of Captain Billings.
HAVING now reviewed and compared
the Ruffian Difcoveries with thofe
made by Cook and Clerke, it is the defign
of this fecond chapter to lay before the reader
what remains to be afcertained in thofe re-
jnote quarters of the globe. In treating this
fub-
440 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
fubjeft, I mall follow the fame order which
I adopted in the firft ; and endeavour to ex-
plain the dejlderata towards completing the
geography, i. of the Afiatic coaft ; 2. of the
American Continent j 3. of the New-difco-
vered Iflands.
I. What principally remains to be ex-
amined on the Afiatic coaft, is that region
of Siberia ftretching from Cape North in
latitude 68' 56", longitude i8o x 51", the ut-
moft extent of Cook's difcoveries, to the
mouth of the Kovyma in the Frozen Ocean.
Cook conjectures, and the conjectures of
fo great a man defer ve to be weighed with
the utrnoft attention, that the northern
coaft ofAfia, from the Indigirka eaftwards,
has been laid down by the Ruffian geogra-
phers more than two degrees too much to the
northward : and Captain King no lefs inge-
nioufly conceives, that nearly the fame error
of longitude prevails in the bearings of the
Afiatic coaft in the Frozen Ocean, which is
proved to exift in the eaftern coaft of Si-
beria *. If therefore it ftiould be deemed
probable, that the Kovyma is reprefented
* See thefe queftions fully and ably difcufTed by Captain
King, Vol. III.
too
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 441
too much to the north and weft, the diftance
between the month of that river and Cape
North muft be considerably lefs than is ufually
imagined *.
It 'now remains to determine the unknown
coaft between Cape North and Shelatikoi
Nofs, the moft eaftern point traced by the
Ruffians in the Frozen Ocean, to take a more
accurate delineation of the fhore between
Shelatfkoi Nofs and the Kovyma than has
been effected by Shalaurof f, and to fix, by
aftronomical obfervations, the longitude and
latitude of the mouth of the Kovyma.
2. The principal objecls of examination
on the American coaft are the following parts
of that continent, which Cook was prevented
from exploring. That fpace reaching from
Woody Point in latitude 50' i /x , and lon-
gitude 229' 26", to latitude 53' 22", longi-
tude 225' 14", comprizes 3' 22" of latitude,
and 4' 1 2 /x of longitude j and is the more re-
markable, as it contains the place where geo-
graphers have afcribed the ftrait of Admiral
de Fonte. " And although there is little rea-
* Cook's Voyage, Vol. II. p. 263 270.
f See Shalaurof s Voyage and Chart in my Ruffian Dif-
coveries.
"fan
44.2 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
" fon to give credit," as Cook expreiTes him-
felf, " to fuch vague and improbable flories,
*' as carry their own confutation * ;" yet
it is to be regretted, that he was prevented
from entirely difproving thofe pretended dif-
coveries which fome perfons ftill coufider as
authentic.
The fliore between Shoal-Nefs, in latitude
6o x , longitude 198' 10", and Point Shallow
Water, in latitude 63% longitude 198', is
alfo entirely undefcribed j and what renders
this coafl an interefting fubjecl: of inquiry,
is the inference, of Captain Cook, that here
runs a considerable river from the continent
into the fea -f-.
Perhaps it would well deferve the attention
of fome future navigator, to explore Cook's
river flill further than the Englifh navi-
gator was able to penetrate : he traced it as
high as latitude 61' 30", longitude 210',
feventy leagues or more from its mouth ?
without feeing the leaft appearance of its
fource. Perhaps this great river, which, to
ufe Cook's expreffion J, " promifes to vie
44 with the mofl confiderable ones already
* Vol. II. p. 343. f Ib. p. 491. J Ib. p. 396. ,
" known
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, Sec. 443
" known to be capable of extenfive inland
"navigation," may nearly join thofe waters
and lakes which Hearne difcovered in his
curious expedition from Hudfon's Bay to the
Arapathefcow Indians, recorded in Dr.
Douglas's learned Introduction to Cook's
Voyage * ; and may thus help to eftablifh
an inland communication between the Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans.
To the north of Beering's Straits, the land
of America -from Point f Mufgrave in lati-
tude 67' 45 /x , longitude 194' 51", to Icy
Cape, in latitude 70' 29", longitude 198'
20", where Cook was totally flopped by the
ice, was not, excepting a fmall portion nea r
Cape Lifburne, and another to the fcuth of
that promontory, obferved either by Cook or
Clerke ; and its true bearings muft be afcer-
tained by future navigators.
But the mod important point of further
inquiry is to trace the direction of the Ame-
rican continent from Icy Cape, whether it
again trends to the north weft, and, accord-
ing to the reports of theTchutfki, approaches
the coafts of Northern Siberia, or verges di-
rectly to the eaft towards Baffin's Bay.
* p. XLVII. f Vol. II. p. 454. 461.
The
444 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
The execution of fuch an undertaking, in
fuch diftant regions, and in ib high a lati-
tude, mufl neceffarily be attended with ex-
treme difficulty and hazard. For the points
of diftance between Icy Cape and the north
weftern extremity of Baffin's Bay, include a
ipace of no lefs than feventy-one degrees lon-
gitude : of which nearly the central point has
been explored by Hearne alone *.
It muft be neverthelefs admitted, that fuch
inquiries, however interefting to increafe our
knowledge of the globe, do not tend to throw
any new light on the practicability of a north-
eaft paflage; which has been difproved by
the obftacle and difficulties encountered by
the Ruffians in navigating the Frozen Ocean -j-,
and more particularly by the undoubted tefti-
mony of Cook himfelf.
3. The new-difcovered iflands remain to
be confidered. We have already- remarked,
that, as Cook obferved only a few of thofe
numerous iflands which lie fcattered in the
Eaftern Ocean between Afia and America, th e
petition and defcription of the remainder are
to be drawn from the Ruffian accounts. It
* See the Introduction to Cook's Voyage.
. f See Rufiiaa Diicoveries, p. 271.
can?
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 445
cannot be denied that the Ruffians have fre-
quently corrupted their names, increafed their
number, and miftaken their fituation. It is pro-
bable, indeed, that Synd may have aug-
mented the number of iflands which lie near
the coafls of the Tchutlki; that St. Theodore,
-**
Imyak, and Tzetchina, which are laid down
among the Aleutian Hies in the general map
of Ruffia, do not exift ; and that the Andrea-
nofiki Hies, which are confidered as a fepa-
rate group, form the moft wefterly part of
that extenfive chain termed the Fox Ifland?,
of which Unalamka, fo amply defcribed by
Cook and the Ruffians, is nearly the center.
It may be urged, however, that, if the inac-
curacy of the Ruffian charts, in general, be
admitted, and their accounts are juftly deemed
imperfect, what advantages can be derived
from their publication ?
To this it maybe replied, that confiderable
information may be obtained even from im-
perfect accounts, and that many points have,
in effect, been afcertained, as the reader has
already perceived in this Comparative View.
We find even Cook himfelf anxious to pro-
cure intelligence from a Ruffian named If-
mailof, from whom he received a chart of the
Ruffian
446" COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
Ruffian Difcoveries. This chart, however,
was not founded on the obfervations of a
(ingle navigator, hut feems to have been a
compilation from different charts and journals,
and, confequently, extremely erroneous.
Nor does it appear that Ifmailof either pof-
fefled, or had feen, Krenitzin's chart of the
Fox Iflands, which, according to the ob*
fervations of the Englifh, is proved to be the
mofl accurate reprefentation of the Fox Iflands
given by the Ruffians. The correction of
this erroneous chart from Ifmailof s own ex-
perience, and additional remarks, muft have
been flill doubtful. For, as Captain Cook
could not fpeak the Ruffian language, and
as he had no Ruffian interpreter on board,
the imperfect knowledge of this illiterate man
I O ......
was rendered ftill more imperfect by the only
mode of communication they could adopt,
that of converfing by figns.
And yet, under all thefe difad vantages,
Cook gained fome information relative to the
pontion and number of the iflands which he
had not .explored ; an information which he
has thought worthy to be laid before the
public.
He
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 447
He particularly informs us, that " a paf-
" fage was marked in IfmailoPs chart, com-
" municating with Briftol Bay, which covers
" about fifteen leagues on the coaft, that I
" had fuppofed to belong to the continent,
" into an ifland diftinguifhed by the name of
" Oonemak. This paflage might eafily
*' efcape us, as we were informed that it is
" very narrow, mallow, and only to be navi-
" gated through with boats, or very fmall
" veffels*."
The exiftence of this ftrait, which Cook
has adopted in his chart, from Ifmailof's ob-
fervations, might like wife have been col-
lected from Krenitzin's chart, and the feveral
journals in my Account of the Ruffian Dif-
coveries, wherein Unimak or Oonemak is
(hewn to be an ifland feparated from Alaxa,
fmce proved to be the continent of America,
by a narrow ftrait.
It muft not be thought furprifing, that
a collection of voyages, performed by igno-
rant traders merely for the fake of obtaining
furs, and not with a view of difcovery, mould
be defective in determining the pofition and
* Vol. II. p. 505.
num-
448 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
number of fo many iflands. We ought rather
to wonder that the defcriptions, in general,
are tolerably accurate, and afford that degree
of information which they are found to con-
tain. Nor mud it be forgotten that Beering's
and Krenitzin's expedition, which alone were
undertaken by Imperial authority, reflect con*
liderable honour on the Ruffian name.
The particulars which remain to be afcer^
tained with refpect to the new-difcovered
iflands, are, to remove the uncertainty ariiing
from the confufion of names, to determine
the true number, and to fix the longitude and
latitude. And when it Is confidered that the
fea, unexplored by Cook, includes a fpace of
at leaft ten degrees of latitude, and twenty
of longitude, much, in this inftance, remains
to be effected by the labours of future adven-
turers.
Thefe are the principal objects of exami-
nation on the coafls of Afia and America, and
in refpect to the new-difcovered iflands. In
order to forward thefe great ends, the Em-
prefs of Ruffia, with that boundleis liberality
and enlightened fpirit which characlerifes her
actions, has planned and commanded a voyage
of
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 440
of difcovery. The care of this expedition,
which was agitated and determined during
my fecond vifit to, Peteribtirgh in 1785, is
committed to Captain Billings, an Englifh
naval officer in the Ruffian fervice, who is
well qualified to conduct fuch an undertaking,
as he accompanied Captain Cook in his lad
celebrated voyage to the Pacific Ocean. I
(hall briefly ftate the plan and purport of thi s
expedition.
According to its firft object, Captain Bil-
lings is to proceed by Irkutfk, Yakutfk, and
Okotfk, to Kovimfkoi Oftrog : having traced
the courfe of the Kovyrna, and fettled by
aftronomical obfervations the exact petition
of its mouth, he will endeavour to delineate
the coafts extending from that point to Cape
North, the utmoft period of Cook's navi-
gation on the North-eaftern (hores of Si >eria.
For this purpofe he will embark in fuch vef-
fels as are ufually employed for coaftlng
voyages in the Frozen Ocean j fix the longi-
tude and latitude of the principal parts by
aftronomical obfervations ; form exact charts
of the bays and inlets which he may have
occafion to explore ; and caufe views to be
taken of the bearings, head-lands, and re-
G g markable
45 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
markable objects on the coafh If he mould
be prevented by the ice, or any other ob-
ftacie^ from getting round by fea to Tchu-
kotfkoi Nofs, he muft difembark, and eri-
deavour to proceed by land or over the icey
furveying the eoaft and diftrid of the Tchutlki,
and obtaining an accurate knowledge of their
manners, population, and country. In both
cafes, and in all instances, he is enjoined ta
abftain from the leaft degree of violence ; is
directed to ufe every effort towards concili-
ating the affection of the natives ; to obtain
information and afTiftance by the gentleft treat-
ment, and a proper diftribution of prefents ;
and to confirm them in their dependence and
favourable opinion of the Ruffian govern-
ment, to which they have recently fub-
mitted.
While he continues in thefe parts, he will
not neglect an opportunity of exploring the
iflands and coafts of America, that may be
fituated in the Frozen Ocean, or to the north
of Beering's ftraits.
Having attempted to execute thefe defigns,
he is to return to Okotfk, where two mips,
of a proper burden for a voyage of difcovery,
will be prepared for his further embarkation.
He
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 451
He is then to fail and follow the numerous
chain of iflands which extend to the con-
tinent of America ; determining their re-
fpeclive longitudes and latitudes by a feries
of agronomical obfervations ; taking an exact
chart of their pofitions, and particularly
noticing thofe roads and harbours which ap-
pear to be mod fecure. He is alfo to extend
his refearches towards fuch parts of the
American coaft, which bad weather and other
impediments prevented preceding navigators
from furveying. And, in cafe his former at-
tempts to determine the coaft of the Tchutfki
from the mouth of the Kovyma to Cape
North, and to gain an accurate information
pf the country, fhould be ineffectual ; he is
again ordered to fail towards Tchukotfkoi-
Nofs, and endeavour to penetrate by fea from
Veering's Straits to the mouth of the Ko-
vyma, and to make thofe obfervations, and
obtain that intelligence of thofe regions
which he could not procure on the former
occafion.
Six years will be requifite for the accom-
plifhment of thefe various purpofes. In or-
der to enfure its fuccefs, every poffible en-
G g 2 courage-
452 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
couragement, in regard to promotion and
rank, as the refpe&ive objects are fulfilled,
is given to the commander and his followers.
No expence has been fpared towards pro-
curing fuch an apparatus and inflruments as
are neeeflary for this expedition.
For the purpofe alfo of elucidating the
natural hiflory of thofe diftant regions, at
prelent fo imperfectly known, the com-
mander is accompanied by Monlieur Patrin,
an eminent French naturalift, fome time re-
iident at Irkutlk, who ib furnimed with fuch
excellent inftructions as are moft calculated
to forward the object of his miffion.
Captain Billings fet out from St. Peterf-
burgh on this expedition in the latter end of
1 785. He arrived at Irkutfk in March, 1 786 ;
and at Okotfk in July of the fame year,
from whence he propofed infrantly to take
his departure for the Kovyma. It is not in-
deed improbable, that, before the prefent
period, he may have afcertained the longitude
and latitude of the mouth of the Kovyma j
and thus have determined one important fact,
relative to the precife diftance between the
Kovyma and Cape North. The length of
5 time
THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. 453
time requifite for the conveying of intelli-
gence from thofe diftant regions to St. Pe-
terfburgh, and the difficulty of obtaining cer-
tain information from that capital, renders
it impoffible to gratify the further curiofity
of the reader.
POST-
I 454]
POSTSCRIPT.
THE reader is requefted to correct the lon-
gitude of Kamtchatka, mentioned p. 5 of my
Ruffian Difcoveries, as lying between 173
and 182 degrees from the ifle of Fero ; or
155 and 165 from Greenwich. Whereas, by
the obfervations of the Englifh, it is fituated
between 155 and 169 from Greenwich; or
172 and 186 from Fero ; the ^Ruffian geo-
graphers having laid down the North-caftern
part of the peninfula near three degrees too
much to the weft.
ERRATA.
P. 420. 1. 4. forfeven minutes read one minute.
421. 1. 17. for 50'. read 10".
4:8. 1. 131 for 28. read 25.
IN D E X.
A.
Anadirfkoi Nofs. See Tcbukotskoi-Nofs.
B.
Beering. Juftice done to his memory by Captain
Cook, 422. A miftake concerning him rectified,
ibid. note.
Billings (Capt.) an Englifti naval officer in the
Ruffian iervice, appointed on an expedition
planned by the" Emprefs for new difcoveries, 449.
Plan and purport of this expedition, ^42 453.
C.
Charts (Ruffian,) erroneous with refpect to the bear-
ings of the Kamtchatka coaft, 421. Confiderable
information, however, to be gathered from them
relative to the new-difcovered iflands, 444 448.
Cook (Capt.) his difcoveries on the continent of Ame-
rica compared with the Ruffian accounts, 427-
433. between Afia and America, 433 439.
He conje&ures that the Ruffian geographers are
erroneous refpe&ing the Northern coaft of Afia,
440. Parts of the American continent which he
was prevented from exploring, 441 444.
D.
INDEX,
D.
. His account of the promontory of Tchu-
kotskoi-Nofs compared with that of Capt. Cook,
424 427. See Tchukotskoi-Nofs.
E.
See Kamtchatka.
K.
Kamtchatka, fituation of by Vaugondy and Engcl
confuted, and the juftnefs of the aftronomical
obfervations of the Ruffian geographers afcer-
taincd, 420.
Krafilnikof. His obfervations as to the fituation of
the harbour of St. Peter and St. Paul, compared
with thofe made by Capt. Cook, 419, 420.
T.
Ichitkotskoi-Nofs, a promontory, called alfo Ana-
dirskoi-Nofs, its fuuation, 422. Pofition of the
real Tchukotskoi-Nofs, by Capt. Cook, 423.
DeQinePs voyage round this promontory con-
firmed by Capt. Cook, 424. See De/hnef.
Tkaddaus (St.) difference of its longitude and lati-
lude according to Capt. Cook, and on the ge-
neral map of Kuffia, 421.
v.
Vaugondy. See Kamtchatka.
F I N
i; 89
This book is DUE on the last date stamped below
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