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PLATE XLVIH.
AN INHABITANT OF KAMTSHATKA,
IN HIS WINTER DRESS.
A s this and the four succeeding Plates relate to the same people it
will, It IS presumed, be most advantageous to give, in the five foUowinR
descriptions, a connected account of the inhabitants of Kamtshatka
Ihe penmsula of Kamtshatka contains about ten degrees of latitude
from 51° to o r north, and varies from two to four degrees of longitude'
the centre being i Oo° east of Greenwich. The southern part, properi;
so called, IS inhabited by those people, who go under the name of
Kamtschadals; while the Koriaks dwell ftirther to the north, where
the penmsula joins the main land. It does not lie directly north and
south, but the northern part inclines to the east, while the southern
point IS a little to the west. Through the centre, and in the direction
of tiie penmsula, a chain of stony and barren mountains extends from
one extremity to the other. This chain separates, about 53^ into two
the greater of which runs ofF to the north-east, and the other to thé
north-west lea^-ing between them a stony desert of sixty-five miles in
length, and from three to fifteen in width. Generally speaking the
soil IS very barren and unfruitful, and the climate is considered b f most
i-uropeans as inhospitable to the greatest degree. .Mr. Sauer, however
m his Account of Commodore Billing s Expedition, speaks in high
terms of parts of it ; at least, in preference to some of the neighbouring
country-. " The climate here," says Mr. Sauer, speaking of a part in
the vicinity of the river Kamtshatka, on the eastern side of the peninsula
IS very different from that of the southern and northern parts
of the peninsula, the valley being completely sheltered from the seabreezes,
M-hieh chill the air in other parts, and prove a great check to
vegetation, which commences here in the month of March The
seenery is beautiful beyond description. The river meandering through
the midst of the valley, from to .50 .^ards wide, and froiii eio-htfo
fifteen teet deep, is replete with trout and every species of salmon in
seasniK rTp , i..c ,, ^ , ., -i.^ i , , ut saim
. fh, is valley" is l8o miles in length, fiireeiqjiuiecinitrliyy ooppeemninnpg- nrospects
of theTobalsliirsk, a lofty double-headed mountain conLntly
emitting an immense column of black smoke ; while the second volcano
K u shefskoi, towering to an incredible height, illumines the cloud^
\\)tli Its blaze, and affords a view awfiillv grand."
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