n ' . 1.
I! Hi ^
hi
I'l ' 'uiini'm
. 1
P L A T E X L I X .
A FEMALE OF KAMTSHATKA,
IN HER COMMON DRESS.
W^ E are but little acquainted with the ancient state of Kamt sha tka ;
for, until the Russians came among them, the original inhabitants we r e
in a state of the most savage barbarism. They lived without governors
and without laws. The elder person of each hamlet, or some other,
whose courage rendered him formidable, assumed a kind of preeminence.
They are now rather less savage, but they pay a heavy
tribute to their more civihzed masters. Of their former histoiy or
events, they know nothing: they are acquainted with no other nation
but the Koriaks, who border upon them to the north, and the inhabitants
of some of the neighbouring islands. From the almost
universal barrenness of their soil, except in the valley through wliich
the river Kamtshatka runs, the population is but scanty. I t was ,
however, formerly more considerable, as in the year 17G8 the smallpox
carried of f above a third of the inhabitants : Mr . Sauer states
their numbers at only 1053, and the Russian colonists at IO87 : 351
males are all that remain of those, that are upon the list to pay tribute,
as revised in 1/81. This tribute, however, is the least of their sufferings
from the government. The greatest part of their time is taken
up in procuring food and other necessaries for the officers, &c. who
visit them. The governor makes an annual journey through the
peninsula, and receives a present from each individual. Each captain
of a district goes twice round his department; various deputations
from the courts of Justice, couriers, soldiers, &c. in short, every
Russian travels at the expense of the poor native, who is compelled,
says Mr. Sauer, to keep an extraordinary number of dogs for their
conveyance ; while government horses are quartered at each village,
for -w hich the inhabitants must procure hay. And thus the miserable
Kamtshadal scarcely finds time to collect, in the fishing season, a
s>i]vply of lish for Ills o\yn family.
i i®; !
Ilia
i il
¡iii
r