treated by the people, who were in them, with the greatelt
kindnefs, and had entered into a league o f friendfhip and
amity with th em ; and that, re ly in g on this friendly dif-
poiition, they were now come to the Ruffian fort, in order
to fettle a treaty, on fuch terms as m igh t be acceptable to
both nations. T his extraordinary hiltory had occafioned
much fpeculation, both at In gig infk and B o lche re tik; and,
had we not furniffied them with a k e y to it, mull have remained
perfectly uninte lligible. We felt no fmall fatisfac-
tion in having, though accidentally, ihewn the Ruffians, in
this initance, the only true way o f collecting tribute, and
extending their dominions ; and in the hopes that the good
underilanding, which this event hath given rife to, may re-
fcue a brave people from the future invasions o f fuch powerfu
l neighbours.
We dined, this day, w ith Captain Shmaleff, and in the
afternoon, in order to va ry our amufements, he treated us
w ith an exhibition o f the Ruffian and Kamtfchadale dancing.
No defcription can convey an adequate idea o f this rude and
uncouth entertainment. T h e figure o f the Ruffian dance
was much lik e thofe o f our hornpipes, and was danced either
fipgle, or by two or four perfons at a time. T h e ir
ileps were fhort and quick, w ith the feet fcarce raifed from
the g ro u n d ; the arms were fixed d o le to the fides; the body
b e in g all the w h ile kept upright and immoveable, exceptin
g when the parties palled each other, at w hich time the
hand was raifed w ith a q u ick and awkward motion. But i f
the Ruffian dance was at the fame time both unmeaning
and ridiculous, the Kamtfchadale joined to the latter qua lity
the molt whimfical idea that ever entered into any people’s
heads. It is intended to reprefent the awkward and clumfy
ge llu re s o f the bear, which thefe people have frequent opportunities
o f obferving in a great variety o f fituations. It
w ill fcarcely be expe&ed that I ffiould give a minute defcription
o f all the itrange poftures w hich were exhibited
on thefe occafions; and I iliall therefore only mention,
that the body was always bowed, and the knees bent, w h illl
the arms were ufed in imitating the tricks and attitudes o f
that animal.
As our journ e y to Bolcheretik had taken u p more time
than w e expected, and w e were told that our return might
prove Hill more difficult and tedious, w e were under the ne-
ceffity o f acquainting the commander, this evening, with
our intention o f fetting out the next day. It was not w ith out
the utmoft regret we thought o f lea vin g our n ew acquaintance
; and were therefore moll agreeably furprifed,
when the Major told us, that i f we could Hay one day longer,
he wou ld accompany us. He had, he faid, made up his
difpatches, and refigned the command o f Kamtfchatka to
his fucceflor Captain Shmaleff, and had prepared every thing
fo r his departure to Okotlk, w hich w as to take place in a few
d a y s ; but that he fliould feel great pleafure in putting o ff
his journey a little longer, and returning with us to Saint
Peter and Saint Paul’s, that he might h im fe lf be a witnefs
o f every thing being done for us, that it was in their power
to do.
In return fo r the few trifles I had given to the children o f
Major Behm, I was, next morning, the 15th, prefented, b y Saturday 15.
his little boy, with a molt magnificent Kamtfchadale drefs
w hich fhall be defcribed in its proper place. It was o f the
kind worn by the principal Toions o f the country, on occa-
F f a lions