I p l l i made their fifhing-nets ; and without w hich they could not
— ;— -/ poffibly fubfift. For this purpofe they cut it down in Augu ft;
and, after h an ging it up in bundles in the ihade, under
their balagatts, the remainder o f the fummer, treat it lik e
hemp. They then fpin it into thread with their fingers, and
twift it round a fp in d le ; after which they twine feveral
threads together, according to the different purpofes for
w hich it may be defigned.
T hough there is little doubt but that many parts o f this
peninfula would admit o f fuch cultivation as might contribute
confiderably to the comfort o f the inhabitants, yet its
real riches muft always confitl in the number o f wild animals
it produces; and no labour can ever be turned to fo
good account as what is employed upon their furrieries.
T h e animals, therefore, w hich fupply thefe, come next to
be confidered : and thefe are the common f o x ; the float, or
ermine; the zibeline, or fa,ble ; the ifatis., or a rftic fo x ; the
varyin g h a r e ; the mountain rat, or earlefs m a rm o t; the
w e a fe l; the glutton, or ivaiverene ; the argali, or wild iheep;
rein-deer ; b e a r s ; wolves ; dogs.
T he fox * is the moil general object o f the ch a c e ; and
they are found in great numbers, and o f variety o f colours.
The moil common is the fame in fpecies with the European,
w ith this variation, that the colours are more bright
and fhining ; fome a re o f a dark chefnut, others are ftriped
with dark-coloured bars r others have the belly black, and
the reft o f the body o f a ligh t chefnut. Some again are o f
a very dark brown ; fome b la c k ; others o f a ftone colour;,
and there are a few quite w h ite ; but thefe lif t are very
fcarce. T h e ir fur is exceedingly thick and fine,, and o f a
* Canil vulpeSx
quality
quality much fuperior to thofe either o f Siberia or America. '779-
A variety o f artifices are made ufe o f by the hunters to ■ ■
catch this animal, which, in all climates, feems to preferve
the fame charadter o f craftinefs and cunning. Traps o f
different forts, fome calculated to fall upon them, others to
catch them b y the feet, others b y the head, are amongft the
moft com m on ; to w hich may be added, feveral ingenious
contrivances for taking them in nets. Poifoned baits are
lik ew ife in ufe ; and the mix vomica is the drug principally
employed for this purpofe. Before their knowledge o f the
Ruffians, by w hich they became acquainted with fire-arms,
they alfo carried bows and arrows to the chace. But fince
that period, almoft every Kamtfchadale is provided with a
rifle-barrel g u n ; and, though far from being dextrous in
the ufe o f it, its fuperiority over the former inftruments h e
is ready to acknowledge.
T h e fables *. o f Kamtfchatka are faid to be confiderably
larger than thofe o f Siberia, and their fu r much thicker and
brighter, though not o f fo good a black as thofe in the neighbourhood
o f the Olekma and the V itim e f, a circumftance
w hich depreciates their value much more than their fuperiority
in o ther refpedts enhances it. The fables o f the T ig if
and Ouka are counted the beft in Kamtfchatka; and a pair
o f thefe fometimes fell for thirty roubles (five pounds fter-
ling). T he worft áre thofe o f the Southern extremity. The
apparatus o f the fable hunters confift o f a rifle-barrel gun
o f an exceedingly fmall bore, a net, and a few b rick s : w ith
the firft they fhoot them when they fee them on the trees ;.
the net is to furround the hollow trees in which, when pur-
* Múñela %ibelltna. -
•fc Risers emptying fhemfelves into^the Lena,, neac its fource,.
fiaed*