and was thrown on Ihore at the mouth o f the Anadir. Be
this as it may, fince thefe difcoverers, i f fuch they were, did
not live to make any report o f what they had done, Volodi-
mir AtlaiToff, a Coffack, Hands for the firft acknowledged
difcoverer o f Kamtfchatka *.
This perfon was fent, in the year 1697, from the fort Jak
u tik to the Anadirfk, in the quality o f cbmmiffary, with
inftruitions to call in the affiftance o f the Koriacs, with a
view to the difcovery o f countries beyond theirs, and to the
fubjedting them to a tribute. In 1699, he penetrated, with
about fixty Ruffian foldiers, and the fame number o f Cof-
facks, into the heart o f the peninfula, gained the T igil, and
from thence lev y ing a tribute in furs, in his progrefs eroded
over to the River Kamtfchatka, on which he built the higher
Kamtfchatka ojlrog,’ called V e r ch n e i,w h e re he left a garrifon
o f fixteen Coffacks, arid returned to .Jakutik in 17:70,
with an immenfe quantity o f rare and valuable tributary
furs. Thefe he had the good fenfe and policy to accompany
to Mofcow, and, in recompence for his fervices, was appointed
Commander o f the fort o f Jakutik, with farther
orders to repair again to Kamtfchatka, having firft drawn
from the garrifon at Tobolik a reinforcement o f a hundred
Coffacks, with ammunition, and whatever elfe could give
efficacy to the completion and fettlement o f his late difco-
veries. Advancing with this force toward the Anadirfk, he
fell in with a bark on the River j- Tungulka, laden with
* It is proper to remark, that Atlaflbff fent an advanced party, under the command
of a fubaltern, ; called Lucas MolofkofF, who certainly penetrated , into
Kamtfchatka, and returned with an. account of his fuccefs, before Atlaflbff
fet out,, and is therefore not unjuftly mentioned as the Difcoverer of Kamt--
fchatka.
f This Riyer empties itfelf into the Jenefei,.
Ghinefe
Chinefe merchandize, which he p illa g ed ; and in confe- 1779-
quence o f a remonftrance from the fufferers to the Ruf- ' ° ■
fian court, he was feized upon at Jakutik, and thrown into
prifon.
In the mean time, Potop Serioukoff, who had been left
b y Atlaflbff, kept peaceable poffeffion o f the garrifon o f
V e r ch n e i; and though he had not a fufficient force to compel
the payment o f a tribute from the natives, yet by his
management, and conciliating difpofition, he continued to
carry on an advantageous traffic with them as a merchant.
On his return to the Anadirfk, with the general good-will o f
the natives o f Kamtfchatka, himfe lf and party were attacked
b y the Koriacs, and unfortunately all cut off. This happened
about 1703 ; and feveral other fucceffive commiffaries
were fent into Kamtfchatka, with various fuccefs, during
the difgrace and trial o f Atlaflbff.
In 1706, Atlaflbff was reinftated in his command, and appointed
to conduit a fecond expedition into Kamtfchatka,
w ith inftruitions to gain upon the natives by all peaceable
means, but on no pretence to have recourfe to force and
compulfion: but, inftead o f attending to his orders, he not
only, by repeated a its o f cruelty and injuftice, made the
natives exceedingly hoftile and averfe to their new governors,
but likewife fo far alienated the affeitions o f his
own people, that it ended in a mutiny o f the Coffacks, and
their demand o f another commander. T he Goflacks having
carried their point, in difplacing Atlaflbff, feized upon his
effects • and, after once tailing the fweets o f plunder, and
o f living without difcipline or controul, in vain did his fuc-
ceffors attempt to reduce them to military difcipline and
fubjeilion. Three fucceffive commanders were affaffinated
3 A 3 in