I779-. By an edict o f the prefent Emprefs, no crime whatfo-
v0fl° - r'/ ever can be puniilied with death. But we were informed,
that in cafes o f murder (of which there are very few),
the puniffiment o f the knout is adminiftered with fuch
feverity, that the oifender, for the moft part, dies un-
,de-r it.
T h e only tribute exadted (which can be coniidered as
little more than an acknowledgment o f the Ruffian dominion
over them) confifts, in fome diftriits, o f a fo x ’s fkin,
in others o f a fable’s,' and in the Kurile iiles o f a fea otter’s;
but as this is much the moft valuable, one ikin ferves to
pay the tribute o f feveral perfons. The Toions -coileft the
tribute in their refpeitive diftriits. Befides the mildnefs o f
their government, the Ruffians h ave a claim to every praife
for the pains they have beftowed, and which have been
attended with great fuccefs, in converting them to Chriftia-
nitv, there remaining, at prefent, very few idolaters among
them. I f we may judg e o f the other miffionaries, from
the hofpitable and benevolent paftor o f Paratounca (who is
a native on the mother’s fide), more fuitable perfons could
not be 'fet over this bufinefs. It is needlefs to add, that the
religion taught is that o f the C re e k church. Schools are
■.like wife eftabliihed in many o f the oftrogs, where the children
o f both the natives and Co Hacksare gratuitoufly inftruCted
in the Ruffian language.
T h e c o m m e r c e o f th is ,c o u n t r y , as fa r as c o n c e rn s th e e x p
o r ts , is in t i r e ly co n fin ed to fu r s , a n d c a r r ie d o n p r in c i-
,p a l ly b y a c om p a n y o f m e r c h a n t s , in ft itu te d b y th e p r e fen t
.Em p re fs . T h i s C om p a n y o r ig in a l ly con'fi(led o f tw e lv e , a n d
th re e h a v e b e en la t e ly add ed to it . T h e y a re in d u lg e d w ith
(.certain p r iv ile g e s ) a n d d i f t in g u iih e d b y w e a r in g a g o ld e n
m e d a l,
medal, as a mark o f the Emprefs’s encouragement and pro- J
tedion o f the fu r trade. Befides thefe, there are many in- 1— —
ferior traders (particularly o f the CoiTaCks) fcattered
through the country. T h e principal merchants, for the
time they are here, refide at Bolcheretfk, or the Niffinei
o/lrog, in which two places the trade almoft wholly centers.
Formerly this commerce was altogether carried on in the
w a y o f barter, but o f late years every article is bought and
fold for ready money o n ly ; and we were furprized at the
quantity o f fpecie in circulation in fo poor a country. T he
furs fell at a h igh price, and the fituation and habits o f life
o f the natives call for few articles in return. Our failors
brought a great number o f furs w ith them from the coaft
o f America, and were not lefs aftoniihed than delighted
w ith the quantity o f filver the merchants paid down for
th em ; but on finding neither gin fhops to refort to, nor
tobacco, or any thing elfe that they cared for, to be had for
money, the roubles foon became troublefoine companions,
and I often obfefved them k ick in g them about the deck.
The merchant I have already had occafion to mention, gave
our men at firft thirty roubles for a fea-otter’s fkin, and for
others in proportion; but finding that they had confiderable
quantities to difpofe of, and that he had men to deal with
who did not know how to keep up the market, he afterward
bought them for much lefs.
T h e articles o f importation are principally European, but
not confined to Ruffian manufactures; many are Engliih
and Dutch ; feveral likewife come from Siberia, Bucharia,
the Calmucks, and China. T h e y confift o f coarfe w oollen
and linen clothes, yarn ftockings, bonnets, and gloves';
thin Perfian f ilk s ; cottons, and pieces o f nankeen, filk and
cotton handkerchiefs; brafs coppers and pans, iron floves,
V o l . III. 3 B files,