$4 A P P E N D I X I
and borrowed from fome of the * Kuril iflands. Upon
being risked concerning their origin, they faid that they
had always inhabited thefe iflands, and knew nothing of
any other country beyond them. All that could be gathered
from them was, that the greateft numbers came
from Alaxa, and that they did not know whether that
land had any bounds. The Ruffians furveyed this ifland
very far to the N.E. in boats, being out about a fortnight,
and fet up a crofs at the end of their furvey. The
boats of the iflanders are like thofe of the Americans. It
appears however from their cuftoms and way of life, fo
far as thefe are not neceflarily prefcribed to them by
their fituation, that they are of Kamtchatdal original.
Their huts, their manner of kindling fire, and their ob-
iefts of unnatural affedtions, lead to this conjecture. Add
to this, the almoft continual Wefterly winds, which mu ft
render the pnfiage Weltward extremely difficult. Beering
and Tchirikoff could never obtain Eafterly winds but by
going to the.South ward.
The Ruffians have for fome years paft been accuftomed
to go to thefe iflands in queft of furs,, of which they
have impofed a tax on the inhabitants; The manner of
carrying on this trade is as follows. The Ruffian traders
go in Autumn to Beering’s and Copper ifland, and there
winter : they then employ themfelve-s in’ catching the
j * I cannot fin'd, that any of 'the Kuril Ifles' are' called Aleyut in the
catalogue o f thofe iflands given by Mr.iMuller, S. R. G. III. p. 86— 92.
Neither are any of them laid down under that name in thoRuflian charts.
A P . P E N D I X I.
Cea-cat, and afterwards the Scivutclia, or fea-lion. The
flefh o f the latter is prepared for food., and it is very delicate.
They carry the skins of thefe lea-animals to the
Eaftern iflands. Next fummer they go Eaftward, to the
Fox-iflands; and again lay their Ihips up for the winter.
They then endeavour to procure, either by perfuafion
or force, the children of the inhabitants, particularly of
the Tookoos, as hoftages. This being accomplifhed,
they deliver to the inhabitants fox-traps, and alfo skins
for their boats, for which they oblige them to bring furs
and provifions during the winter. After obtaining from
them a certain quantity of furs, by way of tax, for which
they give them quittances ; the Ruffians pay for the reft
in beads, falie pearls, goat’s wool, copper kettles, hatchets,
Sec., In the fpring they get back their traps, and deliver
up their hoftages. They dare not hunt alone, nor in
fmall numbers, on account of the hatred of the natives.
Thefe people could not, for fome time, comprehend for
what purpofe the Ruffians impofed a tribute of Ikins,
which were not to be their own property, but belonged
to an abfent perfon ; for their Tookoos have no revenue.
Nor could they be made to believe, that there were any.
more Ruffians than thofe who came among them; for
in their own country all the men of an ifland go out
together. At prefent they comprehend fomething of
Kamtchatka, by means of the Kamtchadals and Koriacs
who come along with the Ruffians ; and on their arrival
M m love