Tribute.
Volcanos.
The fixed annual tribute confifts in 279 fables, 464
red foxes, 50 fea-otters with a dam, and 38 cub fea-
otters. All furs exported from Kamtchatka pay a duty
o f 1 o per cent, to the crown ; the tenth of the cargoes
brought from the new difeovered iflands is alfo delivered
into the cuftoms.
Many traces of Volcanos have been obferved in this
Peninfula ; and there are fome mountains, which are at
prefent in a burning ftate. The moft confiderable of
thefe Volcanos is fituated near the Lower Oftrog. In
176 a a great noife was heard iffuing from the infide of
that mountain, and flames of fire were feen to burft from
different parts. Thefe flames were immediately fucceed-
ed by a large ftream of melted fnow water, which flowed
into the neighbouring valley, and drowned two Kamt-
chadals, who were at that time upon an hunting party.
The allies, and other combuftible matter, thrown from
the mountain, fpread to the circumference of three hundred
verfts. In 1767 there was another difeharge, but
lefs confiderable. Every night flames of fire were obferved
dreaming from the mountain ; and the eruption
which attended them, did no fmall damage to the inhabitants
of the Lower Oftrog. Since that year no flames
have been feen; but the mountain emits a conftant
fmoke. The fame phsenomenon is alfo obferved upou
another mountain, called Tabaetlhinlkian.
The face of the country throughout the Peninfula is
chiefly mountainous,. It produces in fome parts birch,
poplars, alders, willows, underwood, and berries of different
forts. Greens and other vegetables are raifed with
great-facility; fuch as white cabbage, turneps, radilhes,
beetroot, carrots, and fome cucumbers. Agriculture is
in a very low ftate, which is chiefly owing to the nature
of the foil and the fevere hoar frofts ; for though fome
trials, have been made with refpect to the cultivation of
corn, and oats, barley and -rye have been fown ; yet
no crop has ever been procured fufficient in quality or
quality to anfwer the pains and expence of railing it.
Hemp however has of late years been cultivated with great
fuccefs *.
Every year a veflel, belonging-to the crown, ’fails from
Ochotlk to Kamtchatka laden with fait, provifions, corn,
and Ruffian manufactures; and returns in June or July
of the following year with Ikins and furs.
* Journal o f St. Peterlburg.
•rodu&ion
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