a c c o u n t o f t h e
Voyage of
Andrean Tol-
ftyk in 1756 t<
the Aleutian
Ifles.
C H A P . V.
Voyages from 1756 to 1758.
SE PTEM B ER 17, 1756, the veffel Andrean and
Natalia, fitted out by Andrean Tolftyk, merchant
of Selenginfk, and manned with thirty-eight Ruffians
and Kamtchadals, failed from the mouth of the Kamtchatka
fiver. The autumnal ftorms coming on, and a
fcarcity of provifions enfuing, they made to Beering’s
Ifland, where they continued until the 14th of June
xy 5y. As no fea-otters came on fhore that winter, they
killed nothing hut feals, fea-lions, and fea-cows ; whofe
flefla ferved them for provifion, and their fkins for the
coverings of baidars.
June 13, 1757, they weighed anchor, and after
eleven days failing came to Ataku, one of the Aleutian
ifles difcovered by Nevodfikoff. Here they found the
inhabitants, as well of that, as of the other two iflands,
affembled; thefe iflanders had juft taken leave of the
crew of Trapefnikoff’s veffel, which had failed for
Kamtchatka. The Ruffians feized this opportunity of
perfuading them to pay tribute; with this view they
„ beckoned
R U S ' S I A N D l S G O V E R I E S .
beckoned the Toigon, whofe name was Tunulgafen : the
latter recollected one of the crew, a Koriac, who had
formerly been left upon thefe iflands,' and who knew
fomething of their language. A copper kettle, a fur
and cloth coat, a pair of breeches, ftockings and boots,
were bellowed upon this chief, who was prevailed upon
by thefe prefents to pay tribute. Upon his departure
for his own ifland, he left behind him three women and
a boy, in order to be taught the Ruffian language, which
the latter very foon learned.
<
The Ruffians wintered upon this ifland, and divided
themfelves, as ufual, into different hunting parties: they
were compelled, by ftormy weather, to remain there
until the 17th of June, 1758 : before they went away,,
the above-mentioned chief returned with his family, and
paid a year’s tribute.
This veffel brought to Kamtchatka the moft circum-
ftantial account of the Aleutian ifles which had been yet
received.
The two largeft contained at that time about fifty tAhcocfoe uHnlta nodfs.
males, with whom the Ruffians had lived in great harmony.
They heard of a fourth ifland, lying at _fome
diftance from the third, called by the natives Iviya, but
which they did not reach on account of the tempeftuous-
weather.
The