winters up<m a[j 'tg e jawing afhore. They ftaid here until the firft o f
Mend. Auguft, 1 763 : during that time they killed about 500
ardtic foxes and 20 fea-oiters; the latter animals re*
forted lefs frequently to this ifland, in confequence of
the difturbance given them by the Ruffian hunters.
Korovin, having collected a fufficient ftore of provi-
fioQ, feveral Ikins of fea-cows for the coverings of bai-
dars, and feme iron which remained from the wreck of
Beering’s ffiip, prepared for his departure. Upon his
arrival at Beering’s Ifland the preceding autumn, he
found there a veffel fitted out by Jacob Protaffoff, merchant
of Tiumen, under the command of Dennis Medvedeff*.
Korovin had entered into a formal contract
with Medvedeff for the divifion of the furs. Here he
took on board ten of MedvedefPs crew, and gave him
feven in return.
Auguft x, Korovin put to fea from Beering’s Ifland with,
thirty-feven men, and Medvedeff with forty-nine. They
failed without coming in fight of the Aleutian Ifles: on
Riches Una- the i eth, Korovin made Unalafhka, where Glottoff lay
laihka. J
at anchor, and Medvedeff reached Umnak. Korovin
received the news of the latter’s fafe arrival, firfl: by
fome iflanders, and afterwards by letters; both veffels
* This is the fourth veffel which failed in 1762. As the whole crew
was mafiacred by the favages, we have no account o f the voyage.
Short mention of this maffacre is occafionally made in this and the fol-
lofwing chapters.
lay
lay at no greater diftance from each other than about
an hundred and fifty verfts, taking a ftreight line from
point to point acrofs the firth.
Korovin caff anchor in a convenient bay at the diftance
o f fixty yards from the fhore. On the 16th he landed
with fourteen men, and having found nothing but an
empty ffied, he returned to the veffel. After having,
taken a reinforcement, he again went afhore in order to
look for fome inhabitants. About feven verfts from
the: haven, be came to two habitations, and faw three
hundred perfbns affembled together. Among them
were three Toigons, who recollected and accofted in a
friendly manner one Barnafbeff,, a native of Tobolik,,
who- had been there before with, Glottoff; they fhewed
fome tribute-quittances,, which they had, lately received
from, the Gofiac Sabin Ponomareff. Two of thefe Toigons.
gave: each, a boy of twelve years of age as an
hoftage, whom they palled for their children ; and: the
third delivered his fon of about fifteen years of age,
the fame who had been: GlofctofPs hoftage, and whom
Korovin called Alexey. With thefe hoftages he returned'
to the fhipj. which: he laid up in the mouth of a: river,.i-ays uP t«
after having brought all the provifion and ladng alliore.
Soon, afterwards the three Toigons came to fee. the
hoftages; and informed Korovin, thatMedvedeff’s:veffel
rode fecurely at anchor before Umnak,
N % September'