During this period they were attacked by a large body
of the natives, who advanced in forty baidars with the
hopes of iurpriiing the veffel. Korovin had been warned
of their approach by two of the inhabitants, one of whom
was a relation of the interpreter Kaihmak : accordingly
he was prepared for their reception. As foon as
the favages came near the veffel, they brandifhed
their darts and got ready for the attack. Korovin however
had no fooner fired and killed one perfon, than they
were ftruck with a panic and rowed away. They were fo
incenfed at this failure of fuccefs, that they immediately,
put to death the two good-natured natives, who had betrayed
their defign to the Ruffians. , Soon afterwards.the
father of Alexey came and demanded his fon, who. was
reftored to him : and on the - 30th of March Korovin and
his three companions arrived as it is mentioned in the
preceding chapter. By this reinforcement the number
of the crew amounted to eighteen perfons.
Korovin puts April 26 Korovin put to fea from Unalafiika with the
veffel ftianded crgW anj] eleven hoftages. The .veffel was driven until
the 28th by contrary winds, and then Branded in a hay
of the iiland Umnak. The ammunition and fails, together
with the fkins for the conftru&ion of baidars,
were brought afhore with great difficulty. During-the
difembarkation one fick man was drowned, another died
as foon as he came to land, and eight hoftages ran away
j. amid ft
amidft the general confufion. There ftill remained the
faithful interpreter Kaftimak and three hoftages. The
whole number of the Ruffians amounted to only fix-
teen perfons ; and o f thefe three were fick of the fcurvy.
Under thefe circumftances they fecured themfelves between
their baidar and fome empty barrels, which they
covered with feal-flcins, while the fails were fpread over
them in form of a tent. Two Ruffians kept watch;
and there being no appearance of any iflanders, the
others retired to fleep.
Before break o f day, about an hundred favages ad-
vancing fecretly from the fea-fide, threw their darts a t l ^ l S :
the diftance of twenty yards with fuch force, that many
o f them pierced through the baidar and the fkins ;
others fell from above through the fails. By this dif-
charge, the two perfons who kept watch, together with
the three hoftages, were killed upon the fpot; and all
the Ruffians were wounded. The latter indeed were fo
effectually furprifed, as to be prevented from having
recourfe to their fire-arms. In this diftrefs Korovin
fallied out, in company with four Ruffians, and at- 1 yj
tacked the enemy with lances i two of the favatres were
killed, and the others driven to flight. Korovin. and ti« p il
i • a _ ' rcpulfed.
xhs party were fo . feverely wounded, that they had
fcarcely ftrength fufficient to return to their tent,
up
K,
o During