the fieldsi The Toigons of Umnak, Akutan, and
Toffiko, with their relation«'of Unalafhka, had formed a
confederacy. They agreed not to difturb any Ruffians
on their firft landing, but to let- them go out on different
hunting excurlions ; being-thus Separated and weakened,
the intention of the Toigons were to attack and cut
them off at the fame time, fo that no one party ffiould
have affiftance from any of the others. They acquainted
him alfo with Glottoff’s arrival at Umnak.
Thefe unfavourable reports filled Solovioff with anxiety.;
he accordingly doubled his watch, and "ufed every
precaution in his power againft attacks from the favages.
But wanting wood to repair his v-effel, and wiffiing for
'-more particular -information concerning the fituation of
•the ifland, he difpatched the 29th a party of thirty men,
with the above-mentioned interpreter, to its weftern extremity.
In three or four hours tliey rowed to Anko-
nom, a point of land, where they faw a village, conhfting
of two large caves, and over againft it a* little ifland at no
great diftance. The moment the 'inhabitants faw them-
approaching, they got into their baidars, and put Out to
fea, leaving their dwellings empty. The Ruffians found,
therein feveral fkeletons, which, in the interpreter’s/
opinion,/'were/the remains of ten murdered failors of
Trapefnikoff’s company. With much perfuafion the
interpreter prevailed on the iflanders to return to the place
which- they: had; j uft. iquitted: - they; kept- however a t: ai
yru-q wary
w-ary diftance,,. and were armed for whatever might
occur..
Sblovioff attempting to-cut off their retreat, in order HoiMmesi*-
x 0 tween Solovxto
fecure i f poffible fome hoftages,. they took the alarm,
and began themfelves the attack. Upon this the Ruffians
fired upon and purfued them ; . four were killed,- and
ft ven takenprifoners, among whom was - the Toigon of.
the little ifland Sedak.. Thefe prifoners,. being, bound-
and examined, confefftd that a number of Korovin’s crew-
had, been murdered in this place ; and the Toigon fent
people to bring in a number, of mufkets, fome kettles
and tackle,-which the natives had taken upon that occa—
fion. . They alfo brought intelligence that Korovin, with,
a party in two baidars,-had taken ffielter. at a place called-
Inalga. Upon this information, .fetters were immediately
fent to Korovin ;. upon the receipt of: which he joined:
them, the iA of October.
At the dime of Korovin’s-arrival,, the favages made
another attack on, Solovioff’s watch with knives ; which,
obliged the latter to fire, and fix of the affailants were
left dead on the fpot.. The captive Toigon excufed,
this attempt of, his people by aferibing it to their fears,
left Korovin out of revenge ffiould put all the prifoners to
death-; on which account this effort was made to refeue.
them. Solovioff, for the greater fecurity, fent the prifoners
by land to the haven, while Korovin and hisparty