132
Mwerj
GY.
CHINE S E T A T A R T;
it0* Chinefe territory, if fimilar {kill and induftry were exerted ill their de-
tedtron. The mineral waters, and uncommon appearances of nature-
have been little inveffigated»
ISLAND OF SAGALIAN, OR TCHOKA..
T ill this large ifland was explored by the unfortunate navigator La
Peroufe, it was fuppofed to be only a fmall ifle at the. mouth, of the
Amur, the fouthera extremity being placed by D’Anviile about 4?, or
240 geographical miles, to the north of Jeflo. By the account and
maps of La Peroufe, which have fince been followed,, it is only divided
from Jeffo by a narrow ftrait of about 20 miles in breadth, fince called
the ftrait of Peroufe. The difeovery and account of tliis large iflandf,
which extepds from the 46th0 of latitude to the 54th?, or not lefs than
480 geographical miles in length, by about 80 of medial breadth, is
the moft important portion of that navigators voyage. The natives-
feem to approach to the Tataric form ; and the upper lip is commonly
tatooed blue. Drefs, a Ioofe robe of {kins, or quilted narikee% with
a girdle. Their huts, or cabins, of timber, thatched with grafs, with
a fire place in the centre. In the fouth are found Japanese articles.
A little trade feems alfo known with the Mandfliurs, and the Ruffians.
The native naifite of this large ifland is Tchoka, that ufed by the Japanefe
Oku Jeffo, perhaps implying further Jeffo ; while the Ruffians,
who only know the northern part, call it the ifle of Sagalian, becaufe it
is oppofite to the large river of that name. The centre is mountainous,
and well wooded with pine, willow, oak, and birch; but the ffiores
are level, and Angularly adapted to agriculture. The people are highly
praifed by La Peroufe as a mild and intelligent race. The portraits
which he gives of three old men, with long beards, rather referable
6 the
CHAP. IV. NATURA L GEOGRAPHY.
the European than the Tataric lineaments: and La Peroufe exprefsly lai
informs us that they arejpiite unlike the Mandfliurs, of Chinefe;' He
obferves as a Angularity that their words for pip, two, and
nearly the fame with’ the Engliffi; and for this he refers to ' the vocabulary,
in which however {hip is kahani; two is indeed tou, but
ffiree" is icbe, - The ifland of Jeffey and fOme others to the north of
japan, will be deferibed in the account of that interefting country.