244 VOYAGE TO THE 



scribed since King's visit, has been removed from the 

 spit of land which forms the harbour, to a valley at 

 the back of it, where there are several rows of sub- 

 stantial log-houses, comfortably fitted up inside, and 

 warmed with large ovens in the centre, furnished with 

 pipes for the conveyance of hot air. Glass for win- 

 dows has partly superseded the laminae of talc, before 

 used for that purpose. Neat wooden bridges have 

 been thrown over the ravines which intersect the town, 

 and a new church has been built. A guard- house 

 and several field-pieces command the landing ; and a 

 little to the northward there are magazines for pow- 

 der and stores. Among other buildings in the town 

 there is a hospital and a school. The yourts and ba- 

 lagans of which Captain King speaks are now only 

 used as store-houses for fish. 



The greater part of the houses are furnished with 

 gardens ; but being badly attended to, they produce 

 very little. That attached to the government-house 

 was in better order, and was planted with pease, beans, 

 cabbages, lettuces, potatoes, radishes, cucumbers, and 

 a few currant-trees which were blighted ; barley and 

 a small quantity of wheat were also growing in its vi- 

 cinity. Some new houses were erecting in the town 

 in expectation of the arrival of some exiles from St. 

 Petersburghj as it was understood that several per- 

 sons concerned in the conspiracy against the emperor 

 were to be banished to this place. The town, upon 

 the whole, was much neater than I expected to find 

 it ; and I by no means agree with Captain Cochrane, 

 that it is a contemptible place, and a picture of mi- 

 sery and wretchedness. Considering the number of 

 years it has been colonized, and that it is part of the 

 Russian Empire, it ought certainly to have become of 



