THE PACIFrC OCEAN. 5-9 



of breeches ; a fur cap ; and a pair of boots, the foles and ''"**• 



Octobrr. 



upper leathers of which are of Ruflian leather ; but the legs 

 are made of fome kind of ftrong gur. Their two Chiefs, 

 IfmylofF and Ivanovitch, wore each a calico frock; and 

 they, as well as fome others, had fhirts, which were of filk- 

 Thefe, perhaps, were the only part of their drefs not made 

 amongft themfclves. 



There are Ruffians fettled, upon all the principal iflands. 

 between Oonalaflaka and Kamtfchatka, for the fole purpofe 

 of collecting furs. Their great object is ihc fea beaver or 

 otter. I never heard them inquire after any other animal ; 

 though thofe, whofc fkins are of inferior value, are alfo 

 made part of their cargoes. I never thought to aflv how 

 long they have had a fettlcment upon Oonalaflika, and the 

 neighbouring ifles ; but, to judge from the great fubjection 

 the natives are under, this cannot be of a very late date*. All 

 thefe furriers are relieved, from time to time, by others. 

 Thofe we met with arrived here from Okotflv, in 1776, and 

 are to return in 1781 ; fo that their flay at the ifland will be 

 four years at leaft. 



It is now time to give fome account of the native inhabit- 

 ants. To all appearance, they are the mod peaceable, inof- 

 fenfive people, I ever met with. And, as to honefly, they 

 might ferve as a pattern to the mofl civilized nation upon 

 earth. But, from what I faw of their neighbours, with 

 whom the Ruffians have no connection, I doubt whe- 

 ther this was their original difpolition ; and lather think 

 that it has been the confequence of their prcfent Hate 

 of fubjection. Indeed, if fome of our gentlemen did 



* The Ruffians began to frequent Oonalafhka in 1762. See Ccxe^s Rujfian Difco- 



Vfries, ch. viii. p. 80. 



not 



