6 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS 



Tribute. The fixed annual tribute confifts in 279 fables, 464 



red foxes, 50 fea-otters with a dam, and 38 cub fea- 

 otters. All furs exported from Kamtchatka pay a duty 

 of I o per cent, to the crown ; the tenth of the cargoes 

 brought from the new difcovered iflands is alfo delivered 

 into the cufloms. 



Voicanos. Many traces of Volcanos have been obferved in this 



Peninfula ; and there are fome mountains, which are at 

 prefent in a burning ftate. The moll conliderable of 

 thefe Volcanos is Htuated near the Lower Oftrog. In 

 1762a great noife was heard ilTuing from the inlide of 

 that mountain, and flames of fire were feen to burfl: from 

 different parts. Thefe flames were immediately fucceed- 

 ed by a large flream of melted fnow water, which flowed 

 into the neighbouring valley, and drowned two Kamt- 

 chadals, who were at that time upon an hunting party. 

 The afhes, and other combuftible matter, thrown from 

 the mountain, fpread to the chcumference of three hun- 

 dred verfts. In 1767 there was another difcharge, but 

 lefs confiderable. Every night flames of fire were ob- 

 ferved ftreaming from the mountain ; and the eruption 

 which attended them, did no fmall damage to the inha- 

 bitants of the Lower Oftrog. Since that year no flames 

 have been feen ; but the mountain emits a conltant 

 fa:ioke. The fame phaenomenon is alfo obferved upou 

 another mountain, called TabaetOiinlkian. 



The 



