PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS- 



G H A P. II. 



General idea of the commerce carried on to the New Dif^ 

 covered IJIands. — Equipment of the vejjels. — Rijks of the 

 trade,. proJitSy ^c. 



INGE the concliifion of Beering's voyage, which. 



was made at the expence of the crown, the profecu- 

 tion of the New Difcoveries began by him has been al-^ 

 moft entirely carried on by individuals. Thefe perfons 

 were principally merchants of Irkutfk, Yakiitfk, and other 

 natives of Siberia, who formed themfelves into fmall 

 trading com.panies, and fitted out velTds at their joint 

 expence. 



Equipment ot Moft of thc veficls which are equipped for thefe expe-r 

 dirions are two mailed : they are commonly built with- 

 out iron, and in general fo badly conftrucSted, that it is 

 wonderful how they can weather fo ftormy a fea. They 

 are called in Ruffian Skitiki or fewed velTels, becaufe the 

 planks are few^ed together with thongs of leather. Some 

 few are built in the river of Kamtchatka ; but they are 

 for the iTioft part conilrudled at the haven of Ochotfk.. 

 The largefl: of thefe veffels are manned with feventy men, 

 and the fmalleft with forty. The crew generally confifts 

 of an equal number of Ruffians and Kamtchadals. The 

 5 latter 



