RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES. 



They had fcarcely got to land, before they were befet 

 by a luimber of favages, rowing in baidars from the 

 Weftern point of the ifland. This attack was the more 

 to be dreaded, becaufe feveral of the Ruffians were dif- 

 abled by cold and wet ; and there remained only fifteen, 

 capable of defending themfelves. They advanced how- 

 ever without hefitation to the iflanders ; and one Ni- 

 cholas TfiuprojfF (who had a flight knowledge of their 

 language) accofted and endeavoured to footh them, but 

 without fuccefs. For upon their approach the favages 

 gave a fudden fhout, and faluting them at the fame time 

 with a volley of darts, wounded one perfon in the hand. 

 Upon this the Ruffians fired, killed two of. the afl!ailants, 

 and forced the remainder to retire : and although a frefli 

 body ap23eared in light, as if they were coming to the 

 afliftance of their companions, yet no new attack was 

 made. Soon afterwards the favages left the iffand, and 

 rowed acrofs the ilrait. 



From the 6th of September to the 23d of April, they 

 underwent all the extremities of famine : during that pe- 

 riod their beft fare vv'as ffiell-filh and roots ; and they 

 were even at times reduced to ftill the cravings of their 

 appetite with the leather, which the waves waffied affiore 

 from the v/reck. Seventeen died of hunger, and the reft 

 would foon have followed their companions, if they had 

 not fortunately difcovered a dead whale, which the fea 

 had caft ailiore. They remained upon this iiland another 



I 2 winter. 



59 



