1779' THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 199 



now come to the Russian fort, in order to settle a 

 treaty, on such terms as might be acceptable to both 

 nations. This extraordinary history had occasioned 

 much speculation, both at Ingiginsk and Bolcheretsk ; 

 and had we not furnished them with a key to it, 

 must have remained perfectly unintelligible. We 

 felt no small satisfaction in having, though accident- 

 ally, shown the Russians, in this instance, the only 

 true way of collecting tribute, and extending their 

 dominions ; and in the hopes that the good under- 

 standing which this event hath given rise to, may res- 

 cue a brave people from the future invasions of such 

 powerful neighbours. 



We dined this day with Captain Shmaleff, and in 

 the afternoon, in order to vary our amusements, he 

 treated us with an exhibition of the Russian and 

 Kamtschadale dancing. No description can convey 

 an adequate idea of this rude and uncouth entertain- 

 ment. The figure of the Russian dance was much 

 like those of our hornpipes, and was danced either 

 single, or by two or four persons at a time. Their 

 steps were short and quick, with the feet scarce raised 

 from the ground ; the arms were fixed close to the 

 sides ; the body being all the while kept upright and 

 immoveable, excepting when the parties passed each 

 other, at which time the hand was raised with a quick 

 and awkward motion. But if the Russian dance was 

 at the same time both unmeaning and ridiculous, the 

 Kamtschadale joined to the latter quality the most 

 whimsical idea that ever entered into any people's 

 heads. It is intended to represent the awkward and 

 clumsy gestures of the bear, which these people have 

 frequent opportunities of observing in a great variety 

 of situations. It will scarcely be expected that I 

 should give a minute description of all the strange 

 postures which were exhibited on these occasions - f 

 and I shall therefore only mention, that the body was 

 always bowed, and the knees bent, whilst the arms 



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