200 cook's voyage to may, 



were used in imitating the tricks and attitudes of that 

 animal. 



As our journey to Bolcheretsk had taken up more 

 time than we expected, and we were told that our 

 return might prove still more difficult and tedious, we 

 were under the necessity of acquainting the com- 

 mander, this evening, with our intention of setting 

 out the next day. It was not without the utmost re- 

 gret we thought of leaving our new acquaintance ; 

 and were therefore most agreeably surprised, when 

 the Major told us, that if we could stay one day longer, 

 he would accompany us. He had, he said, made 

 up his dispatches, and resigned the command of Kamt- 

 schatka to his successor Captain Shmalefri and had 

 prepared every thing for his departure to Okotsk, 

 which was to take place in a few days ; but that he 

 should feel great pleasure in putting off' his journey 

 a little longer, and returning with us to Saint Peter 

 and Saint Paul's, that he might himself be a witness of 

 every thing being done for us, that it was in their 

 power to do. 



In return for the few trifles I had given to the 

 children of Major Behm, I was next morning, the 

 15th, presented by his little boy, with a most mag- 

 nificent Kamtschadale dress, which shall be described 

 in its proper place. It was of the kind worn by the 

 principal Toions of the country, on occasions of great 

 ceremony ; and, as I was afterwards told by Fedo- 

 sitsch, could not have been purchased for one hundred 

 and twenty roubles. At the same time, I had a pre- 

 sent from his daughter of a handsome sable muff. 



We afterward dined with the commander, who, in 

 order to let us see as much of the manners of the inhabi- 

 tants, and of the customs of the country as our time 

 would permit, invited the whole of the better sort of 

 people in the village, to his house this evening. All the 

 women appeared very splendidly dressed after the 

 Kamtschadale fashion. The wives of Captain 



