1779- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 201 



Shtrialeff, and the other officers of the garrison, 

 were prettily dressed, half in the Siberian, and half 

 in the European mode ; and Madame Behm, in order 

 to make the stronger contrast, had unpacked part of 

 her baggage, and put on a rich European dress. I 

 was much struck with the richness and variety of the 

 silks which the women wore, and the singularity of 

 their habits. The whole was like some enchanted 

 scene, in the midst of the wildest and most dreary 

 country in the world. Our entertainment again con- 

 sisted of dancing and singing. 



The next morning being fixed for our departure, 

 we retired early to our lodgings, where the first things 

 we saw were three travelling dresses, made after the 

 fashion of the country, which the major had provided 

 for us, who came himself to our house soon after, 

 to see all our things packed up, and properly taken 

 care of. Indeed, what with his liberal presents, and 

 the kindness of Captain ShmalefF, and many other 

 individuals, who all begged to throw in their mite, 

 together with the ample stock of provisions he had 

 sent us for our journey, we had amassed no inconsid- 

 erable load of baggage. 



Early in the morning, every thing being ready for 

 our departure, we were invited to call on Madame 

 Behm, in our way to the boats, and take our leave of 

 her. Impressed, as our minds were, with sentiments 

 of the warmest gratitude, by the attentive, benevo- 

 lent, and generous treatment we had met with at 

 Bolcheretsk, they were greatly heightened, by the 

 affecting scene which presented itself to us, on 

 leaving our lodgings. All the soldiers and Cossacks 

 belonging to the garrison, were drawn up on one 

 hand, and the male inhabitants of the town, 

 dressed out in their best clothes, on the other; and, 

 as soon as we came out of the house, the whole body 

 of the people joined in a melancholy song, which, the 

 major told us, it was usual, in that country, to sing 



