m 



31°2 cook's VOYAGE TO OCT. 



their value much more than their superiority in other 

 respects enhances it. The sables of the Tigil and 

 Ouka are counted the best in Kamtschatka ; and a 

 pair of these sometimes sell for thirty roubles (five 

 pounds sterling). The worst are those of the southern 

 extremity. The apparatus of the sable hunters con- 

 sist of a rifle-barrel gun of an exceedingly small 

 bore, a net, and a few bricks : with the first they 

 shoot them when they see them on the trees ; the 

 net is to surround the hollow trees in which, when 

 pursued, they take refuge ; and the bricks are heated 

 and put into the cavities, in order to smoke them 

 out. 



I must refer the reader for an account of the 

 isatis* or arctic fox, to Mr. Pennant's Arctic 

 Zoology, as I never saw either the animal or the skin, 

 which I understand they set no value upon. The 

 varying haret is also neglected on the same account. 

 They are in great abundance ; and, as is always the 

 case with this species, turn quite white during the 

 winter. Our shooting parties saw several of this 

 colour the beginning of May, but found them so shy, 

 that they were not able to get within gun-shot. 



The mountain-rat or earless marmot t> is a 

 beautiful little animal, considerably smaller than a 

 squirrel, and, like it, feeds upon roots, berries, the 

 cedar apple, &c. which it eats sitting upon its hind- 

 legs, and holding them up to its mouth with the 

 paws. Its skin is much valued by the Kamtschadales, 

 is both warm and light, and of a bright shining colour, 

 forming like the plumage of some birds, various 

 colours when viewed in different lights. 



The stoat or ermine § is here held in no estim- 

 ation, and, consequently never engages the attention 

 of the hunters, because, as I have heard, its fur is 

 of an ordinary kind. I saw many of these little 

 animals running about - y and we bought several of 



* Canis casopus. \ Lepus timid us. 



J Mas citcllus. § Mustela erminia* 



