1779. XHE PACIFIC OCEAN. 331 



execution, was when Beering should have set sail, 

 who was at this time on the coast with a small 

 squadron, and had dispatched all the troops that 

 could well be spared from the country, to join Pow- 

 loutski, in an expedition against the Tschutski. The 

 opportunity was well chosen ; and it is altogether 

 surprising that this conspiracy, which was so general, 

 that every native in the peninsula is said to have had 

 his share in it, was at the same time conducted with 

 such secrecy, that the Russians had not the smallest 

 suspicion that any thing hostile to their interests was 

 in agitation. Their other measures were equally well 

 taken. They had a strong body in readiness to cut 

 off all communication with the fort Anadirsk ; and 

 the eastern coast was likewise lined with detached 

 parties, with a view of seizing on any Russians that 

 might by accident arrive from Okotsk. Things were 

 in this state, when the commissary Cheekaerdin 

 marched from Verchnei with his tribute, escorted by 

 the troops of the fort, for the mouth of the Kamt- 

 schatka river, where a vessel was lying to convey 

 them to the Anadir. Besides waiting for the de- 

 parture of Beering, the revolt was to be suspended 

 till this vessel should be out at sea, notice of which 

 was to be given to the different chiefs. Accordingly, 

 the moment she was out of sight, they began to 

 massacre every Russian and Cossack that came in 

 their way, and to set fire to their houses. A large 

 body ascended the river Kamtschatka, made them- 

 selves masters of the fort and ostrog the commissary 

 had just quitted, put to death all that were in it, and, 

 except the church and fort, reduced the whole to 

 ashes. Here it was that they first learned that the 

 Russian vessel, in which the commissary had em- 

 barked, was still on the coast, which determined them 

 to defend themselves in the fort. The wind fortu- 

 nately soon brought the vessel back to the harbour ; 

 for had she proceeded in her voyage, nothing pro- 

 bably could have prevented the utter extirpation of 



