1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAK. S3S 



At Paratounca ostrog there are but thirty-six native 

 inhabitants, men, women, and children, which, before 

 it was visited by the small-pox, we were told, con- 

 tained three hundred and sixty. In our road to Bol- 

 cheretsk, we passed four extensive ostrogs, with not 

 an inhabitant in them. In the present diminished 

 state of the natives, with fresh supplies of Russians 

 and Cossacks perpetually pouring in, and who inter- 

 mix with them by marriage, it is probable that in 

 less than half a century there will be very few of 

 them left. By Major Behm's account, there are not 

 now more than three thousand who pay tribute, the 

 Kurile islanders included. 



I understood that there are at this time, of the 

 military, in the five forts of Nichnei, Verchnei, Tigil, 

 Bolcheretsk, and Saint Peter and Saint Paul, about 

 four hundred Russians and Cossacks, and near the 

 same number at Ingiga, which, though to the north 

 of the peninsula, is, I learned, at present under the 

 commander of Kamtschatka. To these may be added 

 the Russian traders and emigrants, whose numbers 

 are not very considerable. 



The Russian government established over this 

 country is mild and equitable, considered as a mili- 

 tary one, in a very high degree. The natives are 

 permitted to choose their own magistrates from 

 among themselves, in the way and with the same 

 powers they had ever been used. One of these, 

 under the title of Toion, presides over each ostrog; 

 is the referee in all differences ; imposes fines, and 

 inflicts punishments for all crimes and misdemeanors; 

 referring to the governor of Kamtschatka such only 

 as he does not choose, from their intricacy or heinous- 

 ness, to decide upon himself. The Toion has like- 

 wise the appointment of a civil officer, called a 

 corporal, who assists him in the execution of his office, 

 and in his absence acts as his deputy. 



By an edict of the present empress, no crime 

 whatsoever can be punished with death. But we 



