334 cook's voyage to oct. 



were informed, that in cases of murder (of which 

 there are very few), the punishment of the knout is 

 administered with such severity, that the offender 

 for the most part dies under it. 



The only tribute exacted (which can be considered 

 as little more than an acknowledgment of the Rus- 

 sian dominion over them) consists, in some districts, 

 of a fox's skin ; in others of a sable's ; and in the Ku- 

 rile isles of a sea-otter's ; but as this is much the 

 most valuable, one skin serves to pay the tribute of 

 several persons. The Toions collect the tribute in 

 their respective districts. Besides the mildness of 

 their government, the Russians have a claim to every 

 praise for the pains they have bestowed, and which 

 have been attended with great success, in converting 

 them to Christianity, there remaining, at present, 

 very few idolaters among them. If we may judge 

 of the other missionaries, from the hospitable and 

 benevolent pastor of Paratounca (who is a native on 

 the mother's side), more suitable persons could not 

 be set over this business. It is needless to add, that 

 the religion taught is that of the Greek church. 

 Schools are likewise established in many of the 

 ostrogs, where the children of both the natives and 

 Cossacks are gratuitously instructed in the Russian 

 language. 



The commerce of this country, as far as concerns 

 the exports, is entirely confined to furs, and carried 

 on principally by a company of merchants, instituted 

 by the present empress. This company originally 

 consisted of twelve, and three have been lately added 

 to it. They are indulged with certain privileges, 

 and distinguished by wearing a golden medal, as a 

 mark of the empress's encouragement and protection 

 of the fur trade. Besides these, there are many in- 

 ferior traders (particularly of the Cossacks) scattered 

 through the country. The principal merchants, for 

 the time they are here, reside at Bolcheretsk, or the 

 Nishnei ostrog, in which two places the trade almost 



