1779- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 348 



ation concerning the Kurile islands, and the Koreki 

 and Tschutski, as I have been able to acquire. 



The chain of islands, running in a south-west 

 direction from the southern promontory of Kamt- 

 schatka to Japan, extending from latitude 51° 

 to 45°, are called the Kuriles. They obtained this 

 name from the inhabitants of the neighbourhood of 

 Lopatka, who being themselves called Kuriles, gave 

 their own name to these islands, on first becoming 

 acquainted with them. They are, according to 

 Spanberg, twenty-two in number, without reckoning 

 the very small ones. The northernmost, called 

 Shoomska, is not more than three leagues from the 

 promontory Lopatka, and its inhabitants are a mix- 

 ture of natives and Kamtschadales. The next to the 

 south, called Paramousir, is much larger than Shoom- 

 ska, and inhabited by the true natives ; their ances- 

 tors, according to a tradition among them, having 

 come from an island a little farther to the south, 

 called Onecutan. Those two islands were first visited 

 by the Russians in 1713, and at the same time 

 brought under their dominion. 



The others in order, are at present made tributary 

 down to Ooshesheer inclusive, as I am informed by 

 the worthy pastor of Paratounca, who is their mis- 

 sionary, and visits them once in three years, and 

 speaks of the islanders in terms of the highest com- 

 mendation, representing them as a friendly, hos- 

 pitable, generous, humane race of people, and ex- 

 celling their Kamtschadale neighbours, not less in 

 the formation of their bodies, than in docility and 

 quickness of understanding. Though Ooshesheer is 

 the southernmost island that the Russians have yet 

 brought under their dominion, yet I understand that 

 they trade to Ooroop, which is the eighteenth ; and, 

 according to their accounts, the only one where there 

 is a good harbour for ships of burthen. Beyond this, 

 to the south, lies Nadeegsda, which was represented 



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