1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 345 



The inhabitants of as many of the islands as are 

 brought under the Russian dominion, are at present 

 converted to Christianity. And probably the time is 

 not very distant, when a friendly and profitable inter- 

 course will be brought about between Kamtschatka 

 and the whole of this chain of islands ; and which 

 will draw after it a communication with Japan itself. 

 This may eventually be greatly facilitated by a cir- 

 cumstance related to me by Major Behm, that several 

 Russians, who had been taught the Japanese lan- 

 guage by two men belonging to a vessel of that 

 nation, which had been * shipwrecked on the coast 



* The vessel here spoken of was from Satsma, a port in Japan, 

 bound for another Japanese port, called Azaka, and laden with 

 rice, cotton, and silks. She sailed with a favourable wind ; but, 

 before she reached her destination, was driven out to sea by a 

 violent storm, which carried away her masts and rudder. 



On the storm's abating, not one of the crew, which consisted of 

 seventeen (having probably never made other than coasting 

 voyages), knew where they were, or what course to steer. After 

 remaining in this situation six months, they were driven on shore 

 near the promontory Lopatka ; and having cast out an anchor, 

 began to carry on shore such articles as were necessary to their 

 existence. They next erected a tent, and had remained in it 

 twenty-three days, without seeing a human being, when chance 

 conducted a Cossack officer, called Andrew ChinnicofF, with a few 

 Kamtschadales to their habitation. The poor unfortunate Ja- 

 panese, overwhelmed with joy at the sight of fellow-creatures, 

 made the most significant tenders they were able, of friendship 

 and affection ; and presented their visitors with silks, sabres, and 

 a part of whatever else they had brought from the ship. The 

 treacherous ChinnicofF made reciprocal returns of kindness and 

 good-will ; and, after remaining with them long enough to make 

 such observations as suited his designs, withdrew from them in the 

 night. The Japanese, finding that their visitors did not return, 

 knew not what course to take. In despair they manned their boat, 

 and were rowing along the coast in search of a habitation, when 

 they came up with their vessel which had been driven ashore, 

 and found ChinnicofF and his companions pillaging her, and pulling 

 her in pieces for the sake of the iron. This sight determined them 

 to continue their course, which ChinnicofF perceiving, ordered his 

 men to pursue and massacre them. The unfortunate Japanese, 

 seeing a canoe in pursuit, and which they could not escape, appre- 

 hended what was to follow. Some of them leaped into the sea; 

 others, in vain, had recourse to prayer and intreaties. The were 



