188 A V O Y A G E T O 



peninfula of Kamtfchatka, where the Ruffian Commander 



April. ' 



« — v — * of this province ufually refutes. 



It is very remarkable, that they had not feen the fliip the 

 preceding day, when we came to anchor in the bay, nor 

 indeed this morning, till our boats were pretty near the ice. 

 The panic with which the difcovery had ftruck them, wc 

 found, had been very confiderablc. The garrifon was im- 

 mediately put under arms. Two fmall field-pieces were 

 placed at the entrance of the Commander's houfc, and 

 pointed toward our boats ; and (hot, powder, and lighted 

 matches were all ready at hand. 



The officer, in whefehoufe wc were at prefent entertained, 

 was a Serjeant, and the Commander of the ojirog. Nothing 

 could exceed the kindnefs and hofpitality of his behaviour, 

 after he had recovered from the alarm occafioncd by our 

 arrival. Wc found the houfe infufferably hot, but exceed- 

 ingly neat and clean. After I had changed my clothes, 

 which the Serjeant's civility enabled me to do, by furnifli- 

 ing me with a complete fuit of his own, we were invited to 

 fit down to dinner, which I have no doubt was the bell he 

 could procure; and, considering the Ihortnefs of time he 

 had to provide it, was managed with feme ingenuity. As 

 there was not time to prepare foup and bouilli, wc had, in 

 their ftead, fome cold beef fliced, with hot water poured 

 over it. We had next a large bird roafted, of a fpecies with 

 which I was unacquainted, but of a very excellent tafte. 

 After having eaten a part of this, it was taken ofl", and wc 

 were ferved with filh drefTed two different ways ; and, foon 

 after, the bird again made its appearance, in favory and 

 fweet pdtJs. Our liquor, of which I lhall have to fpeak 

 hereafter, was of the kind called by the Ruffians quafs, and 



was 



