T H E P A C I F I C O C E A' N. 315 



lies on the North fide of the Bolchoi-reka (or great river), '779- 

 between the mouth of the Gottfofka and the Biftraia, which 

 here empty themfelves into this river; and the peninfula, 

 on which it {lands, has been feparated from the continent 

 by a large canal, the work of the prefent Commander ; 

 which has not only added much to its flrength as a fortrefs, 

 but has made it much lefs liable, than it was before, to 

 inundations. Below the town, the river is from fix to eight 

 feet deep, and about a quarter of a mile broad. It empties 

 itfelf into the fea of Okotfk, at the diflance of twenty-two 

 miles ; where, according to KraiheninicofF, it is capable of 

 admitting vefiels of a confiderable fize. There is no corn, 

 of any fpecies, cultivated in this part of the country ; and 

 Major Bqhm informed me, that his was the only garden that 

 had yet been planted. The ground was, for the moll part, 

 covered with fnow ; that which was free from it appeared 

 full of fmall hillocks, of a black turfy nature. I faw about 

 twenty or thirty cows ; and the Major had fix flout horfes. 

 Thefc, and their dogs, are the only tame animals they pof- 

 fefsj the neceflity they are under, in the prefent flateof the 

 country, of keeping great numbers of the latter, making it 

 impoflible to bring up any cattle, that are not in fize and 

 flrength a match for them. For, during the fummcr fea- 

 fon, their dogs are entirely let loofe, and left to pro- 

 vide for themfelves ; which makes them fo exceedingly 

 ravenous, that they will fometimes even attack the bul- 

 locks. 



The houfes in Bolcheretfk are all of one fafhion, being 

 built of logs, and thatched. That of the Commander is 

 much larger than the reft, confiding of three rooms of a 

 confiderable fize, neatly papered, and which might have 

 been reckoned handfome, if the tale with which the win- 

 3 dows 



