2i3 AVOYAGETO 



•779- treated by the people, who were in them, with the greatcft 



TV'! i v • ^^ 



kindnefs, and had entered into a league of friendfhip and 

 amity with them; and that, relying on this friendly dif- 

 pofuion, they were now come to the Ruffian fort, in order 

 to fettle a treaty, on fuch terms as might be acceptable to 

 both nations. This extraordinary hiftory had occafioned 

 much fpeculation, both at Ingiginfk and Bolcheretfk ; and, 

 had we not furnifhed them with a key to it, mud have re- 

 mained perfectly unintelligible. We felt no fmall fatisfac- 

 tion in having, though accidentally, fhewn the Ruffians, in 

 this inilance, the only true way of collecting tribute, and 

 extending their dominions ; and in the hopes that the good 

 underftanding, which this event hath given rife to, may re- 

 fcue a brave people from the future invafions of fuch power- 

 ful neighbours. 



We dined, this day, with Captain Shmaleff, and in the 

 afternoon, in order to vary our amufements, he treated us 

 with an exhibition of the Ruffian and Kamtfchadale dancing. 

 No defcription can convey an adequate idea of this rude and 

 uncouth entertainment. The figure of the Ruffian dance 

 was much like thofe of our hornpipes, and was danced ei- 

 ther fingle, or by two or four perfons at a time. Their 

 fteps were fhort and quick, with the feet fcarce raifed from 

 the ground; the arms were fixed clofe to the fides ; the body 

 being all the while kept upright and immoveable, except- 

 ing when the parties patted each other, at which time the 

 hand was raifed with a quick and awkward motion. But if 

 the Ruffian dance was at the fame time both unmeaning 

 and ridiculous, the Kamtfchadale joined to the latter quality 

 the moft whimfical idea that ever entered into any people's 

 heads. It is intended to rcprcfent the awkward and clumfy 

 i gedures 



