344 



A VOYAGE TO 



There are rein-deer, both wild and tame, in fcveral parts 

 of the peninfula, but none in the neighbourhood of Awatfka. 

 It is fomewhat lingular, that this nation fliould never have 

 ufed the rein-deer for the purpofes of carriage, in the fame 

 manner as their neighbours, both to the North and the 

 Eaftward. Their dogs, indeed, feem fully fufficient for all 

 the demands of the natives in their prefent ftate ; and the 

 breed of Ruffian horfes will, probably, increafe with the 

 future ncceffities of the country. But when it is recollected, 

 that the ufc of dogs, in a great meafure, precludes them 

 from the advantage of bringing up any other domeftic ani- 

 mals, it will appear the more extraordinary, that they 

 fliould not have adopted the fervices of an animal fo much 

 more gentle as well as powerful. 



The argali, or wild mountain-fheep *, an animal, I be- 

 lieve, unknown in Europe (except in Corfica and Sardinia), 

 is here in great plenty. Its fkin is like the deer's, but in 

 gait and general appearance, it partakes more of the goat. 

 It has two large twilled horns, fometimes weighing, when 

 at full growth, from twenty-five to thirty pounds, which, 

 in running, it refts upon its back. Thefe creatures are ex- 

 ceedingly nimble and fwift, haunt only the moll craggy 

 and mountainous parts, and make their way among the 

 fleepefl: rocks with an agility that is aftonifhing. The na- 

 tives work their horns into fpoons, and fmall cups and plat- 

 ters ; and have frequently one of a fmaller fize hanging to 

 a belt, which ferves them to drink out of in their hunting 

 expeditions. This animal is gregarious. I frequently tailed 

 the flelh of them, and thought it had a very lwcct and de- 

 licate flavour ; but never had an opportunity of feeing one 



, * Capra ammtn. 



3 alive. 



