. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 363 



Chinefe merchandize, which he pillaged; and in confe- «779- 

 quence of a remonftrance from the fufferers to the Ruf- v ° er ' » 

 fian court, he was feized upon at Jakutfk, and thrown into 

 prifon. 



In the mean time, Potop Serioukoff, who had been left 

 by Atlaflbff, kept peaceable pofTeffion of the garrifon of 

 Verchnei ; and though he had not a fufficient force to com- 

 pel the payment of a tribute from the natives, yet by his 

 management, and conciliating difpofition, he continued to 

 carry on an advantageous traflic with them as a merchant. 

 On his return to the Anadirfk, with the general good-will of 

 the native's of Kamtfchatka, himfelf and party were attacked 

 by the Koriacs, and unfortunately all cut off. This hap- 

 pened about 1703 ; and feveral other fucceffive commiflaries 

 were fent into Kamtfchatka, with various fuccefs, during 

 the difgrace and trial of Atlaflbff. 



In 1706, AtlafTofTwas reinftated in his command, and ap- 

 pointed to conduct a fecond expedition into Kamtfchatka, 

 with inftructions to gain upon the natives by all peaceable 

 means, but on no pretence to have recourfe to force and 

 compulfion : but, inftcad of attending to his orders, he not 

 only, by repeated acts of cruelty and injuftice, made the 

 natives exceedingly hoftile and avcrfe to their new gover- 

 nors, but likewife fo far alienated the affections of his 

 own people, that it ended in a mutiny of the Cofiacks, and 

 their demand of another commander. The Coilacks having 

 carried their point, in difplacing AtlafTofF, feized upon his 

 effects; and, after once tailing the fweets of plunder, and 

 of living without discipline or controul, in vain did his fuc- 

 cellbrs attempt to reduce them to military difcipline and 

 fubjection. Three fucccflive commanders were afTafiinated 



3 A 3 in 



