THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 367 



men, women, and children, which, before it was vifited by , 779- 



urn . Odtober. 



the imall-pox, we were told, contained three hundred and ' » ' 



fixty. In our road to Bolcheretfk, we pafled four extenfive 

 qffrogs, with not an inhabitant in them. In the prefent di- 

 minished ftate of the natives, with frefh fupplies of Ruf- 

 fians and CofTacks perpetually pouring in, and who inter- 

 mix with them by marriage, it is probable, that in lefs than 

 half a century there will be very few of them left. By Ma- 

 jor Behm's account, there are not now more than three 

 thoufand who pay tribute, the Kurile iflanders included. 



I underftood that there are at this time, of the military, 

 in the five forts of Nichnei, Verchnei, Tigil, Bolcheretfk, 

 and St. Peter and St. Paul, about four hundred Ruffians and 

 CofTacks, and near the fame number at Ingiga, which, 

 though to the North of the peninfula is, I learned, at pre- 

 fent under the Commander of Kamtfchatka ; to thefe may 

 be added the Ruffian traders and emigrants, whofe numbers 

 are not very confiderable. 



The Ruffian government, eftablifhed over this country, is 

 mild and equitable, confidered as a military one, in a very 

 high degree. The natives are permitted to choofe their 

 own magistrates from among thcmfclves, in the way, and 

 with the fame powers they had ever been ufed. One of 

 thefe, under the title of T'oion, prefides over each ojlrog ; is 

 the referee in all differences ; impofcs fines, and inflicts 

 punifhments for all crimes and mifdemeanois ; referring to 

 the governor of Kamtfchatka fuch only as he docs not 

 choofe, from their intricacy or hcinoufncfs, to decide upon 

 himfelf. The Tolon has likewife the appointment of a civil 

 officer, called a Corporal, who affilts him in the execution 

 of his office, and in his abfence acts as his deputy. 



By 



