THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 369 



medal, as a mark of the Emprefs's encouragement and pro- '2 7 ^ 

 teetion of the fur trade. Befides thefe, there are many in- 

 ferior traders (particularly of the ColTacks) Scattered 

 through the country. The principal merchants, for the 

 time they are here, refide at Bolcheretfk, or the Niflinei 

 ojlrog, in which two places the trade almoft wholly centers. 

 Formerly this commerce was altogether carried on in the 

 way of barter, but of late years every article is bought and 

 fold for ready money only ; and we were furprized at the 

 quantity of fpecie in circulation in fo poor a country. The 

 furs fell at a high price, and the fituation and habits of life 

 of the natives call for few articles in return. Our failors 

 brought a great number of furs with them from the toaft 

 of America, and were not lefs aftoniihed than delighted 

 with the quantity of filver the merchants paid down for 

 them y but on finding neither gin fhops to refort to, nor 

 tobacco, or any thing elfe that they cared for, to be had for 

 money, the roubles foon became troublefome companions, 

 and I often obferved them kicking them about the deck. 

 The merchant I have already had occafion to mention, gave 

 our men at firfl thirty roubles for a fea-otter's fkin, and for 

 others in proportion ; but finding that they had confulerable 

 quantities to difpofe of, and that he had men to deal with 

 who did not know how to keep up the market, he afterward 

 bought them for much lefs. 



The articles of importation are principally European, but 

 not confined to Ruffian manufacture* ; many are Englifh 

 and Dutch ; feveral likewife come from Siberia, Bucharia, 

 the Calmucks, and China. They confift of coarfe woollen 

 and linen clothes, yarn {lockings, bonnets, and gloves ; 

 thin Perfian filks ; cottons, and pieces of nankeen, filk and 

 cotton handkerchiefs; brafs coppers and pans, iron (loves, 



Vol. III. 3 B files, 



