THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 373 



courfe too far to the Northward, failed in the objeel: of his '779- 

 voyage ; for, as we never faw the fea-otter to the North- 

 ward of Briflol Bay, it feems probable, that they fhun thofe 

 latitudes where the larger kind of amphibious fea-animals 

 abound. This was the laft expedition undertaken by the 

 Ruffians for profecuting difcoveries to the Laftward; but 

 they will undoubtedly make a proper ufe of the advan- 

 tages we have opened to them, by the difcovery of Cook's 

 river. 



Notwithftanding the general intercourfe that, for the 

 laft forty years, hath taken place between the natives, the 

 Ruffians, and CofTacks, the former are not more diftin- 

 guifhed from the latter by their features and general figure, 

 than by their habits and caft of mind. Of the perfons of 

 the natives, a defcription hath been already given, and I 

 fhall only add, that their ftature is much below the com- 

 mon fize. This Major Behm attributes, in a great mealure r 

 to their marrying fo early; both fexes generally entering 

 into the conjugal Mate at the age of thirteen or fourteen. 

 Their induftry is abundantly confpicuous, without being 

 contrafted with the lazinefs of their Ruffian and Coilack in- 

 mates, who are fond of intermarrying with them, and, as 

 it mould feem, for no other reafon, but that they may be 

 fupported in floth and inactivity. To this want of bodily 

 exertion may be attributed thofe dreadful fcorbutic com- 

 plaints, which none of them efcape ; whilft the natives,, 

 by conftant exercife and toil in the open air, are intirely 

 free from them. 



Referring the reader for an account of the manners, cuf- 



toms, and fuperftitions of the Kamtfchadales, at the time 



the Ruffians became firft acquainted with this country, to> 



1 KrafchcninicofF, 



