THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 579 



and excelling their Karntfchadale neighbours, not lefs in '^^ r 

 the formation of their bodies, than in docility and quick- 

 nefs of underftanding. Though Oofhefheer is the Southern- 

 mofl ifland that the Ruffians have yet brought under their 

 dominion, yet I underfland that they trade toOoroop, which 

 is the eighteenth; and, according to their accounts, the 

 only one where there is a good harbour for fhips of burthen. 

 Beyond this, to the South, lies Kadeegfda, which was repre- 

 sented to us by the Ruffians, as inhabited by a race of men 

 remarkably hairy, and who, like thofc of Ooroop, live in 

 a (late of entire independence *. 



In the fame direction, but inclining fomewhat more to 

 the Weftward, lie a group of iflands, which the Japanefe 

 call Jefo; a name which they alfo give to the whole chain 

 of iflands between Kamtfchatka and Japan. The Southern- 

 raoft, called Matmai, hath been long fubject to the Japanefe, 

 and is fortified and garrifoned on the fide toward the conti- 

 nent. The two iflands to the North Eaft of Matmai, Kuna- 

 chir, and Zellany, and iikewife the three ftill farther to the 

 North Eaft, called the Three Siflers, arc perfectly inde- 

 pendent. 



* Spanberg places the ifland here fpoken of in 43 50' North latitude, and men- 

 tions his having watered upon it ; and that this watering party bi ;ht of the 

 natives ; of whom he relates the following circumftances : That their bodies were co- 

 vered all over with hair ; that they wore a loofe ftriped filk gown, re as low as 

 their ankles ; and that fome of them had filvcr rings pendant from the ears : that, on 

 fpying a live cock on deck, they fell on their knees before it j and Iikewife, before the 

 prefents that were brought out to them, clofing and ftretching forth their hands, and 

 bowing their heads, at the fame time, down to the ground ; that, except the pecu- 

 liarity of their hairinefs, they refembled the other Kurile inlanders in their features and 

 figure, and fpoke the fame language. The journal of the fliip Caftricom alio men- 

 tions this circumftance of the inhabitants of the country difcovered by them, and 

 called Jefo, being hairy all over the body. 



3 C 2 A trade 



