THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 3 $i 



The advantages that would accrue to the Ruffians by an >779 



immediate trade to Japan, have been already adverted to, 

 and are too many, and too obvious, to need infilling upon. 



The Koreki country includes two diftincl nations, called 

 the Wandering and Fixed Koriacs. 



The former inhabit the Northern part of the ifthmus of 

 Kamtfchatka, and the whole coaft of the Eaftern Ocean, from 

 thence to the Anadir. 



The country of the Wandering Koriacs ftretches along 

 the North Eaft of the fea of Okotfk to the river Penfkina, 

 and Weftward toward the river Kovyma. 



conduced a Coflack officer, calhd Andrew ChinnikofF, with a few Kamtfchadales to 

 their habitation. The poor unfortunate Japanefe, overwhelmed with joy at thefio-hc 

 of fellow-creatures, made the moft figniflcant tenders, they were able, of friendfhip and 

 afFeclion ; and prefented their vifiters with filks, fabres, and a part of whatever elfe 

 they had brought from the {hip. The treacherous ChinnicofFmade reciprocal returns 

 of kindnefs and good-will ; and, after remaining with them long enough to make 

 fuch obfervations as fuited his defigns, withdrew from them in the night. The Ja- 

 panefe finding that their vifiters did not return, knew not what courfe to take. In 

 defpair they manned their boat, and were rowing along the coaft in fearch of a ha- 

 bitation, when they came up with their vefiel, which had been driven afhore ; and found 

 ChinnicofF and his companions pillaging her, and pulling her in pieces for the fake of 

 the iron. This fight determined them to continue their courfe, which ChinnicofF 

 perceiving, ordered his men to purfue and mafl'acre them. The unfortunate Japanefe, 

 feeing a canoe in purfuit, and which they could not efcape, apprehended what was to 

 follow. Some of them leaped into the fea ; others, in vain, had recourfe to prayer 

 and intreaties. They were all ma/Tacred but two, by the very fabres they had pre- 

 fented to their fuppofed friends a few days before. One of the two was a boy about 

 cJeven years old, named Gowga, who had accompanied his father, the /hip's pilot, to ■ 

 learn navigation ; the other was a middle-aged man, the fupercargo, and called Soft. 



ChinnicofF foon met with the punifhment due to his crimes. The two ftrangers 

 were conducted to Petersburg, where they were fent to the academy, witli proper in- 

 ftruclors and attendants; and feveral young men were, at the fame time, put about 

 them for the purpole of learning the Japanefe language. 



They were thrown on the coaft of Kamtfchatka in 1730. The younger furvived 

 the abfence from his country five, the other fix years. Their portraits are .to be ken ■ 

 in the cabinet of the emprefs at Peterfburg. 



Vid. KrafcheninicofF, -Vol. ii. part 4, Er; Ed. 



The 



October. 



