CAPTAIN WIGGINS 375 



was to bestow upon the country. He told them over 

 and over again that the success of his enterprise was to 

 open the door at once to EngHsh commerce. This 

 naturally aroused the jealousy of the men, who had 

 practically a monopoly of the trade of the district. They 

 were too short-sighted to see the advantage which such 

 a change might bring them, and looked upon Captain 

 Wiggins as a competitor. His scrupulous honesty in 

 dealing with the natives, many of whom came to buy 

 cotton goods and always received over-measure, was 

 another cause of offence with traders who systematically 

 cheated their customers, and took advantage of their 

 necessities to over-charge them on every possible occa- 

 sion. Nevertheless their innate Russian hospitality 

 and good- nature overcame much of their prejudice, and 

 they took leave of us with every mark of affection. As 

 for the natives, they were really grateful for what little 

 we had done for them, and persisted in kissing our feet. 

 We left the settlement with gloomy anticipations of 

 its future. Debt and drink continually drain everything 

 of value into the hands of half a dozen merchants, who 

 are gradually killing off the geese that lay the golden 



TUNGUSK PIPE 



