234 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



Lieutenant, Scliiscliniareil'j and to the island that of Vice- Admiral 

 Saritselieff. 



In proceeding northerly they met with two liglit boats, the peojde in 

 which were extremely savage, making hideous grimaces, uttering the 

 most piercing cries, and threatening to hurl their lances. Pointing 

 muskets at them had no effect, which convinced the Russians that they 

 were wholly unacquainted with fire-arms. The land continued low, and 

 trended more to the eastward, when, on the 1st August, the entrance 

 into a broad inlet was discovered, into which the current ran very 

 rapidly. As the interior of this great inlet is the undoubted discovery 

 of Kotzebue, though the oi)ening in the land was before known, it may 

 be proper that the account of it should be given in his own words: 



18 I cannot describe the strange sensation which I now experienced at the idea 



that I perhaps stood at the entrance of the so long sought north-east passage, 

 and that fate had chosen me to be the discoverer. I felt my heart oppressed, and at 

 the same time an impatience which would not let me rest, and was still increased by 

 the perfect calm. To satisfy myself, at least by going on shore, and clearly observ- 

 ing from some eminence the direction of the coast, I had two boats got ready, at 

 which our naturalists were highly delighted. AVe set out by 2 o'clock in the after- 

 noon ; the depth regularly decreased; half-a-mile from shore we had still 5 fathoms. 

 We landed Avithout difficulty near a hill, which I immediately ascended; from the 

 summit I could uowliere perceive laud in tlie strait; the high mountains to the 

 north either formed islands or were a coast by themselves, for that the two coasts 

 could not be connected together was evident, even from the great difference between 

 this very low and that remarkably high land. From the eminence on which I stood 

 I had a very extensive view into the country, which stretched put in a large plain, 

 here and there interrupted by marshes, small lakes, and a river, which flowed, with 

 numerous windings, and the mouth of which was not far from us. As far as the eye 

 could reach everything was green; here and there were flowers in blossom, and no 

 snow was seen but on the tops of the mountains at a great distance; yet one had to 

 dig but half a foot deep to find nothing but frost and ice under this verdant carpet. 

 It was my intention to continue my survey of the coast in the boats, but a number 

 of " baydares" coming to us along the coast to the east withheld me. Five of tliem, 

 each of them with eight or ten men, all armed with lances and bows, soon hiuded 

 near us. At the head of each boat was a fox-skin on a high pole, with which they 

 beckoned to us, uttering at the same time the loudest cries. I ordered my crew to be 

 prepared for defence, and went myself, with our gentlemen, to meet the Americans, 

 who on seing us approach sat down like Turks in a large circle on the ground, by 

 which they meant to manifest their friendly intentions; two Chiefs had seated them- 

 selves apart from the rest. We entered this circle well armed, and perceived that 

 they had left most of their arms in their boats, but had long knives concealed in their 

 sleeves. Distrust, curiosity, and astonishment were painted on their countenances; 

 they spoke very much, but unfortunately we did not understand a word. To give 

 them a proof of my friendly sentiments I distributed tobacco; the two Chiefs 

 received a double portion, and they were all evidently delighted at this valuable 

 present. Those who had received tobacco first were cunning enough secretly to 

 change their places, in the hopes of receiving a second portion. They prize tobacco 

 highly, and are as fond of chewing as of smoking it. It was a curious sight to see 

 this savage horde sitting in a circle smoking out of white stone pipes with wooden 

 tubes. It is very remarkable that the use of tobacco should already have penetrated 

 into these parts, which no European has ever visited. The Americans receive this, 

 as well as other European goods, from the Tschukutskoi. To the two Chiefs I gave 

 knives and scissors; thelatter, with which they seemed to be quite unacquainted, gave 

 them particular pleasure when they remarked that they could cut their hair with them, 

 and immediately they went from hand to hand round the whole circle, each trying 

 their sharjmess on his hair. It was probably the first time in their lives that these 

 Americans had seen Europeans, and we reciprocally regarded each other. They are 

 of a middle size, robust make, and healthy appearance; their motions are lively and 

 they seemed much inclined to sportiveness. Their countenances, which have an 

 expression of wantonness, but not of stupidity, are ugly and dirty, characterized by 

 small eyes and very high cheek-bones; they have holes on each side of the mouth in 

 which they wear morse bones, ornamented with blue glass beads, wliich gives them 

 a most frightful appearance. Their hair hangs down long, but is cut quite short on 

 the crown of the head. Their head and oars are also adorned with beads. Their 

 dresses, which are made of skins, are of the same cut as the Parka in Kamtchatka, 

 only that there it reaches to the feet, and here hardly covers the knee; besides this, 

 they wear pantaloons and small half-boots of seal-skin. (Vol. i, p. 207.) 



