42 NEW ARCHAISGEL. 



armed, and in considerable numbers, could not 

 venture beyond the shelter of their fortress 

 without the most imminent danger of being 

 murdered. 



Baronof re-founded the settlement, and hav- 

 ing strengthened by scientific defences the high 

 hill, which falls on every side in abrupt preci- 

 pices, has rendered it perfectly safe from every 

 attack. The necessary dwelling-houses were 

 soon erected; and this place, under the name of 

 New Archangel, became the capital of the Rus- 

 sian possessions in America, stretching from 

 52^ of latitude to the Icy Sea, and including 

 also two settlements lying farther south, of 

 which I shall hereafter have occasion to speak. 



Baronof himself resided from this time in 

 New Achangel, and the chase of the sea-otters 

 proved very advantageous to the Company; but 

 so scarce are these animals now become, even 

 here, that the numbers caught only suffice to 

 cover the expenses of maintaining a force suffi- 

 cient for protection against the savages. For 

 this reason, the Company have contemplated 

 the necessity of entirely abandoning the settle- 

 ment at New Archangel, and making Kodiack 



