DISCOVERY OF KAMTSCHATKA. 11 



The forests of Kamtschatka are not enliven- 

 ed by singing-birds ; indeed land-birds are all 

 scarce ; but there are infinite numbers of water- 

 fowl of many species. Immense flocks of them 

 are to be seen upon the lakes, rivers, morasses, 

 and even the sea itself, in the vicinity of the 

 shore. Fish is abundant, especially in the 

 months of June and July. A single draught 

 of the net provided us with as many as the whole 

 crew could consume in several days. A sort 

 of salmon, ling, and herrings, are preferred for 

 winter stock ; the latter, dried in the air, sup- 

 ply food for the dogs. 



Kamtschatka was discovered in the year 

 1696, by a Cossack of Yakutsh, by name Luca 

 SemenofF, who, on a report being spread of 

 the existence of this country, set out with six- 

 teen companions to make a journey hither. In 

 the following years, similar expeditions were 

 repeated in greater force, till Kamtschatka was 

 subjected and made tributary to the Russian 

 crown. Tlie conquest of tliis country cost many 

 Russian lives ; and from the ferocity of the con- 

 querors, and the difficulty of maintaining dis- 

 cipline amongst troops so scattered, ended 



