160 GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. 



manner. Two broad statements were, however, 

 clearly compreliended, and assented to, but whether 

 believed, he alone knows : these were, that those 

 wearing the cross should do good, which would 

 insm^e their future elevation ; while contrary 

 behaviour would infallibly lead to very disagreeable 

 torment by fire. 



The generous fellow would not allow us to touch 

 our own provisions while staying with him ; 

 abundance of venison, prepared in many ways, was 

 always in readiness to meet our requirements ; nor 

 would Ahmoleen receive any present, imagining that 

 they were tendered in payment of his hospitality, 

 from which his native pride revolted ; and it was 

 only upon full and repeated assurance that these 

 were designed for gifts to our friends, and had been 

 sent by our own chief for that purpose, that he 

 consented to receive anything. 



Ahmoleen had made many visits to the Russian 

 settlement on the Kolyma, and had become much 

 softened in his address by even this slight intercourse. 

 He possessed much furniture, and other property, of 

 immense value here, obtained by barter at the annual 

 fair. Wealthy was he, too, in reindeer and other 

 Tuski goods, and much looked up to by the people 

 of Yandangah, which was between two and three 



