192 FROM KAMTSCHATKA 



the commander, invited me to their tent. A filthy 

 piece of leather was spread on the floor for me to 

 sit on ; and -then they came up to me one after the 

 other — each of them embraced me, rubbed his 

 nose hard against mine, and ended his caresses 

 by spitting in his hands and wiping them several 

 times over my face. Though these signs of friend- 

 ship were not very agreeable to me, I bore all 

 patiently. To suppress their further tenderness, I 

 distributed some tobacco-leaves, which they re- 

 ceived with much pleasure, and were going to 

 repeat all their caresses again. I hastily took some 

 knives, scissars, and beads, and thus happily pre- 

 vented a second attack. An almost still greater 

 misery awaited me ; v/hen, in order to refresh me, 

 they brought forth a wooden trough of whale blub- 

 ber, (a great delicacy among all the northern in- 

 habitants of the sea coasts), and I bravely took 

 some of it, sickening and dangerous as' this food is 

 to an European stomach. This, and some other 

 presents, which I afterwards made them, sealed 

 the bond of our friendly acquaintance. My host, 

 the proprietor of the tent, and probably the chief 

 of his countrymen present, after our meals ordered 

 a dance ; one of them stept forwards, made the 

 most comical motions with his whole body, without 

 stirring from his place, making the most hideous 

 grimaces ; the others sung a song, consisting of 

 only two notes, sometimes louder, sometimes lower, 

 and the time was beat on a small tambourine. 



