^50 rKo:\i kotzebue's sound 



and only the old man sat, a few paces from his 

 tent, with two young men, on a piece of leather 

 spread out, and invited me to sit on his right, as 

 soon as he learnt that I was the commander. His 

 first care was to make me comprehend his ques- 

 tion, if I had any one with me that understood his 

 language ? But of this I was in want ; and only 

 one sailor, whom I brought with me from Kamt- 

 schatka, who could understand the language of 

 Kariak, was able to comprehend some of their 

 words, and, by this, he- rendered himself pretty 

 useful to me, miserably as he acted the part of an 

 interpreter. They did not understand a single 

 word out of Krusenstern's Vocabulary, which I 

 had with me. I now had the old man informed 

 that we were Russians, and their friends, who had 

 only come for some fresh water, and asked him 

 for some rein-deer. It was very long before my 

 interpreter could translate these words ; at length 

 the old man comprehended him, and promised to 

 provide us with rein-deer ; but gave us to under- 

 stand, that it would cost two days, as they had to 

 be driven from the interior. Highly gratified at 

 this assurance, as my. crew had tasted little fresh 

 meat since we left Chili, I made the old man 

 several presents ; who, though he took every 

 thing readily, expressed his regret that it was not 

 in his power to make us a worthy present in re- 

 turn. On my assuring him, that I wished for 

 nothing, but that he should accept my presents, 

 he shook his head, dissatisfied, and gave orders to 



