TO OOiNALASllKA. 26l 



Hon by our boats sailing so close to tlie wind ; and 

 eveiy time when we put in with contrary wind, 

 they collected on the shore in groups, to admire 

 this phenomenon. The sails of their baydares 

 consist of a square })iece of leather, and this, 

 together with the flat construction of their boats, 

 is the reason they are not able to sail, but with a 

 v^ery good wind. He at length resolved to come 

 to the ship. A young, robust Tschukutskoi took 

 him on his shoulders, and carried him with ease up 

 and down hill. While my attention was engaged 

 with inviting the old man, one of the Tschukutskoi 

 of Metschigmenski Bay had taken a pair of scis- 

 sars by force from one of my people, and drew 

 his knife to secure his booty. This circumstance 

 would certainly have ended in bloodshed, had not 

 chance brought one of the party of my friend, 

 who darted upon the criminal like an arrow, and 

 thus wrested his booty from him. His chief 

 also ran up to restore order ; and when I com- 

 plained to him, that his people behaved very badly, 

 he led me, instead of giving me any answer, to a 

 circle drawn on the ground, about a fathom in 

 diameter ; here the criminal is compelled to run, 

 at a short trot, always one way. This punishment 

 is as painful as it is singular ; and I do not believe 

 that any body could run long in that manner with- 

 out flilling down. The old man followed me in his 

 baydare, wa^ lifted on board, and accompanied by 

 two distinguished Tschukutskoi, was carried into the 



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