262 FROM KOTZEBUE's SOUND 



cabin, where they all three behaved so decorously, 

 that they would have served as an example to many 

 Europeans who have visited our ship. The many 

 different objects attracted their attention, and 

 awakened in them, as it appeared to me, very seri- 

 ous reflections. I gave my guests some tea, with 

 the use of which they were not acquainted. They 

 waited to see what 1 would do with my cup, then 

 followed my example ; and the taste of the sweet 

 tea pleased them very much. The Tschukutskoi 

 live in eternal enmity with the Americans ; and my 

 venerable guest, without hesitation, declared them 

 all to be bad men. As a proof of his assertion, he 

 said, that they behaved friendly as long as they 

 considered themselves weaker ; but robbed and 

 murdered strangers without hesitation, if they were 

 strong enough, and were able to do it without dan- 

 ger ; and, for this reason, he thought they wore 

 knives in their sleeves, and use their wives to entice 

 them. Tliey immediately recognized several por- 

 traits, which M. Choris had taken on the American 

 coast, by the bones below the under lip ; and one 

 of my guests cried with vivacity, drawing his knife, 

 " If I meet such a fellow with two bones, I shall 

 pierce him through." When I asked them where 

 the Americans received their iron, he answered, 

 from Colima. They spoke much upon the sub- 

 ject, and all our interpreter was able to make 

 out, was, that the Americans came by water to 

 the north, near Colima, but we were not able to 



