TO OONALASHKA. 263 



make out whether they traded with the Tschii- 

 kutskoi or the Russians. I very much regretted 

 the want of a good interpeter. In half an hour 

 my old friend left the ship ; he took my presents 

 with reluctance, because he thought he should not 

 be able to make me a worthy return. I saw no 

 such delicacy in the rest, to prevent them from 

 readily accepting every thing that was offered 

 them. I gave the old man a sheet of paper, on 

 which I had expressed my gratitude for his kind 

 reception ; he seemed to comprehend it, after some 

 explanation, and carefully preserved it. I also beg- 

 ged him to have some rein-deer ready for me 

 against next year ; which he readily promised, add- 

 ing, that he then hoped to furnish me with a more 

 abundant supply. 



This day, our abode in St. Lawrence Bay ended, 

 and I will conclude with some remarks and observ- 

 ations made here. I consider it as superfluous to 

 give a detailed description of this bay, as it is suf- 

 ficiently known from Belling*s and SaritschefF's 

 Voyages. The country, unfruitful and miserable 

 as it is, appears to me to be rich in fur, of which 

 we saw a great quantity ; though the Tschukutskoi 

 would never let us tiade for it. We particularly 

 often met with the gewratschka, an animal which 

 builds its habitation (which has two openings) un- 

 der ground, and is generally sitting before one of 

 them, and whistling. Its skin makes a light summer 

 dress ; and the Tschukutskoi, when he wants to 



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