42 NKW ARCHANGEL. 



armed, and in considerable numbers, could not 

 venture beyond the shelter of their fortress 

 without the most imminent danger of being 

 murdered. 



Baronof re-founded the settlement, and hav 

 ing strengthened by scientific defences the high 

 hill, which falls on every side in abrupt preci 

 pices, has rendered it perfectly safe from every 

 attack. The necessary dwelling-houses were 

 soon erected; and this place, under the name of 

 New Archangel, became the capital of the Rus 

 sian possessions in America, stretching from 

 52 of latitude to the Icy Sea, and including 

 also two settlements lying farther south, of 

 which I shall hereafter have occasion to speak. 



Baronof himself resided from this time in 

 New Achangel, and the chase of the sea-otters 

 proved very advantageous to the Company; but 

 so scarce are these animals now become, even 

 here, that the numbers caught only suffice to 

 cover the expenses of maintaining a force suffi 

 cient for protection against the savages. For 

 this reason, the Company have contemplated 

 the necessity of entirely abandoning the settle 

 ment at New Archangel, and making Kodiack 



