A FLOCK OF PELICANS. 139 



two, sometimes winding between high, steep 

 rocks, sometimes gliding among smiling mea 

 dows, where numerous herds of deer were 

 grazing. In every direction the landscape was 

 charming and luxuriant. Our Aleutians here 

 straggled about in their little baidars, and pur 

 sued the game with which land and water were 

 stocked : they had never seen it in such plenty ; 

 and being passionately fond of the chase, they 

 fired away without ceasing, and even brought 

 down some of the game with a javelin. The 

 Aleutians are as much at home in their little 

 leathern canoes, as our Cossacks on horseback. 

 They follow their prey with the greatest rapi 

 dity in all directions, and it seldom escapes 

 them. White and grey pelicans about twice 

 the size of our geese were here in great num 

 bers. An Aleutian followed a flock of these 

 birds, and killed one of them with his javelin; 

 the rest of the flock took this so ill, that they 

 attacked the murderer and beat him severely 

 with their wings, before other baidars could 

 come to his assistance. The frequent appear 

 ance of the pelican on this river, proves that it 



