REVOLT OF THE COSSACKS 9 



country he had to work his way step by step. The two 

 colleagues joined with Adassoff, and inflicted a severe 

 punishment on the Cossacks who had taken part in the 

 revolt. These, in their turn, took a terrible revenge 

 on the unfortunate triumvirate, and murdered all of 

 them separately. In 171 1 they elected a leader from 

 their midst, and gave full vent to their low passions. 

 Anarchy reigned throughout the whole of the pen- 

 insula ; the natives were unscrupulously dealt with, 

 and feelincrs between the two races were as bitter as 

 ever. Fearing, however, forthcoming reprisals on the 

 part of the authorities, the Cossacks despatched a 

 deputation to Yakoutsk with explanations of their 

 conduct, overrating, if possible, the crimes of their 

 victims, pointing out the services they had rendered 

 to their mother country, and imploring a general 

 amnesty. 



In the meanwhile the Cossack leader who had acted 

 so prominent a part in the mutiny was himself treacher- 

 ously shut up by Kamchadales of the Avatcha valley, 

 whilst raiding the district, and was burnt alive with 

 several native chiefs, who insisted upon sharing his 

 fate in the doomed building, provided that he should 

 not escape. In 1712a commissioner of the name of 

 Kolesoff was appointed from Yakoutsk, with strict 

 injunctions to put an end to Kamchatkan troubles. 



