2i8 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



Mosquitoes contributed likewise in no sliglit degree to 

 push us forward. The dogs at Ganal had to be 

 smoked the whole day for fear of being eaten aliv^e ! 

 On the second day after our departure from Ganal we 

 found ourselves again off Natchiki, but a steady down- 

 pour and the vagueness of local information concern- 

 ing game in the neighbourhood damped our intention 

 of seeking" further sport in the interior, and prompted 

 us to resume our journey to Petropavlovsk, where 

 brighter prospects of shooting along the coast still 

 encouraged us. Next day. after a thirty-five-mile 

 march, we pitched camp in the dark, close to Koriak 

 village again, leaving behind the likely ground we had 

 once thought of inspecting on our way to the interior ; 

 but the General was all for trying Cape Shipounsky, 

 and the news we received from the Sfarshind of 

 Koriak, who had been to the "town" with his petition, 

 strongly inclined us to continue the journey. For 

 many Japanese schooners now lay off Petropavlovsk 

 harbour, and a lump sum might induce the owner of 

 one of them to land us somewhere on the coast. 

 Scarcity of fish was still sorely felt by the inhabitants 

 of the settlement, to whom I promised to lend my 

 assistance by supporting their rightful demands before 

 the chief of the district. The following day saw us 

 l)ack at Khutor, whence a messenoer was forthwith 



