CHAPTER XL 



mSTOKY OF KAMSCHATKA. 



First conquests to tlie east — Yermac Timovieff — Conquest of Kuchum Khan — The 

 Russians reach the Amoor — Settle at the Anadyr — Theodot discovers Kamschatka 

 — Invasion and conquest of the peninsula — Mutiny of the Cossacks — Bering's 

 first voyage — Discovery of Bering's Straits — His second voyage abortive — 

 Rebellion of the Kamschatdales — Bering's last voyage — Exploration of the 

 Alaskan coast — Discovery of Bering Island — Wreck of the St. Peter — Death of 

 Bering — The survivors reach Kamschatka — Return of the St. Paul — Death of 

 De la Croyere. 



It is a singular circumstance in the annals of Geography, that at the 

 very beginning of the sixteenth century the far distant Spice Islands 

 should have been in the hands of the Portuguese, and New Guinea 

 already discovered, while Siberia proper remained utterly unknown, 

 in spite of its proximity to civilisation. Yet, at the present day, 

 after a lapse of three centuries and a half, when the interior of 

 New Guinea is still a sealed book to us, Siberia, notwithstanding 

 the severity of the climate and the difficulties of travel, offers few 

 problems to the explorer that have not long ago been solved. 



The history of the conquest of Siberia is interesting from its 

 extreme rapidity. At the time just mentioned the Tartar tribes 

 extended to the north-west almost as far as the district of Arch- 

 angel, and traded in furs with Eussian merchants who, more 

 adventurous than the rest, had settled themselves on the outskirts 

 of the territory of the Czar, The large fortunes amassed in this 

 commerce attracted attention, and shortly afterwards an expedition 

 was despatched during the reign of Ivan Vassilivitch II., the effect 



