248 ALASKA. 



tainous — the least important of tbis group ; no bays, no streams, 

 nothing but arries, sea-lions, and, at times, sea-otters. Be- 

 tween this island and Unaska is a rock where a great manj^ 

 sea-fowl breed, and sea-lions. 



OoMXAK is the largest of the Aleutians. It has three high 

 mountains; is very hilly, with a number of large lakes and 

 streams. In 1805 the people were able to take 2,000 salmon 

 every year, but now (183-4) they cannot get more than 200 to 

 400; in the winter from 50 to 100. On the northeast side of 

 the island, in the mountains, is a lake, on the blufiy beaches 

 of whicli amber is found. Everything grows on the island 

 that is peculiar to Oaualashka, save the willow. In the year 

 some 50 black foxes are killed, 80 cross, and about 40 red. On 

 the north shore and under Tuleeskoi Sopka is a large number 

 of sea-lions, hair-seal, and sea-otters, from 10 to 40 annually 

 liilled. In older times the Aleuts used to get porphyry from 

 the north-northwest side of Tuleeskoi for their weapons. There 

 is less snow here than on Ounalashka. A great many hot springs 

 here ; one on the north side is so hot that meat can be cooked 

 in it. Under most of these springs is a subterranean noise. 



Before the coming of the Eussians on Oomnak there were 

 twenty settlements, some of them quite large, like the one at 

 Tuleeskoi, where there were so many people that they were able 

 to take at one time all the meat and blubber of a large whale. 

 At the present time (1834) there are only two villages, Raychesnoi 

 and Tuleeslcoi, altogether 109 souls. The former lies on the 

 southwest side of the island, and a wooden church was built 

 here in 182G; 13 huts and 3 bath-houses, under the supervision 

 of Krukov, a creole, were built in 1834 ; 38 males and 45 females; 

 they had plenty of hens and raised at times potatoes ; fish quite 

 scarce; crabs and sea-urchins abundant. They have plenty of 

 poots, but at times are without oil, and cannot then cook or use 

 the roots, and they frequently go a year without getting a 

 whale. In the winter they go to Samalga and kill from 3 to 10 

 sea-otters. Tuleeskoi, on the east side, in 1834, had 11 men and 

 15 women. In 1830 there were 3 settlements on this island, on 

 the south side, and on the island Yeagorslde. At Samalga in 

 <»>'.den times (1794) there was a large settlement, 400 souls, but 

 all are scattered and gone now. On the south side is a beach 

 out upon which sea-ofters used to come during the prevalence 

 of furious gales of wind from that quarter. 



BoGA Slov Island made its appearance first in 179G,(May,) 



