407 



K. 



( : ... 



Kxliik. ~ff/~ ADIAK, KODIAK, or KCTCIITAK, is an island in the 

 ' IV. Northern Pacific Ocean, separated by SheiikoPs 

 Strait from the origin of the peninsula Alaska, near die 

 entrance of Cook's Inlet, off the north- west coast of Ame- 

 rica. This is the largest of all die northern islands, 

 stretching across the ocean between the Asiatic and 

 American continent*. It extends above 100 miles in 

 length, from north-east to south-west, and is about 50 

 Craertl u- wide in the broadest part Its figure is extremely irre- 

 *"- gular. In many places it i j penetrated by spacious bays 



and deep inlets, which are guarded by long promon- 

 tories ; and towards the middle it seems a'.-iost divided 

 into two islands. The interior is mountainous, or con- 

 sisting of alternate hills and vallies interspersed with 

 plains, and a portion of the coast is high and precipi- 

 tous. Some of the latter, as well as the lower hills, con- 

 sist of schsstui, but the most lofty are chiefly granite, 

 covered with rery thin soil ; and a large proportion of 

 the island is barren. 



Kadiak lies in an ungenial climate ; and, in general, 

 the snow remain* on the ground until the end of April. 

 Sometimes, however, the cold is not intense, and die 

 winter i* shorter, but either rain or snow prevail* : 

 Sosmoaer is also very wet and foggy. The island is 

 abject to aMlhqaafces, which are frequently violent 

 It is supposed, that the lofty mountains on the coast of 

 . America shelter Kadiak from that extreme cold 

 experienced in die same latitudes. Hence die animal 

 and vegetable productions are more copious, ami in 

 greater variety, than in die Aleutian islands to the east. 

 Fine timber grows, though not abundantly, in forests 

 on the north-east coast of the island, consisting of larch, 

 r, alder, and other trees, but principally of different 

 of pine. Root* and berries are so plentiful, 



fr winter 



are very large and white. The 

 KamtschMka are found here, 

 which is considerable article of 

 is of inferior quality. Barley was first 

 in I o*. and produces long straw but mull ears. 



ripen for winter. Potatoes thrive well. 



-.'i are swuinuus in the straits, the surrounding 

 SMS, and mouths of the river*. Those most commonly 

 ill I for too. I. are herring, cod, and salmon ; which 

 re m such nmltttadea, that hundred* may be caught in 

 short time merely with the hands. Holibut grows to 

 the immense weight of 6 1 2 pounds voir<liipoi. Whale* 

 re extremely in thr \i<-inity. I 



nanr dMmtstad. from bernsr the object* of minterrwpt- 

 ed pursuit ; and the sea otter, which proved so profit*. 

 We capture for years, is almost extirpated. Bean of. 

 ten swim aerow the strafe* from Alaska, and are either 

 SSSK er CMght in traps. Probably some species are in- 

 i in the island ; and their flesh, from the scar- 



city of cattle, is the only kind used in it. These ani- Kadiak. 

 mals are said to go into the river when full of fish, '*~-y-~s 

 and dexterously catch them with their p;iws. Rut they 

 eat only the head, and, in biting it oil', throw the re- 

 mainder ashore. The beaver, glutton, ermine, mar- Q ua ,i m . 

 mot, various species of foxes, the lynx, and rein-deer, peds. 

 are seen here. Black cattle have been introduced from 

 the Russian settlements, and are yet anxiously preser- 

 ved, to augment the stock for breeding. Sheep were 

 brought hither in 1S04. There are some goats, and 

 numbers of hags, which last are fed on fi-li. Land 

 birds are not common in this country, but water fowl 

 appear in vast multitudes. Insects are scarce : Bugs, 

 however, have been brought from die vessels anchor- 

 ing near the island ; and innumerable cockroaches came 

 from one of those employed in the Kii.->i;in Voyage of 

 Discovery in 1805 or Isoti, which afterwards entirely 

 vanished. 



The inhabitants of Kaijiuk are generally designed Inliabiunti 

 Aleutians; a tribe which they int enibie in 



figure, physiognomy, and manners, and possibly be- 

 long to the same origin. They are of low stature, 

 broad visage, with jet black eyes, eye-brows, and hair. 

 Their language seems to bear very liltle analogy to 

 that of the Aleutians, which might lead us to infer that 

 they originated from the Anuiu.ni continent; or the 

 Aleutians may have separated from the common -lock 

 at a more remote peril xl. 



The natives clothe themselves in a large frock made Oms. 

 of fur, or the skin of sea-fowl ; which latter is worn 

 with the feathers outside during the day, and turned 

 inwards at night. It is nearly of tin- s.-tme shape for 

 both sexes. The lower part of their drt.>-; consists fre- 

 quently of one piece, terminated by boots. Formerly the 

 "thed and decorated Uiemselves with the skins of 

 sea and river otters; but tobacco, and other things, 

 having now Ixxome necessaries of life, they are obliged 

 to acquire them in exchange for their furs. They ;ire 

 extremely fond of ornament*, especially beads, which 

 they wear in great profusion, either on their clothes, 

 or (usprnding them from their ears or the ends of 

 a bone thrust through the septum of the nose. Am- 

 ber is held in a* high estimation as diamonds are in 

 Europe. Some natives are punctured, but not re- 

 gularly tattooed, like the inhabitants of the south- 

 ern islands ; and they often paint their faces in streaks, 

 with red ochre mid train oil. Several of the females 

 have a hideous perforation of the under lip, as is seen 

 sjMfjg those of the Aleutian island- : It K however, less 

 common at present ; and the fa-liion of tattooing dif- 

 ferent conspicuous parts of the body has also declin- 

 ed. All tiieir native usages, indeed, ;ire undergoing 

 a rapid modification, from the settlers residing in Ka- 

 diak. 



The dwellings of tliese people are partly sunk in the 

 G 



