K U R 



483 



K U R 



, of the Kur, from its source to the efflux, is through the 

 kingdom of Georgia, and the province of Shirvan. But 

 the source not being many miles from the eastern shores 

 of the Black Sea, a plan is said to have been entertain- 

 ed by Seleucus Nicator, of uniting the latter with the 

 Caspian. As canal navigation, of late years, has been 

 carried to a great and beneficial extent, this project 

 was revived some time ago. It was proposed to unite 

 the river Tscharuck, which flows into the Black Sea, 

 with the Kur, as their respective sources are not far 

 asunder, by means of a navigable canal. However, all 

 projectors seem to have overlooked, that the two rivers 

 are separated by a chain of mountains that the Tschar- 

 ulk is scarcely navigable in any part and that the Kur 

 is not nearly so throughout 



Plutarch relates, that Pompey, who forded the Kur 

 in one place, conveyed his army across it at another on 

 1(),OOO skins. This plan of crossing rivers is not aban- 

 doned in the East The Arabs, dwelling on the banks 

 of the Tigris and Euphrates, support themselves on 

 inflated skins, in which manner whole families may be 

 seen floating. The cejebrated Persian usurper, Nadir 

 Shah, provided a number of inflated skins, on which 

 were laid plank?, or other materials, whereby his ar- 

 mies crossed in their march to India. Tamerlane was 

 enabled to pass the Kur along with his army, on a 

 bridge formed of branches and reeds, (c) 



K( KU1M AN. See CVRDISTAN, vol. vii. p. 509. 



Kl IMI.K I:L\M>s,is a chain of islands extending 

 between Cape Lopatka, the moet southern point of 

 KamUchatka, and Jesso, which several geographers 

 have considered a* belonging to them. The total nutn- 

 l r is unknown. Names are given by the Russians to 

 25 : A Japanese author, who lived about a century ago, 

 says there are 37, and of tbe*e he specifies 32. In- 

 stead of proper names, however, they are usually dis- 

 tinguished by numbers, ttjira, ucoitd, third, proceed- 

 ing from the north. These islands are of unequal di- 

 mensions, but their exact extent is no where laid down. 

 Sumscku, the first, is said to be about 33 mile in length 

 and 20 in breadth : Porumuschir the next, double that 

 we, and some still larger ; but several are only barren 

 rocks, almost level with the surface of the water. Na- 

 vigation it exceedingly dangerous, both from prevalent 

 fogs, and the force of current! running among the 

 islands. The channel between Cape Lopatka, w spe- 

 cially prohibited to vessels, on account of the hazards 

 attending its passage, and the frequent shipwrecks. 

 Krasenstern affirm*, that the widctt channel, which he 

 calls the Straits of Nadesbda, between the islands Itau- 

 koke and Mataua, is 16 miles aero**, and free of all dan- 

 ger. 



Nothing is known of the mineralogy of this chain, 

 which is supposed to present the summits of so many 

 submarine mountains. Some are volcanic, and violent 

 earthquake* have been witnessed. The island* are, in 

 general, hilly, with steep and precipitous shores ; and 

 ranges of naked mountains appear in the interior. Se- 

 veral of them contain small lakes, and rivers stored with 

 fresh water fish. 



Wood U in general scarce, or low and stunted ; and 

 many of the islands are entirely destitute of it. There 

 anuia to be scarcely any rnhivation, most probably be- 

 cause the climate it unfavourable. Wild roots, such 

 as the inhabitant* of the north are accustomed to sub- 

 sist open, are common ; and certain islands are visited, 

 chiefly for the purpose of obtaining them, and of catch, 

 ing foxes or bears. 



6 



Kiitife 

 Island.. 



According to information communicated to La Pe- 

 rouse, none were inhabited in 1787, excepting the first, 

 second, thirteenth, and fourteenth; and the natives of " "^~" 

 the thirteenth always wintered on the last. The total 

 number of inhabitants on the whole did not exceed 

 HOO. They were tributary to the Russians, who had 

 exempted them from tribute since 1777, owing to the 

 scarcity of sea otters. The Russians claim dominion 

 over the northern, and the Japanese over the southern 

 islands. 



The natives of the Kurile islands are of low stature, 

 and swarthy complexion : those towards the north are 

 said to resemble the Kamtschadales ; but towards the Natives. 

 southern limits of the chain, they are distinguished by 

 remarkably thick beards ; and all the body is covered 

 by an unusual profusion of hair. Sarytchew remarks, 

 that they are named hairy Kitrilians, and that it is dif- 

 ficult to ascertain their origin, " as scarcely any peo- 

 ple in this quarter, either Chinese or Japanese, or in 

 fact any other northern nation of the Asiatic shores, ex- 

 cept the Gilaks, near the mouth of the Amur, have 

 any beard." The men shave part of the head, but the 

 women only cut part of the hair in froTit. The lips 

 of the former are^ stained in the middle ; those of the 

 latter are entirely 'blackened, and their arms are stain- 

 ed or tattooed as high as the elbows. They dress in 

 the skins of birds anil quadrupeds, which are patched 

 together, regardless of uniformity ; and the costume 

 of both sexes is nearly alike. Cloth, serge, or silk, 

 especially if scarlet, is extremely acceptable; and pieces 

 of foreign manufacture are intermixed with what com- 

 poses their attire. Their language is soft and harmo- 

 nious. They speak in a mild and agreeable accent, 

 slowly and distinctly. 



The Kurilians derive their subsistence chiefly from 

 the capture of wild animals and fish, though less than 

 some neighbouring nations, from the latter ; and they 

 dig roots from the earth, but arc little acquainted with 

 agriculture. Their habitations are excavated in the 

 ground, and the tioor and sides are covered with mat- 

 tings of grass. Owing to the scarcity of wood in the 

 islands, what is drifted ashore from more distant coun- 

 tries, is employed ; and the wealthier inhabitants build 

 houses, which are supported on four posts, and fur- 

 nished with articles from Japan. A man marries two 

 or three wives, with each of whom he has had a pre- 

 vious intrigue, and with whom, apparently, he does 

 not reside during the day afterwards. Parturition i> 

 said to be uncommonly difficult among the women : 

 and should there be twins, one is destroyed. In case 

 of adultery, the offended husband challenges the para- 

 mour to a combat with a club, which is interchanged 

 between them, and three blows alternately dealt out 

 until the one or other falls. If the husband declines 

 to offer this perilous encounter, the price of his honour 

 may be satisfied in clothes, furs, provisions, or other 

 commodities. 



The Kurilians are principally Pagans. They wor- Religion, 

 ship idols ; to which they sometimes sacrifice the skin 

 of the first animal they kill, while they themselves eat 

 its flesh. On changing their huts, the skin and the 

 idol are both left there. Hut when undertaking dan- 

 gerous voyages, the idol is carried with them, and, in the 

 event of imminent hazard, is thrown into the sea. They 

 are also accustomed to throw chips among the waves 

 as an offering, when they attempt a passage of the chan- 

 nel which separates the first island from Cape Lopatka. 



These people enjoy a favourable character : They Manners 



