32 INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



placed upon the islands in 1826 by the Russiiin-Anierican Fur Com- 

 pany for the purposu of procuring seal skins. Fifteen reindeer were 

 introduced in 1882 and have multiplied until there arc now from (500 to 

 1,000, the increase f urnishino- the inhabitants with fresh meat. The yel- 

 low raspberry and whortlelx'rr}' are found in great abundance. Foxes 

 abound, and, in their season, ducks and geese. The present population 

 of the two islands is about 000. The killing of the fur seal is done 

 under (Toverinnent supervision and the skins turned over to the agent 

 of the Russian Sealskin Company of St. Petersburg. 



June 26: At 2 a. m. Cape Kamchatka was abeam. This cape is a 

 bold headland 1,500 feet high, and at its sea base terminates in a pile 

 of rocks 40 feet high which has the appearance of a castle with turrets. 

 We are now opposite the mouth of the Kamchatka River, the largest 

 stream on the peninsula. On the south side of the river and visible 

 many miles at sea is a remarkable group of volcanoes — Kluchefskaya, 

 16,!)88 feet; Uskovska, 12,508; Kojerevska, 15,400; Tolbatchinska, 

 11,700; Mount Gordon and Mount Herbert Stewart, about 8,000 each. 

 Kluchefskaya is more or less active all the time, throwing out ashes 

 two or three times a year, sometimes covering the earth for a hundred 

 miles around, as in 1879, when ashes fell 3 inches deep. From 

 the year 1727 to 1731 it was in constant eruption. Beginning with 

 September 25, 1737, it burned with such fierceness for one week that 

 tlu^. rocks appeared red hot. In 1762 and 1767 other outbursts arc 

 recorded, and in 1820 Adolph Erman, a German scientist, found the 

 burning lava pouring out in a continuous stream. In 1854 and again 

 in 1885 it was in active eruption — the pillar of tlame in calm weather 

 being visi))lc for 250 miles. On a quiet day it is reported that smoke 

 and steam would asc<Mid forming a perpendicular column thousands of 

 fe(>t high. 



An agricultural colony of Russians from the valley of the Lena 

 River were setthnl at M(>lco\'a on the Kamchatka River as early as 

 1743. Among the seven church Ix'lls in the little belfry is one with 

 the date of 1761. 



At noon, Cap<^ ()s(>i-ni, 1> miles distant, was al)eam, and the southern 

 end of Karaginski Island was sighted. The coast line between Cape 

 Kamchatka and Oserni was found to t)e from 4 to 7 miles north of 

 charted position. At 6.30 p. m. we were abreast of Capo Nag^ikinski, 

 which is the ])oundary line between the Koriaks of the north and the 

 Kamchadales of the south. We came to anchor abreast of Vivinski 

 village, on the west side of Baroness Korfg Bay. No natives putting 

 off shore for the ship, at 10.10 our anchor was hoisted and we were 

 again under way. At 3.25 p. m. we anchored behind a sand spit which 

 forms General Skobelefl Harbor, in the northwest corner of the gulf. 

 At 7 p. m. Lieutenant Bertholf, Dr. Call, and myself went ashore to 

 communicate with the natives. We visited the village at the mouth of 

 Kultuznava Rivt'r. On our wav over Dr. Call shot several eider ducks. 



