NO.    I  ARCHEOLOGY    OF    ST.    LAWRENCE   ISLAND — COLLINS  21 
Proceeding  up  the  west  coast,  Kotzebue  had  a  view  of  the  north- 
western extremity  of  the  island  and  of  the  village  of  Sevuokok 
(Gambell)  situated  on  a  low  gravel  plain  which  extends  westward 
from  the  cape : 
July   29 We   sailed   along  the  west   coast  during   the   night ;    and   at 
daybreak  saw  the  northern  point  of  St.  Lawrence  islands,  which,  at  eight  o'clock, 
lay  at  the  distance  of  one  mile  south  of  us.  The  promontory  is  distinguished 
by  a  high  rock,  rising  perpendicularly  out  of  the  sea ;  a  little  more  to  the  south, 
a  low  tongue  of  land  extends  to  the  west,  and  has  a  very  singular  appearance 
arising  from  several  jurtes  (subterraneous  dwellings),  and  a  number  of  whale 
ribs,  which  the  islanders  have  set  up  perpendicularly  in  the  ground,  between 
their  dwellings.  As  soon  as  they  perceived  us,  they  pushed  three  baydares, 
each  containing  ten  men,  from  the  shore;  left  off  rowing,  when  they  had 
approached  the  Rurick  within  ten  yards ;  and  then,  with  doleful  voices,  com- 
menced a  mournful  song.  Upon  this,  one  in  the  middle  arose,  holding  up  a 
small  black  dog,  and  after  speaking  some  words,  in  an  expressive  manner,  drew 
a  knife,  with  which  he  gave  the  dog  a  mortal  wound,  and  then  threw  the  poor 
victim  into  the  sea.  After  the  conclusion  of  this  ceremony,  during  which  the 
deepest  silence  was  observed  in  the  baydares,  they  approached  the  ship,  but 
only  a  few  ventured  on  board.  I  found  no  difference  between  these,  and  our 
friends  of  yesterday.  They  call  themselves,  like  them,  Tschibocko;  and  the 
coast  of  Asia,  opposite  to  them,  they  call  Wemen.  [Kotzebue,  1821,  vol.  i, 
pp.  195-196.] 
On  July  10,  181 7,  Kotzebue  approached  the  southeastern  end  of 
St.  Lawrence  Island  and  went  ashore  at  the  village  of  Kialegak : 
The  loth.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  south-easterly  part  of  St. 
Lawrence  Island  was  seen  from  the  mast-head  N.  by  W.  The  land  showed 
itself  to  us  in  two  small  hills,  and  was  distant  from  us  twenty  miles.  At  mid-day 
it  lay  to  the  north  of  us,  at  the  distance  of  nine  miles,  and  after  we  had  sailed 
round  a  promontory  which  projected  from  S.  E.,  and  had  discovered,  in  a  low 
spot  on  the  shore,  some  habitations  consisting  of  tents  and  huts,  I  steered  thither 
in  order  to  acquaint  myself  with  its  inhabitants.  At  five  o'clock  we  cast  anchor, 
two  miles  distant  from  the  village,  in  four  fathoms  and  a  half  deep,  over  a 
stony  bottom.  When  our  boats  were  put  into  the  water,  we  saw  through  our 
telescopes  some  people,  loaded  with  baggage,  fleeing  from  their  habitations  into 
the  mountains,  and  others  arming  themselves  with  lances  for  our  arrival.  On 
the  landing-place  when  we  came,  wc  found  twenty  tall  and  robust  men,  who 
looked  at  us  with  fearful  friendliness,  without  stirring.  They  had  much 
resemblance  to  the  inhabitants  on  the  western  point  of  this  island;  and  as  I 
perceived  the  fear  which  our  arrival  had  occasioned,  I  did  not  examine  their 
dwellings,  but  contented  myself  with  putting  the  philological  skill  of  our  inter- 
preters to  the  test,  which  really  went  so  far  that  they  understood  each  other 
though  with  difficulty.  We,  however,  learnt  so  much  that  they  trade  with  the 
Tschukutskoi,  from  whom  they  obtain  tobacco,  iron,  and  glass-beads,  in  exchange 
for  skins.  While  we  were  conversing  with  them  a  baydare  was  drawn  along 
the  strand  by  dogs,  which  just  came  from  the  Tschukutskoi,  and  the  people 
shewed  us  some  of  the  things  they  had  obtained  there.  They  call  the  inhabitants 
of  the  continent  of  America  their  brethren  ;  and  as  they  have  a  constant  intcr- 
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