ReUyR Ss BARN FT EQM #B-ICR £. 
endowments for the purpole of civilizing a rude and barbarous people: his mind 
was pregnant with great defigns, obflinate perfeverance, and unrelenting feverity in 
the exertion of punifhment on all who dared to oppofe the execution of his fyftem 
for the good of the whole. A mind filled with the milkinefs of human nature, 
would never have been able to deal with the favage uninformed Ruffians. Peter 
hewed his work into fhape: for the laft polifh, Heaven formed another CATHE- 
RINE, the admiration of Eurape, the bleffing of an empire which forms at left one 
eleventh of the globe, extending from the northern point of Nova Zemlja, in the 
frozen latitude of near 78, to the influx of the Terek into the Cafpian fea, in the 
warm latitude of about 43 and a half; or, to give it the fhorteft breadth, from the 
coaft of the Frozen ocean, at the extremity of the country of the Tchutki, lat. 73, 
to the mouth of the 4imakan, in the gulph of Ochotz, in lat. 54. Its length is ftill 
more prodigious, from Peterfburgh as far as the Afatic fide of the ftreights of 
Bering. 
In the following work, I have, by the affiftance of that celebrated naturalift 
Doétor Patas, given a defcription of the Quadrupeds and Birds of this vaft em- 
pire, as far as was compatible with my plan, which was confined between the higheft 
known latitudes of the northern hemifphere, as low as that of 60. The remainder 
will be comprehended in the great defign formed by the Imperial Academy, and ex- 
ecuted by profeflors whofe glory it is to prove themfelves worthy of their illuftri- 
ous and munificent patronefs, under whofe aufpices they have pervaded every part 
of her extenfive dominions in fearch of ufeful knowledge. 
To Peterfburg, this corner of the empire, is brought, as to a vaft emporium, the 
commerce of the moft diftant parts; and from hence are circulated the European 
articles to fupply even the remote China. The place of traffic is on the Chinefe 
borders, at Kjackta, a town without women ; for none are allowed to attend their 
hufbands. By this route the furs of Atud/on’s-Bay find their way to warm the luxuri- 
ous inhabitants of Pekin, the animals of the neighboring Tartary and Siliria being 
inadequate to the increafed demand, The want of a maritime intercourfe is no 
ebftacle to this enterprifing nation to the carrying on a trade with India. It has 
encouraged above a hundred Banians, all males, from Multan, to fettle at Afracan; 
and their number is kept up by a fupply of young unmarried relations from home. 
Thefe fupport the moft important trade of 4fracan, by carrying through Afrabad 
to the inland parts of the A/ogel empire. I ftray a little from my plan; but it may 
be excufed on account of the novelty of the relation, and becaufe it points out a 
more fouthern inland road than was known in the middle ages, when the merchants 
went by the way of Bachara and Samarcand to the northern cities of Jndia, Candaher 
and Cabul. 
In 
LXUr 
