CXXX 
KamMTscHAT- 
KANS. 
RELIGION. 
GENII6 
NoumeBers oF 
PEOPLE. 
KA OVE oar met eA An IK EAT 
The true Kami/chatkans * poffefs the country from the river Ukoi to the fouthern 
extremity, the cape Lopatka. “They are fuppofed, by M. SrEexuer, to have been 
derived from the Jongalian Chinefe, not only from a fimilarity in the termina- 
tion of many of their words, but in the refemblance of their perfons, which are 
Short. Their complexion is fwarthy: their beard fmall: their hair black: face 
broad and flat: eyes fmall and funk : eye-brows thin: belly pendent: legs fmall— 
circumftances common to them and the Mongalians. It is conjectured, that in 
fome very remote age they fled hither, to efcape the yoke of the eaftern conque- 
rors, notwithftanding they believe themfelves to be aboriginal, created and placed 
on the fpot by their god Koutkou. 
In refpect to their deity, they are perfe& minute philofophers. They find fault 
with his difpenfations ; blafpheme and reproach him with having made too many 
mountains, precipices, breakers, fhoals, and cataracts; with forming ftorms and 
rains; and when they are defcending, in the winter, from their barren rocks, 
they load him with imprecations for the fatigue they undergo. In their morals 
they likewife bear a great fimilitude to numbers among the moft polifhed rank in 
the European nations—they think nothing vitious that may be accomplifhed with- 
out danger; and give full loofe to every crime, provided it comes within the 
pale of fecurity. 
They have alfo their lefler deities, or genii. Each of them have their peculiar 
charge ; to thefe they pay confiderable veneration, and make offerings to them, to 
divert their anger or enfure their protection. The Kamouli prefide over the 
mountains, particularly the wulcanic; the Ouchakthou, over the woods; Mitg, 
over the fea; Gaetch, over the fubterraneous world; and Fouz/a is the author of 
earthquakes. ‘They believe that the world is eternal ; that the foul is immortal; 
that in the world below it will be reunited to the body, and experience all the pains 
ufual in its former ftate; but that it never will fuffey hunger, but have every thing 
in great abundance: that the rich will become poot, and the poor rich; a fort of 
juft difpenfation, and balance of former good and evil ¢. But almoft all thefe fuper- 
ftitions are vanifhed by the attention of the Rujfians to their converfion. There 
are few who have not embraced the Chriftian religion. Churches have been built, 
and fchools erected, in which they are fuccefsfully taught the language of their 
conquerors, which has already almoft worn out that of the native people. 
The country was very populous at the arrival of the Ru/ffians ; but, after a dread- 
ful vifitation of the fmall-pox, which in 1767 fwept away twenty thoufand 
* The moft proper word for the natives of this country is Kamt/chadales ; but as I have on many 
occafions ufed this, I wifh to continue it, + Aifl, Kamt/ch, 68, 73. 
9 fouls, 
