IUD R Gael Seek S BE Rebs Ge Syl. S) aes 
fouth from the low promontory Lopatka, in lat. 51; between which and Shoomfka, 
the moft northerly, is only the diftance of one league. On the lofty Paramcufer, 
the fecond in the chain, is a high-peaked mountain, probably vulcanic *: on 
the fourth, called “vaumakutan, is another vulcano +; on Urufs is another ; on 
Storgu two; and on Kunatir, or Kaunachir, one. Thefe three make part of the 
group which pafs under the name of the celebrated land of Fefot. Fapau 
abounds with vulcanoes §; fo that there is a feries of f{piracles from Kamtfchatka 
to Fapan, the laft great link of this extenfive chain. Time may have been, 
when the whole was a continuation of continent, rent afunder before the labor- 
ing earth gave vent to its inward ftruggles, through the mouths of the frequent 
vulcanoes. Even with thefe difcharges, Fapan has fuffered confiderably by earth- 
quakes |. Vulcanoes are local evils, but extenfive benefits. 
The Ruffians foon annexed thefe iflands to their conquefts. The fea abound- 
ed with Sea Otters, and the land with Bears and Foxes; and fome of them 
fheltered the Sable. Temptations fufficient for the Ruffans to invade thefe iflands ; 
but the rage after the furs of the Sea Otters has been fo great, that they are 
become extremely fcarce, both here and in Kamt/chatka. 
The iflands which lie to the eaft of that peninfula, and form a chain be- 
tween it and America, muft now engage’our attention. They lie in the form of 
a crefcent, and are divided into three groupes; the Aleutian, the Andreanoffikie, 
and the Fox ifles: but mention muft firft be made of Berino’s ifle, and that of 
Mednai, and one or two fmall and of little note. Thefe lie about two hundred 
and fifty verfts to the eaft of the mouth of Kamt/chatka river. BERING’s is in 
lat. 55, where that great feaman was fhipwrecked in November 1741, on his return 
from his American difcoveries ; and, after enduring great hardfhips, perifhed mifera- 
bly. Numbers of his people died of the fcurvy, with all the dreadful fymptoms at- 
tendant on thofe who perifhed by the fame difeafe in Lord A4nfon’s voyage q ; the 
furvivors, among whom was the philofopher STELLER, reached Kamt/chatka in 
Auguft 742, ina veflel conftructed out of the wreck of their fhip. The ifle is about 
feventy or eighty verfts long; confifts of high granitical mountains, craggy with 
rocks and peaks, changing into free-{tone towards the promontories. All the vallics 
run from north to fouth : hills of fand, formed by inundations of the fea, floated 
wood, and fkeletons of marine animals, are found at great diftances from the 
fhore, at thirty fathoms perpendicular height above the high-water level ; which 
ferve as a monument of the violent inundations that the vulcanoes before mentioned 
* Voyage, iil. 388. + Decouvertes des Rufes,i. 113. } Thefe ifles are marked ina 
Ruffian map, communicated to me by Doétor PaiLas, with MS. notes. § Kemper Hifl. Fapaz. 
i. 305- || Same, 304. @ Booki. ch. x. and Decouvertes, &c. ti. 293. 
S produce 
CXXXIII 
Vutcanic. 
BERING’s IsxE. 
