1G6 Of the Checks to Population in Bk. i. 



** they hope to find better resources, fish being 

 " more plentiful in this river. Mr. Kasloff (the 

 " Russian officer who conducted M. de Les- 

 " seps) had intended to proceed along the west- 

 " ern coast ; but the news of this famine de- 

 " termined him, contrary to his wishes, to return 

 " rather than be driven to the necessity of stop- 

 " ping half way or perishing with hunger."* 

 Though a different route was pursued, yet in the 

 course of the journey almost all the dogs, which 

 drew the sledges, died for want of food ; and 

 every dog, as soon as he failed, was immediately 

 devoured by the others. f 



Even at Okotsk, a town of considerable trade, 

 the inhabitants wait with hungry impatience for 

 the breaking up of the river Okhota in the spring. 

 When M. de Lesseps was there, the stock of 

 dried fish was nearly exhausted. Meal was so 

 dear that the common people were unable to pur- 

 chase it. On drawing the river prodigious num- 

 bers of small fish were caught, and the joy and 

 clamour redoubled at the sight. The most fa- 

 mished were first served. M. de Lesseps feel- 

 ingly says, " I could not refrain from tears on 

 " perceiving the ravenousness of these poor crea- 

 " tures ;****whole families contended for the fish, 

 " which were devoured raw before my eyes."J 



Throughout all the northern parts of Siberia, 



* Travels in Kamtschatka, vol. i. p. 147. 8vo. Eng. trans. 

 1790. 

 f Id. p. 264. 

 t Id. vol. ii. p. 252, 253. 



