ISLANDS BELONGING TO RUSSIA, IN ASIA 



THE sea which separates the southern point of the peninsula of 

 Kamtschatka from > T apan, contains a number of islands in a position 

 from north-north-^stj to south-south-west, which are called the KU- 

 RILE ISLANDS. They are upwards of twenty in number, are all 

 mountainous, and in several of them are volcanoes and hot springs, 

 The principal of those islands are inhabited : but some of the little 

 ones are entirely desert and unpeopled. They differ much from each 

 other, in respect both to their situation and natural constitution. The 

 forests in the more northern ones are composed of laryx and pines 5 

 tAose in the southern produce canes, bamboos, vines, &c. In some of 

 them are bears and foxes. The sea-otter appears on the coasts of all 

 these islands, as well as whales, sea-horses, seals, and other amphibious* 

 animals. Some of the inhabitants of these islands have a great like- 

 ness to the Japanese, in their manners, language, and personal ap« 

 pearance ; others very much resemble the Kamtschadales. The 

 northern islands acknowledge the sovereignty of the empire of Russia 5 

 but those of the south pay homage to Japan. The Kurilians discover 

 much humanity and probity in their conduct, and are courteous and 

 hospitable ; but adversity renders them timid, and prompts them to» 

 suicide. They have a particular veneration for old age. Tiey reve- 

 rence an old man whoever he be, but have an especial affection for 

 those of their respective families. Their language is agreeaole to the 

 ear, and they speak and pronounce it slowly. The men are employed, 

 in hunting, fishing for sea animals and whales, and catching fowl- 

 Their canoes are made of the wood that their forests produce, or 

 that the sea casts upon their shores. The women have chajge of the 

 kitchen, and make clothes. In the northern isles they sew,and make 

 different clothes of the thread of nettles. The southern ishnders are 

 more refined and polished than the northern, and carry 01 a sort of 

 commerce with Japan, whither they export whale-oil, furs, and eagles' 

 feathers to fledge arrows with. In return, they bring Japanese utensils 

 of metal and varnished wood, skillers, sabres, different scuffs, orna- 

 ments of luxury and parade, tobacco, all sorts of trinkets, and small 

 wares. 



Between the eastern coast of Kamtschatka, and the western coast of 

 America, are several groups of islands, divided by Mr. Muller, into 

 four principal groups; the first two of which are called the ALEUTIAN" 

 ISLANDS.* The first group, which is called by some of th£ islanders 



" Mr. Coxe observes, that " the first project for making discoveries in that tem- 

 pestuous sea which lies between Kamtschatka and America was conceived and 

 planned by Peter I." Voyages with that view were accordingly undertaken at the 

 expence of the crown ; but, when it was discovered that the islands of that sea 

 abounded with valuable furs, private merchants immediately engaged with ardour 

 m similar expeditions; and within a period often years, more impartant discoveries 

 ^ere made by those individuals, at their own private cost, than had hitherto been 



