C 487 ] 
happened to the boat Gabriel, which, fome years 
ftnce, was going to cape Tchukotfki. As to the 
reft, their canoes are fo light, that they carry them, 
with one hand. 
When the Americans fee [upon their coafts] 
people, whom they do not know, they row towards 
them, and then make a long fpeech : but it is not 
certain, whether this is by way of a fpell [or charm], 
or fome [particular] ceremony ufed at the reception 
of ftrangers : for both the one and the other are in 
ufe among the Kurilians. But before they draw near, 
they paint their cheeks with black lead, and fluff* 
their noftrils with [fome] herb. 
When they have guefts, they appear friendly 5 they 
like to converfe with them, and that in an amicable 
manner, without taking off* their eyes from them : 
they treat them with great fubmiffion, and prefent 
them with the fat of whales, and with black lead, 
with which they ufed to befmear their cheeks, as 
was before obferved ; doubtlefs from a notion, that 
fuch things are as agreeable to others, as they are to 
themfelves. 
With regard to the navigation about thofe parts, 
it is fafe [enough] in fpring and in fummerj but in 
autumn it is fo dangerous, that hardly a day pafffes, 
but one has reafon to fear being fhipwrecked : for 
they [the Ruffians fent upon the fea expedition] ex- 
perienced fuch a violence of winds and ftorms, that 
even perfons, who had ferved forty years at fea, af- 
fured, with an oath, that they never law fuch in their 
lives. 
The marks, by which they obferve there [in that 
fea] that land is near, are, particularly, the following 
conftder- 
