68 , 
&AM YTSCHEW*S. TRA.VE.LS* 
power, of, scfaamanary.. This unpleasant intelligence had suds 
an. effect on the imagination of the thief, that,he actually con- 
cdted ;that his sticfc did increase in length, and thought to relieve 
himself, from this dilemma by breaking a piece off. The next 
Dropping, every Kamtschadale carrying back his stick, the thief 
was instantly discovered. He. was. now obliged to confess the 
theft,; and.make restoration. His apology was, that all his own' 
tobacco being /gone, he had .no money to buy more, and could 
not dispense .with: tills necessary. Tobacco was remarkably dear 
at that time in Kamtschatka ? a single pound, costing a hundred 1 
rubles; and yet. the inhabitants of.this place sacrificed every 
thing to the indulgence.of their passion for this intoxicating herb; 
Its ordinary price on a fresh supply is only two rubles and a half. 
Tobacco is one of the most lucrative branches of trade in 
these parts, and always finds a ready sale; for there is not a tribe 
or nation having any intercourse with the Russians, which does 
not smoke, chew, and take snuff. The Burats, Jakuts, Koraks, 
Ja&ugirens, and Tschukschens, like the strong Tscherkapian 
tobacco, and are not fond of that which grows in the country of 
Irkutsk. They smoke it .with a mixture of half saw-dust; but 
the Kamtschadales, and Aleutians only chew tobacco and take 
snuff. 
CHAP.- XL 
WINTER OCCUPATION ON BOARD THE SHIP.—-TREM¬ 
BLINGS OF THE EARTH, AND ERUPTION OF THE K LUT- 
SCHEWISH CRATER.-SCURVY AMONG THE MEN.—» 
EQUIPMENT OF THE VESSEL.-DESCRIPTION OF THE 
BAY AWATSKA.-HINTS ON THE FACILITY OF ESTA¬ 
BLISHING A TRADE FROM KAMTSCHATKA TO THE 
EAST INDIES. 
HP ' . 
H HE winter afforded us a good opportunity for completing 
what had remained unfinished at Ochotsk. We built another 
cutter with six oars of aldeivwood, fetched from the banks of 
the Paratimka, at thirty versts distance. We had, indeed, bireh- 
wood in the vicinity of the harbour, which served for many useful 
purposes, but was not close enough for vessels of any magnitude. 
For shallops and other small craft, however, this wood is in 
general use here, and always found to answer. The double- 
built shallop of Kamtschatkish birch, which was used on the 
hrst expedition, not only lasted the time required, but was after¬ 
wards‘employed ..as a victualling barge from Ochotsk-to Ram t- 
scbatka., Judging from the richness of the soil, I should be 
inclined to .think, '.that oaks might be introduced here by acorns, 
and ..would thrive remarkably well. 
On the 25tb'of February, we observed an evident agitation 
of the earth, which is very frequent and strong, owing to. its 
