II 
t 
'CHARACTER OE RUSSIAN HUNTER'S. 
western bay or strait, which is 200 fathoms wide, and as 
wide again as the eastern. In the middle it is so deep, that 
a line of 50 fathoms will not reach the bottom. At its en¬ 
trance from the ocean, lies, on a gradually sloping shore, the 
village of Pestrakowo; and on the left, adjoining the island 
of Amaknak, is situated the isle of Uknodak, which is not more 
than a mile in circumference. The water between these islands 
is from 7 to, 16 fathoms deep, with a sandy bottom. 
It was late in the evening before I returned b om the execution 
■of my task to the village of Illuktk, where 1 found Doctor 
Murk, with several Aleutians from the neighbouring villages, 
assembled to await my arrival. I had received instructions to 
make particular enquiries concerning the improper conduct of 
some Russian hunters towards the islanders two years before. 
From the accounts given to the governor, by Seijeant Builow, 
who accompanied the hunters for collecting the japak, it ap¬ 
peared, that this spot had been the theatre of many oppressions. 
The serjeant had resided with these people, and taken down in 
his day-book an account of their grievances, which, on his re¬ 
turn, he delivered in to the commander. Accordingly, the 
governor-general of Irkutsk had commissioned Captain Billings 
to ascertain the facts. Having found all strictly true, I assured 
these islanders, that their oppressors would be severely punished 
for their conduct, and used every exertion to convince them 
that our august empress wished for nothing so much as their 
happiness, having strictly prohibited every disorderly proceeding. 
This circumstance of the Russian hunters, reminds me of the 
following passage, in a Voyage published by Mr. Sauer, seden¬ 
tary to Captain Billings, where speaking of Captain Coxe, an 
Englishman, meeting with some Russian hunters, aud making 
some presents to the steersman Pribyloff, he observes, in the 
16th chap. “ Nothing in the world can astonish a Russian 
more than a disinterested liberality, or kindness, without some 
prospect of future benefit: greatness of soul is applied to every 
man who is just, and grants his servants some few indulgences; 
every thing beyond this is called folly, and is sure to be imposed 
upon; nor have they any sentiment of feeling, except it be ex- 
' cited by blows. Taking this for the ruling character of the 
Russian hunters, it will be easy to conceive the astonishment of 
Pribyloff and his companions, at the liberality of Mr. Coxe.’ 5 
From the unqualified terms in the beginning of this quo¬ 
tation, many might be led to judge harshly of the whole 
Russian nation. It is, however, evident from the context, that 
he means only to apply it to the hunters, which is, however, 
done in much too general a manner. There are no doubt, 
both in Russia and England, and all other countries, mdivi* 
B 2 
