SARYTSCHEW’s TRAVELS, 
n 
duals, particularly among the poorer classes, who are devoid 
of the finer feelings of exalted benevolence and generosity, 
and may be more easily affected by fear, than by honour or in¬ 
tegrity. Where then is the wonder, if such be also found 
among the Russian hunters, when we find them among those who 
call themselves philosophers. But notwithstanding all that has 
been said by different persons, to the discredit of this class of 
men, I cannot refrain from observing, that these hunters, who 
go out with merchantmen to the Eastern Ocean, are mostly per¬ 
sons who, from a state of affluence, are reduced by their own 
extravagance, or by unavoidable misfortunes, to the necessity of 
seeking a precarious living, at a distance from their former 
abode. Ochotsk is immensely remote from Russia, and the 
travelling by land no less toilsome than that by sea from thence 
to America, which must be undertaken in vessels altogether un¬ 
fitted, either in bulk or tackling, for such a distance, and de¬ 
void of every comfort and convenience ; whence it may be 
fairly concluded, that few’, except persons in desperate or low 
circumstances, will offer their services, and that among such 
an assemblage of people many will be found to abuse the 
power vested in their hands. The hunters with whom Serjeant 
JBuilow was in company, had selected one from among them¬ 
selves to be their leader, to whose orders they paid not the 
slightest deference. According to the account of the serjeant, 
these hunters compelled the islanders to procure beasts and skins 
for them, which they took without making any remuneration. 
This trade is, however, at present placed on a better footing; 
some naval officers having undertaken the command of the 
vessels destined for America, from which we may naturally ex¬ 
pect the preservation of good order and discipline on the part 
of the Russians, and a renewal of confidence on that of the 
islanders; so that the trade will in future flourish on the sure 
basis of mutual interest/ 
On the morning of the 9th of June, we left the haven, 
and returning at noon to our baidars in the Beaver-bay, pur¬ 
sued our rout after dinner along the north-western shore of the 
bay towards the entrance. Having made almost three miles, 
we came to the gulf of Gamgck, directly opposite to Sper- 
kin’s-strait. Our Aleutians informed us, that an English 
merchantman had anchored here the year before. The gulf 
penetrates a mile and half inwards. At the entrance, it is a 
mile broad, and in the middle 50 fathoms deep, but farther 
on it shallows to less than 5 fathoms, the bottom being muddy, 
with sand occasionally interspersed. About three miles from 
the gulf, we arrived at the village of Utschuguy, situated on $ 
winding of the shore, near a stream which descends from thg 
