298 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779. came about three in the afternoon to fome old balagans , 
September w k ere a Kamtfchadale village had been formerly fituated, 
without meeting with a fingle bear during the whole of a 
long and tedious walk. It was our firft intention to have 
remained here all night, in order to have refumed our 
chace early the next morning; but the weather clearing, 
and at the fame time a frefh breeze fpringing up from a 
quarter unfavourable to our deligns, the Hofpodin, whom 
former lufferings had made very unfit to bear much fa¬ 
tigue, and who feemed, at prefent, more particularly dif- 
treffed from having emptied his fnuff-box, began to be 
very importunate with us to return home. It was fome 
time before the old corporal confented, alleging, that W'e 
were at a great diftance from the harbour; and that, on 
account of the badnefs of the way, the night would pro¬ 
bably overtake us before we reached the end of our jour¬ 
ney. At length, however, he yielded to Ivafkin’s intrea¬ 
ties, and conducted us along the fide of a number of fmall 
lakes, with which the 'flat part of this country feems much 
to abound. Thefe lakes are from half a mile to two miles 
in length, and about half a mile broad; the water is frefh 
and clear, and they are full of a red-coloured fifh, re- 
fembling, both in fhape and fize, a fmall falmon ; of which 
a more particular defcription will be given hereafter. The 
banks of thefe lakes were covered with the fragments of 
fifh that the bears had half eaten, and which caufed an 
intolerable flench. We often came upon the fpots which 
the bears had juft left, but were never able even to come 
within fight of them. 
It was night before we reached the flrips, and we had 
then been twelve hours upon our legs. Poor Ivafkin found 
bimfelf exceedingly tired and overcome with fatigue; pro¬ 
bably, 
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