362 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779. In the mean time, Potop Serioukoff, who had been left 
by Atlaffoff, kept peaceable poffeffion of the garrifon of 
Verchnei; and though he had not a fufficient force to com¬ 
pel the payment of a tribute from the natives, yet by his 
management and conciliating difpolition, he continued to 
carry on an advantageous traffic with them as a merchant. 
On his return to the Anadirfk, with the general good-will of 
the natives of Kamtfchatka, himfelf and party were attacked 
by the Koriacs, and unfortunately all cut off. This hap¬ 
pened about 1703; and feveral other fucceffive commiffaries 
were fent. into Kamtfchatka, with various fuccefs, during 
the difgrace and trial of Atlalioffi 
In 1706, Atlaffoff was reinftated in his command, and ap¬ 
pointed to conduct a fecond expedition into Kamtfchatka, 
with inffruCtions to gain upon the natives by all peaceable 
means, but on no pretence to have recourfe to force and 
compuffion : but, inftead of attending to his orders, he not 
only, by repeated aCts of cruelty and injuffice, made the 
natives exceedingly hoflile and averfe to their new gover¬ 
nors, but likewife fo far alienated the affections of his 
own people, that it ended in a mutiny of the Coffacks, and 
their demand of another commander. The Coffacks having 
carried their point, in difplacing Atlaffoff, feized upon his 
effeCts ; and, after once tailing the fweets of plunder, and 
of living without difcipline or controul, in vain did his fuc- 
ceffors attempt to reduce them to military difcipline and 
fubjeCtion. Three fucceffive commanders were affaffinated 
in their turn; and the Coffacks, being thus in open rebel¬ 
lion to the Ruffian government, and with arms in their 
hands, were let loofe upon the natives. The hiftory of this 
country from that period, till the grand revolt of the Kamt- 
fchadales in 1731? prefents one unvaried detail of maf- 
3 facres, 
