364 
A VOYAGE TO 
i 779 . on any Ruffians that might by accident arrive from Okotzk. 
, Qa _ obgr ', Things were in this Rate, when the commiffary Cheek- 
haerdin marched from Verchnei with his tribute, efcorted 
by the troops of the fort, for the mouth of the Karnt- 
fchatka River, where a veffel was lying to convey them to 
the Anadir. Belides waiting for the departure of Beering, 
the revolt was to be fufpended till this veffel Ihould be 
out at fea, notice of which was to be given to the different 
Chiefs. Accordingly, the moment ihe was out of light, 
they began to maffacre every Ruffian and Coffack that came 
in their way, and to fet fire to their houfes. A large body 
afcended the River Kamtfchatka, made themfelves mailers 
of the fort and ojlrog the commiffary had juft quitted, put to 
death all that were in it, and, except the church and the 
fort, reduced the whole to allies. Here it was that they firft 
learned that the Ruffian veffel, in which the commiffary had 
embarked, was ftill on the coaft, which determined them 
to defend themfelves in the fort. The wind fortunately 
foon brought the veffel back to the harbour ; for had Ihe 
proceeded in her voyage, nothing probably could have pre¬ 
vented the utter extirpation of the Ruffians. The Coffacks 
finding, on their landing, that their houfes had been burnt 
to the ground, and their wives and children either maffacred 
or carried off prifoners, were enraged to madnefs. They 
marched diredlly to the fort, which they attacked with 
great fury, and the natives as refolutely defended, till at 
length the powder-magazine taking fire, the fort was 
blown up, together with molt of thofe that were in it. Va¬ 
rious rencounters fucceeded to this event, in which much 
blood was fpilled on both fides : at length, two of the prin- 
k cipal leaders being llain, and the third (after difpatching 
fiis wife and children, to prevent their falling into the 
enemy’s 
