THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
369 
imported goods, they have a ftill larger upon the furs at 
Kiachta, upon the frontiers of China, which is the great 
market for them. The belt fea-otter fkins fell generally in 
Kamtfchatka, for about thirty roubles apiece. The Chinefe 
merchant at Kiachta purchafes them at more than double 
that price, and fells them again at Pekin at a great ad¬ 
vance, where a farther profitable trade is made with fome 
of them to Japan. If, therefore, a fkin is worth thirty- 
roubles in Kamtfchatka, to be tranfported firft to Okotzk, 
thence to be conveyed by land to Kiachta, a diftance of one 
thoufand three hundred and fixty-four miles, thence on to 
* ■v, 
Pekin, feven hundred and lixty miles more, and after this 
to be tranfported to Japan, what a prodigioufly advantage¬ 
ous trade might be carried on between this place and Japan, 
which is but about a fortnight’s, at moft three weeks, fail 
from it! 
All furs exported from hence acrofs the fea of Okotzk, 
pay a duty of ten per cent . and fables a duty of twelve. 
And all forts of merchandize, of whatever denomina¬ 
tion, imported from Okotzk, pay half a rouble for every 
pood *. 
The duties ariling from the exports and imports, of 
which I could not learn the amount, are paid at Okotzk: 
but the tribute is collected at Bolcheretfk; and, I was in¬ 
formed by Major Behm, amounted in value to ten thoufand 
roubles annually. 
There are fix velfels (of forty to fifty tons burthen) em¬ 
ployed by the Emprefs between Okotzk and Bolcheretfk; 
five of which are appropriated to the tranfporting of ftores 
and provifions from Okotzk to Bolcheretfk; except that 
once in two or three years, fome of them go round to Awat- 
* Thirty-fix pounds Englifli* 
3 B fka* 
1 779* 
October. 
VOL. III. 
