379 
THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
when a friendly and profitable intercourfe will be brought 1779. 
about between Kamtfchatka and the whole of this chain of 
iflands; and which will draw after it a communication with 
Japan itfelf. This may eventually be greatly facilitated by 
a circumftance related to me by Major Behm, that feveral 
Ruffians, who had been taught the Japanefe language, by 
two men belonging to a veffel of that nation, which had 
been * ffiipwrecked on the coaft of Kamtfchatka, had been 
fent among thofe iflands. 
The 
* The veffel here fpoken of was from Satfma, a port in Japan, bound for another Ja¬ 
panefe port, called Azaka, and laden with rice, cotton, and filks. She failed with a favour¬ 
able wind; but, before fhe reached her deftination, was driven out to fea by a violent 
ftorm, which carried away her mails and rudder. 
On the florm’s abating, not one of the crew, which confifted of feventeen (having 
probably never made other than coafting voyages), knew where they were, or what courle 
to fleer. After remaining in this fituation fix months, they were driven on fhore near 
the promontory Lopatka; and having call out an anchor, began to carry on fhore fuch 
articles as were neceffary to their exiflence. They next erected a tent, and had remained 
in it twenty-three days, without feeing a human being; when chance conduced a Cof- 
fack officer, called Andrew Chinnikoff, with a few Kamtfchadales, to their habitation. 
The poor unfortunate Japanefe, overwhelmed with joy at the fight of fellow-creatures, 
made the moil fignificant tenders, they were able, of friendfhip and affection 5 and pre- 
fented their vifiters with filks, fabres, and a part of whatever elfe they had brought from 
the fhip. The treacherous Chinnikoff made reciprocal-returns of kindnefs and good¬ 
will ; and, after remaining with them long enough to make fuch obfervations as fuited his 
defigns, withdrew from them in the night. The Japanefe, finding that their vifiters did 
not return, knew not what courfe to take. In defpair they manned their boat, and were 
rowing along the coafl in fearch of a habitation, when they came up with their veffel, 
which had been driven afhore; and found Chinnikoff and his companions pillaging her, 
and pulling her in pieces for the fake of the iron. This fight determined them to con¬ 
tinue their courfe, which Chinnikoff perceiving, ordered his men to purfue and maffacre 
them. The unfortunate Japanefe, feeing a canoe in purfuit, and which they could not 
efcape, apprehended what was to follow. Some of them leaped into the fea; others, in 
vain, had recourfe to prayers and intreaties. They were all maffacred but two, by the very 
fabres they had prefented to their fuppofed friends a few days before. One of the two 
was a boy about eleven years old, named Gowga, who had accompanied his father, the 
5 C 2 {hip’s 
