PART III.

APPENDIX I. & II. CONTAINING

SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOUNTS OF THE RUSSIAN DISCOVERIES, &c. &c.

[Illustration: KRENITZIN'S and LEVASHEFF'S _VOYAGE to the_ FOX ISLANDS

_in 1768 and 1769_.]

APPENDIX I.

Extract from the journal of a voyage made by Captain _Krenitzin_ and

Lieutenant _Levasheff_ to the _Fox Islands_, in 1768, 1769, by order of

the Empress of _Russia_--they sail from _Kamtchatka_--arrive at

_Beering's_ and _Copper Islands_--reach the _Fox Islands_--_Krenitzin_

winters at _Alaxa_--_Levasheff_ upon _Unalashka_--productions of

_Unalashka_--description of the inhabitants of the _Fox Islands_--their

manners and customs, &c.

[Sidenote: Krenitzin and Levasheff sail from the Mouth of the Kamtchatka

River, 1768.] On the 23d of July Captain Krenitzin sailed in the Galliot

St. Catherine from the mouth of the Kamtchatka river towards America: he

was accompanied by Lieutenant Levasheff, in the Hooker St. Paul. Their

instructions were regulated by information derived from Beering's

expedition in 1741. Shaping their course accordingly, they found

themselves more to the North than they expected; and were told by the

Russian traders and hunters, that a similar[121] mistake was committed

in the chart of that expedition. These traders, who for some years past

were accustomed to ramble to the distant islands in quest of furs, said

that they were situated much more to the South, and farther East than

was imagined. [Sidenote: They reach Beering's Island.] On the 27th they

saw Commodore's or Beering's Island, which is low and rocky, especially

to the S. W. On this side they observed a small harbour, distinguished

by two hillocks like boats, and not far from it they found a fresh water

lake.

[Footnote 121: This passage is obscurely expressed. Its

meaning may be ascertaining by comparing Krenitzin's chart

with that of Beering's voyage prefixed to Muller's account of

the Russian Discoveries. The route of Krenitzin's vessel was

confidently to the North of the course held by Beering and

Tschirikoff, and consequently he sailed through the middle of

what they had supposed to be a continent, and which he found

to be an open sea. See Robertson's History of America, p.

461, and p. 26, of this work.

[Sidenote: and Copper Island.] To the S. E. lies another island, called

by the Russians Mednoi Ostroff, or Copper Island, from a great quantity

of copper found upon its N. E. coast, the only side which is known to

the Russians. It is washed up by the sea, and covers the shore in such

abundance, that many ships may load with it. Perhaps an India trader

might make a profitable voyage from thence to China, where this metal is

in high demand. This copper is mostly in a metallic or malleable state,

and many pieces seem as if they had formerly been in fusion. The island

is not high, but has many hillocks, each of which has the appearance of

having formerly been the funnel of a volcano. We may here, once for all,

observe, that all the islands represented in this chart[122] abound with

such funnels, called in Russian Sopka, in so much that no island,

however small, was found without one; and many of them consisted of

nothing else. In short, the chain of islands here laid down may, without

any violent stretch of imagination, be considered as thrown up by some

late volcanos. The apparent novelty of every thing seems to justify this

conjecture: nor can any objection be derived from the vegetable

productions with which these islands abound; for the summer after the

lower district of Zutphen in Holland was gained from the sea, it was

covered over with wild mustard. All these lands are subject to violent

and frequent earth-quakes, and abound in sulphur. The writer of the

journal was not able to inform us whether any lava was found upon them;

but he speaks of a party-coloured stone as heavy as iron. From this

account it is by no means improbable, that the copper abovementioned has

been melted in some eruption.

[Footnote 122: Namely, the chart which is prefixed to this

journal.]

[Sidenote: Arrive at the Fox Islands.] After leaving Copper Island, no

land was seen from either of the ships (which had parted company in a

fog) till on the S. E. quarter of their tract, was discovered the chain

of islands or head-lands laid down in the chart. These in general

appeared low, the shore bad, without creeks, and the water between them

very shallow. During their course outwards, as well as during their

return, they had frequent fogs. It appears from the journal, as well as

from the relation of the hunters, that it is very uncommon to have

clear weather for five days together, even during summer.

[Sidenote: Krenitzin winters at Alaxa.] The St. Catherine wintered in

the straits of Alaxa, where they hauled her into shoal water. The

instructions given to the captain set forth, that a private ship had in

1762 found there a commodious haven; but he looked for it in vain. The

entrance of this strait from the N. E. was extremely difficult on

account of flats, and strong currents both flood and ebb: the entrance

however from the S. E. was afterwards found to be much easier with not

less than 5-1/2 fathoms water. Upon surveying this strait, and the coast

of Alaxa, many funnels were observed in the low grounds close to the

shore, and the soil produced few plants. May not this allow one to

suppose that the coast had suffered considerable changes since the year

1762? Few of the islands produce wood, and that only in the vallies by

the rivulets. Unalga and Alaxa contain the most; they abound with fresh

water streams, and even rivers; from which we may infer that they are

extensive. The soil is in general boggy, and covered with moss; but

Alaxa has more soil and produces much grass.

[Sidenote: Levasheff winters upon Unalashka.] The St. Paul wintered in

Unalashka. This wintering place was observed to lie in 53° 29´ North

latitude, and its longitude from the mouth of Kamtchatka river,

computed by the ship's journal, was 27° 05´ East[123]. Unalashka is

about fifty miles long from N. E. to S. W. and has on the N. E. side

three bays. One of them called Udagha stretches thirty miles E. N. E.

and W. S. W. nearly through the middle of the island. Another called

Igunck, lying N. N. E. and S. S. W. is a pretty good harbour, with three

and a half fathom water at high tide, and sandy ground. It is well

sheltered from the North swell at its entrance by rocks, some of which

are under water. The tide flows here five feet at full and change, and

the shore is in general bold and rocky, except in the bay, at the mouth

of a small river. There are two burning mountains on this island, one

called Ayaghish, and the other (by the Russians) the Roaring Mountain.

Near the former is a very copious hot spring. The land is in general

rocky, with loamy and clayey grounds; but the grass is extremely coarse,

and unfit for pasture. Hardly any wood is to be found on it. [Sidenote:

Productions of Unalashka.] Its plants are dwarf cherry ([124]Xylosteum

of Tournefort), wortle berry, (Vaccinium Uliginosum of Linnæus),

rasberry, farana and shikshu of Kamtchatka and kutage, larch, white

poplar, pine and birch[125]. The land animals are foxes of different

colours, mice, and weasels; there are also beavers[126], sea cats, and

sea lions as at Kamtchatka. Among their fish we may reckon cod, perch,

pilchards, smelts, roach, needle fish, terpugh, and tchavitcha. The

birds are eagles, partridges, ducks, teals, urili, ari, and gadi. The

animals for whose Russian names I can find no translations, are

(excepting the Ari) described in Krashininikoff's History of Kamtchatka,

or in Steller's relation contained in the second volume of the Memoirs

of the Academy of Petersburgh.

[Footnote 123: According to the general map of Russia, the

mouth of the Kamtchatka river is in 178° 25´ from Fero.

Unalashka therefore, according to this estimation, is 205°

30´ from Fero, or 187° 55´ 15´´ from Greenwich.]

[Footnote 124: The Lonicera Pyrenaica of Linnæus. It is not a

dwarf cherry, but a species of honeysuckle.]

[Footnote 125: All the other journalists uniformly describe

Unalashka as containing nothing but underwood; we must

therefore suppose that the trees here mentioned were very low

and small, and this agrees with what goes before, "hardly any

wood is to be found on it."]

[Footnote 126: By beavers the journalists certainly mean

sea-otters, called by the Russians sea-beavers. See p. 12.

For a description of the sea-otter, called by Linnæus Lutra

Marina, see Nov. Com. Petr. vol. II. p. 367, et seq.]

[Sidenote: Account of the Inhabitants of the Fox Islands.] The

inhabitants of Alaxa, Umnak, Unalaksha, and the neighbouring islands,

are of a middle stature, tawny brown colour, and black hair. In summer

they wear coats (parki[127]) made of bird skins, over which, in bad

weather, and in their boats, they throw cloaks, called kamli, made of

thin whale guts. On their heads they wear wooden caps, ornamented with

duck's feathers, and the ears of the sea-animal, called Scivutcha or

sea-lion; they also adorn these caps with beads of different colours,

and with little figures of bone or stone. In the partition of the

nostrils they place a pin, about four inches long, made of the bone, or

of the stalk of a certain black plant; from the ends of this pin or

bodkin they hang, in fine weather and on festivals, rows of beads, one

below the other. They thrust beads, and bits of pebble cut like teeth,

into holes made in the under-lips. They also wear strings of beads in

their ears, with bits of amber, which the inhabitants of the other

islands procure from Alaxa, in exchange for arrows and kamli.

[Footnote 127: Parki in Russian signifies a shirt, the coats

of these islanders being made like shirts.]

They cut their hair before just above the eyes, and some shave the top

of their heads like monks. Behind the hair is loose. The dress of the

women hardly differs from that of the men, excepting that it is made of

fish-skins. They sew with bone needles, and thread made of fish guts,

fastening their work to the ground before them with bodkins. They go

with the head uncovered, and the hair cut like that of the men before,

but tied up behind in a high knot. They paint their cheeks with strokes

of blue and red, and wear nose-pins, beads, and ear-rings like the men;

they hang beads round their neck, and checkered strings round their arms

and legs.

[Sidenote: Manners and Customs.] In their persons we should reckon them

extremely nasty. They eat the vermin with which their bodies are

covered, and swallow the mucus from the nose. Having washed themselves,

according to custom, first with urine, and then with water, they suck

their hands dry. When they are sick, they lie three or four days without

food; and if bleeding is necessary, they open a vein with lancets made

of flint, and suck the blood.

Their principal nourishment is fish and whale fat, which they commonly

eat raw. They also feed upon sea-wrack and roots, particularly the

saran, a species of lily; they eat a herb, called kutage, on account of

its bitterness, only with fish or fat. They sometimes kindle fire by

catching a spark among dry leaves and powder of sulphur: but the most

common method is by rubbing two pieces of wood together, in the manner

practised at Kamtchatka[128], and which Vaksel, Beering's lieutenant,

found to be in use in that part of North America which he saw in 1741.

They are very fond of Russian oil and butter, but not of bread. They

could not be prevailed upon to taste any sugar until the commander

shewed the example; finding it sweet, they put it up to carry it home to

their wives.

[Footnote 128: The instrument made use of by the Kamtchadals,

to procure fire, is a board with several holes in it, and a

stick; the latter is put into the holes, and turned about

swiftly, until the wood within the holes begins to burn,

where there is tinder ready to catch the sparks.

S. R. G. III. p. 205.]

The houses of these islanders are huts built precisely in the manner of

those in Kamtchatka, with the entry through a hole in the middle of the

roof. In one of these huts live several families, to the amount of

thirty or forty persons. They keep themselves warm by means of whale fat

burnt in shells, which they place between their legs. The women set

apart from the men.

Six or seven of these huts or yourts make a village, of which there are

sixteen in Unalashka. The islands seem in general to be well inhabited,

as may be conjectured from the great number of boats which are seen

continually plying along the shore. There are upwards of a thousand

inhabitants on Unalashka, and they say that it was formerly much more

populous. They have suffered greatly by their disputes with the

Russians, and by a famine in the year 1762; but most of all from a

change in their way of life. No longer contented with their original

simplicity, they long for Russian luxuries: in order therefore to obtain

a few delicacies, which are presently consumed, they dedicate the

greatest part of their time to hunting, for the purpose of procuring

furs for the Russians: by these means, they neglect to lay up a

provision of fish and roots; and suffer their children frequently to die

of hunger.

Their principal food is fish, which they catch with bone hooks. Their

boats, in which they row to a great distance from land, are made, like

those of the Innuet or Esquimaux, of thin slips of wood and skins: these

skins cover the top as well as the sides of the boat, and are drawn

tight round the waist of the rower. The oar is a paddle, broad at both

ends. Some of their boats hold two persons; one of whom rows, and the

other fishes: but these kind of boats seem appropriated to their chiefs.

They have also large boats capable of holding forty men. They kill birds

and beasts with darts made of bone, or of wood tipped with sharpened

stone: they use these kind of darts in war, which break with the blow

given by them, and leave the point in the wound.

The manners and character of these people are what we should expect from

their necessitous situation, extremely rude and savage. The inhabitants

however of Unalashka are somewhat less barbarous in their manners and

behaviour to each other, and also more civil to strangers than the

natives of the other islands; but even they are engaged in frequent and

bloody quarrels, and commit murder without the least compunction. Their

disposition engages them in continual wars, in which they always

endeavour to gain their point by stratagem. The inhabitants of Unimak

are formidable to all the rest; they frequently invade the other

islands, and carry off women, the chief object of their wars. Alaxa is

most subject to these incursions, probably because it is more populous

and extensive. They all join in hating the Russians, whom they consider

as general invaders, and therefore kill them wherever they can. The

people of Unalashka however are more friendly; for Lieutenant Levasheff,

being informed that there was a Russian vessel in the straits of Alaxa,

prevailed on some Unalashkans to carry a letter, which they undertook,

notwithstanding the danger they were exposed to from the inhabitants of

the intervening islands.

The journalist says, that these people have no kind of religion, nor any

notion of a God. We observe however among them sufficient marks of such

a religion as might be expected from people in their situation. For the

journalist informs us, that they have fortune-tellers employed by them

at their festivals. These persons pretend to foretel events by the

information of the Kugans or Dæmons. In their divinations they put on

wooden masks, made in the form in which they say the Kugan appeared to

them; they then dance with violent motions, beating at the same time

drums covered with fish skins. The inhabitants also wear little figures

on their caps, and place others round their huts, to keep off the

devils. These are sufficient marks of a savage religion.

It is common for them to have two, three, or four wives, and some have

also an object of unnatural affection, who is dressed like the women.

The wives do not all live together, but, like the Kamtchadals, in

different yourts. It is not unusual for the men to exchange their wives,

and even sell them, in time of dearth, for a bladder of fat; the husband

afterwards endeavours to get back his wife, if she is a favourite, and

if unsuccessful he sometimes kills himself. When strangers arrive at a

village, it is always customary for the women to go out to meet them,

while the men remain at home: this is considered as a pledge of

friendship and security. When a man dies in the hut belonging to his

wife, she retires into a dark hole, where she remains forty days. The

husband pays the same compliment to his favourite wife upon her death.

When both parents die, the children are left to shift for themselves.

The Russians found many in this situation, and some were brought for

sale.

In each village there is a sort of chief, called Tookoo, who is not

distinguished by any particular rank or authority. He decides

differences by arbitration, and the neighbours enforce the sentence.

When he goes out to sea he is exempted from working, and has a servant,

called Kalè, for the purpose of rowing the canoe; this is the only mark

of his dignity: at all other times he labours like the rest. The office

is not hereditary; but is generally conferred on him who is most

remarkable for his personal qualities; or who possesses a great

influence by the number of his friends. Hence it frequently happens,

that the person who has the largest family is chosen.

During their festivals, which are held after the fishing season ends in

April, the men and women sing songs; the women dance, sometimes singly,

and sometimes in pairs, waving in their hands blown bladders; they begin

with gentle movements, which become at last extremely violent.

The inhabitants of Unalashka are called Kogholaghi. Those of Akutan, and

farther East to Unimak, are called Kighigusi; and those of Unimak and

Alaxa are called Kataghayekiki. They cannot tell whence they have these

names, and now begin to call themselves by the general name of Aleyut,

given them by the Russians, and borrowed from some of the [129]Kuril

islands. Upon being asked concerning their origin, they said that they

had always inhabited these islands, and knew nothing of any other

country beyond them. All that could be gathered from them was, that the

greatest numbers came from Alaxa, and that they did not know whether

that land had any bounds. The Russians surveyed this island very far to

the N. E. in boats, being out about a fortnight, and set up a cross at

the end of their survey. The boats of the islanders are like those of

the Americans. It appears however from their customs and way of life, so

far as these are not necessarily prescribed to them by their situation,

that they are of Kamtchatdal original. Their huts, their manner of

kindling fire, and their objects of unnatural affections, lead to this

conjecture. Add to this, the almost continual Westerly winds, which must

render the passage Westward extremely difficult. Beering and Tchirikoff

could never obtain Easterly winds but by going to the Southward.

[Footnote 129: I cannot find, that any of the Kuril Isles are

called Aleyut in the catalogue of those islands given by Mr.

Muller, S. R. G. III. p, 86-92. Neither are any of them laid

down under that name in the Russian charts.]

The Russians have for some years past been accustomed to go to these

islands in quest of furs, of which they have imposed a tax on the

inhabitants. The manner of carrying on this trade is as follows. The

Russian traders go in Autumn to Beering's and Copper island, and there

winter: they then employ themselves in catching the sea-cat, and

afterwards the Scivutcha, or sea-lion. The flesh of the latter is

prepared for food, and it is very delicate. They carry the skins of

these sea-animals to the Eastern islands. Next summer they go Eastward,

to the Fox-islands; and again lay their ships up for the winter. They

then endeavour to procure, either by persuasion or force, the children

of the inhabitants, particularly of the Tookoos, as hostages. This being

accomplished, they deliver to the inhabitants fox-traps, and also skins

for their boats, for which they oblige them to bring furs and provisions

during the winter. After obtaining from them a certain quantity of furs,

by way of tax, for which they give them quittances; the Russians pay for

the rest in beads, false pearls, goat's wool, copper kettles, hatchets,

&c. In the spring they get back their traps, and deliver up their

hostages. They dare not hunt alone, nor in small numbers, on account of

the hatred of the natives. These people could not, for some time,

comprehend for what purpose the Russians imposed a tribute of skins,

which were not to be their own property, but belonged to an absent

person; for their Tookoos have no revenue. Nor could they be made to

believe, that there were any more Russians than those who came among

them; for in their own country all the men of an island go out together.

At present they comprehend something of Kamtchatka, by means of the

Kamtchadals and Koriacs who come along with the Russians; and on their

arrival love to associate with people whose manner of life resembles

their own.

Krenitzin and Levasheff returned from this expedition into the mouth of

the Kamtchatka river in autumn 1769.

The chart which accompanies this journal was composed by the pilot Jacob

Yakoff, under the inspection of the commanders[130] Krenitzin and

Levasheff. The track of the St. Paul is marked both in going out and

returning. The harbour of the St. Paul in the island Unalashka, and the

straits of Alaxa, are laid down from observations made during the winter

1768; and the islands connected by bearings and distances taken during a

cruise of the St. Paul twice repeated.

[Footnote 130: Krenitzin was drowned soon after his return to

Kamtchatka in a canoe belonging to the natives.]

In this chart the variation is said to be

In Lat. Long. Points

54° 40´. 204. 2 East.

52 20 201 1-1/2

52 50 198 1-1/2

53 20 192 30 1

53 40 188 1

54 50 182 30 0-3/4

55 00 180 30 0-3/4

N^o II.

Concerning the longitude of _Kamtchatka_, and of the Eastern extremity

of _Asia_, as laid down by the _Russian_ Geographers.

[Sidenote: Longitude of the extreme Parts of Asia.] The important

question concerning the longitude of the extreme parts of Asia has been

so differently stated by the most celebrated geographers, that it may

not be amiss to refer the curious reader to the principal treatises upon

that subject. [Sidenote: by Mr. Muller and the Russian Geographers.] The

proofs by which Mr. Muller and the Russian geographers place the

longitude of the Eastern extremity of Asia beyond 200 degrees from the

first meridian of Fero, or 180° 6´ 15´´ from Paris, are drawn from the

observations of the satellites of Jupiter, made by Krassilnikoff at

Kamtchatka, and in different parts of Siberia, and from the expeditions

of the Russians by land and sea towards Tschukotskoi Noss.

[Sidenote: by Mr. Engel.] Mr. Engel calls in question the exactness of

these observations, and takes off twenty-nine degrees from the

longitude of Kamtchatka, as laid down by the Russians. To this purpose

he has given to the public,

1. Memoires et observations geographiques et critiques sur

la situation des Pays Septentrionaux de l'Asie et de

l'Amerique. A Lausanne, 1765.

2. Geographische und Critische Nachricht ueber die Lage der

noerdlichen Gegenden von Asien und America. Mittau, 1772.

[Sidenote: by Mr. Vaugondy.] It appears to Monsieur de Vaugondy, that

there are not sufficient grounds for so extraordinary a diminution:

accordingly he shortens the continent of Asia only eleven degrees of

longitude; and upon this subject he has given the two following

treatises:

1. Lettre au sujet d'une carte systematique des Pays

Septentrionaux de l'Asie et de l'Amerique. Paris, 1768.

2. Nouveau systeme geographique, par lequel on concilie les

anciennes connoissances sur les Pays au Nord Ouest de

l'Amerique. Paris, 1774.

[Sidenote: Mons. Buache supports the System of the Russians against

Engel and Vaugondy.] In opposition to these authors, Monsieur Buache has

published an excellent treatise, entitled Memoires sur les Pays de

l'Asie et de l'Amerique. Paris, 1775.

In this memoir he dissents from the opinions of Messrs Engel and

Vaugondy; and defends the system of the Russian geographers in the

following manner. Monsieur Maraldi, after comparing the observations of

the satellites of Jupiter, taken at Kamtchatka by Krassilnikoff, with

the tables, has determined the longitude of Ochotsk, Bolcheresk, and the

port of St. Peter and Paul from the first meridian of Paris as follows:

h ´ ´´

[131]Longitude of Ochotsk 9 23 30

of Bolcheresk 10 17 17

of the Port 10 25 5

Latitude of Ochotsk 59° 22´, of Bolcheresk 52° 55´, of the Port 53° 1´.

[Footnote 131: Krassilnikoff compared his observations with

corresponding ones taken at Petersburg, which gave results as

follow:

From comparing an observation of an eclipse of the first

satellite, taken at Ochotsk the 17th of January, 1743, with

an observation of an eclipse of the same satellite taken at

Petersburg on the 15th of January in the same year, the

difference of longitude between Petersburg and Ochotsk

appeared to be 7^h. 31´ 29´´; from a comparison of two other

similar observations the difference of longitude was 7^h. 31´

3´´, a mean of which is 7^h. 31´ 34´´, being the true

difference between the meridians of Petersburg and Ochotsk

according to these observations. By adding the difference of

the longitude between Petersburg and Paris, which is 1^h. 52´

25´´, we have the longitude of Ochotsk from Paris 9^h. 23´

59´´, which differs 29´´ only from the result of Mons.

Maraldi. Nov. Comm. Pet. III. p. 470. In the same manner the

longitude of Bolcheresk appears from the corresponding

observations taken at that place and at Petersburg to be 10h.

20´ 22´´ differing from Mr. Maraldi about 2´ 5´´. Nov. Com.

p. 469.

But the longitude of the port of St. Peter and Paul,

estimated in the same manner from corresponding observations,

differs from the longitude as computed by Mons. Maraldi no

more than 20 seconds, p. 469.]

The comparison of the following results, deduced from corresponding

observations[132] of the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites taken at

Bolcheresk at the port of Peter and Paul by Krassilnikoff, and at Pekin

by the Jesuit missionaries, will shew from their near agreement the care

and attention which must have been given to the observations; and from

hence there is reason to suppose, that the suspicions of inaccuracy

imputed to Krassilnikoff are ill founded.

[Footnote 132: Obs. Ast. Ecc. Sat. Jovis, &c. Nov. Com. Petr.

vol. III. p. 452, &c. Obs. Ast. Pekini factæ. Ant.

Hallerstein--Curante Max. Hell. Vindibonæ, 1768.]

1741, Old Stile.

h ´ ´´

Jan. 27, Em. I Sat. 12 9 25 at the port of St.

Peter and Paul.

9 20 35 at Pekin.

----------

Difference of the meridian

at Pekin and the Port 2 48 50

----------

h ´ ´´

Jan. 30, Imm. III Sat. 12 5 30 at the Port.

9 16 30 at Pekin.

----------

2 49 0

----------

h ´ ´´

Feb. 5, I Sat. 8 33 26 at the Port.

5 43 45 at Pekin.

----------

2 49 41

----------

h ´ ´´

Feb. 12, Em. I Sat. 10 28 49

7 39 29

----------

2 49 20

-----------

And the longitude from Paris

to Pekin being 7 36 23

The difference of the meridians

of Paris and the Port will be 10 25 36

Which differs only 31 seconds from the determination of Mr. Maraldi.

1741. Old Style.

h ´ ´´

March 23, Em. II Sat. 10 55 2 at Bolcheresk.

8 14 0 at Pekin.

-----------

2 41 2

-----------

h ´ ´´

Dec. 31, Im. I Sat. 10 51 58 at Bolcheresk.

8 9 45 at Pekin.

-----------

Difference of the meridians 2 42 13

of Pekin and Bolcheresk -----------

h ´ ´´

By taking the medium the difference

of the longitude between Bolcheresk

and Pekin will be found to be 2 41 37

Between Bolcheresk and Paris 10 18 0

Which differs only one minute and one second from the determination of

Mr. Maraldi.

In order to call in question the conclusions drawn from the observations

of Krassilnikoff, Monsieur de Vaugondy pretends that the instruments and

pendulums, which he made use of at Kamtchatka, were much damaged by the

length of the journey; and that the person who was sent to repair them

was an unskilful workman. But this opinion seems to have been advanced

without sufficient foundation. Indeed Krassilnikoff[133] himself allows

that his pendulum occasionally stopt, even when necessary to ascertain

the true time of the observation. He admits therefore that the

observations which he took under these disadvantages (when he could not

correct them by preceding or subsequent observations of the sun or

stars) are not to be depended upon, and has accordingly distinguished

them by an asterisk; there are however a number of others, which were

not liable to any exception of this kind; and the observations already

mentioned in this number are comprised under this class.

[Footnote 133: Nov. Com. Pet. III. p. 444.]

* * * * *

If the arguments which have been already produced should not appear

sufficiently satisfactory, we have the further testimony of Mr. Muller,

who was in those parts at the same time with Krassilnikoff, and who is

the only competent judge of this matter now alive. For that respectable

author has given me the most positive assurances, that the instruments

were not damaged in such a manner as to effect the accuracy of the

observations when in the hands of a skilful observer.

[Sidenote: Accuracy of the Russian Geographers.] That the longitude of

Kamtchatka is laid down with sufficient accuracy by the Russian

geographers, will appear by comparing it with the longitude of Yakutsk;

for as the latter has been clearly established by a variety of

observations, taken at different times and by different persons, if

there is any error in placing Kamtchatka so far to the East, it will be

found in the longitude between Yakutsk and Bolcheresk. A short

comparison therefore of some of the different observations made at

Yakutsk will help to settle the longitude of Kamtchatka, and will still

farther confirm the character of a skilful observer, which has been

given to Krassilnikoff.

Krassilnikoff in returning from Kamtchatka observed at Yakutsk several

eclipses of the satellites of Jupiter, of which the following are

mentioned by him as the most exact.

1744, Old Style.

h ´ ´´

[134]Feb. 7. Imm. I. Sat. 11 18 35 somewhat doubtful.

22. Imm. II. Sat. 10 31 11}

29. Imm. II. Sat. 13 6 54}

Mar. 1. Imm. I. Sat. 11 23 0} all exact.

Apr. 9. Em. I. Sat. 12 23 50}

[Footnote 134: Nov. Comm. Petr. T. III. p. 460.]

The same eclipses, as calculated by the tables of Mr. Wargentin, for the

meridian of Paris, are as follow:

h ´ ´´ h ´ ´´

Feb. 7. Imm. I. 2 49 0 Difference of 8 29 35

27. Imm. I. 12 3 10 the meridians 8 21 1

29. Imm. II. 4 38 17 of Paris-- 8 28 37

Mar. 1. Imm. I. 3 3 37 and Yakutsk 8 29 23

Apr. 9. Em. I. 3 54 12 8 29 46

----------

The mean of which is 8 29 5

----------

The observations of Mr. Islenieff[135], made at Yakutsk in the year

1769, to which place he was sent to observe the transit of Venus, have

received the sanction of the Imperial Academy. The longitude which he

fixes for Yakutsk is 8^h 29´ 34´´. this corresponds, to a sufficient

degree of exactness, with the longitude inferred from, the observations

of Krassilnikoff.

[Footnote 135: For Islenieff's observations at Yakutsk, see

Nov. Com. Tom. XIV. Part III. p. 268 to 321.]

Thus the longitude of Yakutsk from Paris being 8^h 29° 4´´. or in

degrees 127 16 0. and of Bolcheresk 10 17 17, or in degrees 150° 19´ 15.

the difference of the longitude of these two places, from astronomical

observations, amounts to 1 48 8. or in degrees 27° 3´ 0. The latitude of

Bolcheresk is 52° 55´ 0´´. and that of Yakutsk 62° 1´ 50´´. and the

difference of their longitudes being from the preceding determination

27 3 0. the direct distance between the places measured on a great

circle of the earth will appear by trigonometry to be 16° 57´. or about

1773 versts reckoning 104-1/2 versts to a degree. This distance consists

partly of sea, and partly of land; and a constant intercourse is kept up

between the two places, by means of Ochotsk, which lies between them.

The distance by sea from Bolcheresk to Ochotsk is estimated by ships

reckonings to be 1254 versts, and the distance by land from Ochotsk to

Yakutsk is 927 versts, making altogether 2181. The direct distance

deduced by trigonometry, (on a supposition that the difference of

longitude between Bolcheresk and Yakutsk is 27° 3´.) is 1773, falling

short of 2181 by 408. a difference naturally to be expected from

considering, that neither roads by land, or the course of ships at sea,

are ever performed precisely on a great circle of the earth, which is

the shortest line that can be drawn on the earth's surface between two

places.

By this agreement between the distance thus estimated, and that deduced

by computation, on supposing the difference of longitude between Yakutsk

and Bolcheresk to be 27° 3´. it seems very improbable, that there should

be an error of many degrees in the astronomical determination.

Since then the longitude between Fero and Petersburgh is acknowledged to

be 48°--that between Petersburgh and Yakutsk 99° 21´--and as the

distance in longitude between Yakutsk and Bolcheresk cannot be

materially less than 27° 3´. it follows that the longitude of Bolcheresk

from Fero cannot be much less than 174° 24´. Where then shall we find

place for so great an error as 27 degrees, which, according to Mr.

Engel, or even of 11°. which, according to Mons. Vaugondy, is imputed to

the Russian geographers, in fixing the longitude of Kamtchatka?

From the isle of Fero

Longitude of Yakutsk 147 0 0

of Ochotsk 160 7 0

of Bolcheresk 174 13 0

of the Port of St. Peter and Paul 176 10 0

[Sidenote: Longitude of the extreme parts of Asia determined by the

Russians.] As no astronomical observations have been made further to the

East than the Port of St. Peter and Paul, it is impossible to fix, with

any degree of certainty, the longitude of the North-Eastern promontory

of Asia. It appears however from Beering's and Synd's coasting voyages

towards Tschukotskoi Noss, and from other expeditions to the parts by

land and sea, that the coast of Asia in lat. 64. stretches at least 23°

2 30. from the Port, or to about 200° longitude from the Isle of Fero.

N^o III.

Summary of the proofs tending to shew, that _Beering_ and _Tschirikoff_

either reached _America_ in 1741, or came very near it.

The coast which Beering reached, and called Cape St. Elias, lay,

according to his estimation, in 58°. 28´. N. latitude, and in longitude

236°. from Fero: the coast touched at by Tschirikoff was situated in

lat. 56°. long. 241°[136].

[Footnote 136: The reader will find the narrative of this

voyage made by Beering and Tschirikoff in Muller's account of

the Russian Discoveries, S. R. G. III. 193, &c.]

[Sidenote: Arguments advanced by Steller to prove that Beering and

Tschirikoff discovered America.] Steller, who accompanied Beering in his

expedition towards America, endeavours to prove, that they discovered

that continent by the following arguments[137]: The coasts were bold,

presenting continued chains of high mountains, some of which were so

elevated, that their tops were covered with snow, their sides were

cloathed from the bottom to the top with large tracts of thick and fine

wood[138].

[Footnote 137: See Krashininikoff's account of Kamtchatka,

Chap. X. French Translation; Chap. IV. English translation.]

[Footnote 138: The recent navigations in those seas strongly

confirm this argument. For in general all the new discovered

islands are quite destitute of trees; even the largest

produce nothing but underwood, one of the most Easterly

Kadyak alone excepted, upon which small willows and alders

were observed growing in vallies at some distance from the

coast. See p. 118.]

Steller went ashore, where he remained only a few hours; during which

time he observed several species of birds which are not known in

Siberia: amongst these was the bird described by [139]Catesby, under the

name of Blue Jay; and which has never yet been found in any country but

North America. The soil was very different from that of the neighbouring

islands, and at Kamtchatka: and he collected several plants, which are

deemed by botanists peculiar to America.

[Footnote 139: See Catesby's Natural History of Florida,

Carolina, &c. This bird is called by Linnæus Corbus

Cristatus. I have seen, in Mr. Pennant's MS account of the

history of the animals, birds, &c. of N. America, and the

Northern hemisphere, as high as lat. 60, an exact description

of this bird. Whenever that ingenious author, to whom we are

indebted for many elegant and interesting publications, gives

this part of his labours to the world, the zoology of these

countries will be fully and accurately considered.]

The following list of these plants was communicated to me by Mr. Pallas:

I insert them however without presuming to decide, whether they are the

exclusive growth of North America: the determination of this point is

the province of botany.

Trillium Erectum.

Fumaria Cucullaria.

A species of Dracontium, with leaves like the Canna Indica.

Uvularia Perfoliata.

Heuchera Americana.

Mimulus Luteus, a Peruvian plant.

A species of Rubus, probably a variety of the Rubus Idæus, but with

larger berries, and a large laciniated red calyx.

None of these plants are found in Kamtchatka, or in any of the

neighbouring islands[140].

[Footnote 140: According to Mr. Pallas, the plants of the

new-discovered islands are mostly alpine, like those of

Siberia; this he attributes to the shortness and coldness of

the summer, occasioned by the frequency of the North winds.

His words are: "Quoique les hivres de ces isles soient assez

temperés par l'air de la mer, de façon que les neiges ne

couvrent jamais la terre que par intervalles, la plupart des

plantes y sont alpines, comme en Siberie, par la raison que

l'eté y est tout aussi courte et froide, a cause des vents de

nord qui y regnent." This passage is taken from a MS treatise

in the French language, relative to the new-discovered

islands communicated to me by my very learned and ingenious

friend Mr. Pallas, professor of natural history at St.

Petersburg; from which I have been enabled to collect a

considerable degree of information. This treatise was sent to

Mons. Buffon; and that celebrated naturalist has made great

use of it in the fifth volume of his Supplement à l'Histoire

Naturelle.]

Though these circumstances should not be considered as affording

decisive proofs, that Beering reached America; yet they will surely be

admitted as strong presumptions, that he very nearly approached that

continent[141].

[Footnote 141: The reader will recollect in this place, that

the natives of the contiguous islands touched at by Beering

and Tschirikoff "presented to the Russians the calumet, or

pipe of peace, which is a symbol of friendship universal

among the people of North America, and an usage of arbitrary

institution peculiar to them." See Robertson's Hist. Am. vol.

I. p. 276. S. R. G. III. p. 214.]

N^o IV.

List of the principal charts representing the Russian discoveries.

The following is an authentic list of the principal charts of the

Russian discoveries hitherto published. It is accompanied with a few

explanatory remarks.

[Sidenote: List of the Charts of the Russian Discoveries]. 1. Carte des

nouvelles dècouvertes au nord de la mer du sud, tant à l'Est de la

Siberie et du Kamtchatka, qu'à l'Ouest de la Nouvelle France dressé sur

les memoires de Mr. de l'Isle, par Philippe Buache, 1750. A memoir

relative to this chart was soon afterwards published, with the following

title, Explication de la carte des nouvelles dècouvertes au Nord de la

mer du sud par Mr. de l'Isle Paris, 1752, 4to.

This map is alluded to, p. 26 of this work.

2. Carte des nouvelles dècouvertes entre la partie orientale de l'Asie

et l'Occidentale de l'Amerique, avec des vues sur la grande terre

réconnue, par les Russes, en 1741, par Phil. Buache, 1752.

3. Nouvelle carte des dècouvertes faites par des vaisseaux Russiens aux

cotés inconnus de l'Amerique septentrionale avec les pais adjacens,

dressés sur les memoires authentiques de ceux qui ont assisté à ces

dècouvertes, et sur d'autres connoissances; dont on rend raison dans un

memoire separé: à St. Petersburg, à l'Academie Imperiale des Sciences,

1754. 1758.

This map was published under the inspection of Mr. Muller, and is still

prefixed to his account of the Russian discoveries[142]. The part which

exhibits the new discovered isles and the coast of America, was chiefly

taken from the chart of Beering's expedition. Accordingly that continent

is represented as advancing, between 50 and 60 degrees of latitude, to

within a small distance of Kamtchatka. Nor could there be any reason to

suspect, that such experienced sailors as Beering and Tschirikoff had

mistaken a chain of islands for promontories belonging to America, until

subsequent navigators had actually sailed through that very part, which

was supposed to be a continent.

[Footnote 142: This map was published by Jefferys under the

following title: "A Map of the Discoveries made by the

Russians on the North West coast of America, published by the

Royal Academy of Sciences at Petersburg. Republished by

Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to his Majesty, 1761."]

4. A second chart published by the Academy, but not under the inspection

of Mr. Muller, bears the same title as the former.

Nouvelle carte des dècouvertes faites par des vaisseaux Russiens aut

côtés inconnus de l'Amerique, &c. 1773.

It is for the most part a copy of a manuscript chart known in Russia by

the name of the chart of the Promyshlenics, or merchant adventurers, and

which was sketched from the mere reports of persons who had sailed to

the New Discovered Islands. As to the size and position of the New

Discovered Islands, this chart of the Academy is extremely erroneous: it

is however free from the above-mentioned mistake, which runs through all

the former charts, namely, the representing of the coast of America,

between 50 and 60 degrees of latitude, as contiguous to Kamtchatka. It

likewise removes that part of the same continent lying in latitude 66,

from 210° longitude to 224°, and in its stead lays down a large island,

which stretches between latitude 64° and 71° 30´, from 207° longitude to

218°, to within a small distance of both continents. But whether this

latter alteration be equally justifiable or not, is a question, the

decision of which must be left to future navigators[143].

[Footnote 143: Mr. Muller has long ago acknowledged, in the

most candid and public manner, the incorrectness of the

former chart, as far as it relates to the part which

represents America, as contiguous to Kamtchatka: but he still

maintains his opinion concerning the actual vicinity of the

two continents in an higher latitude. The following quotation

is taken from a letter written by Mr. Muller, in 1774, of

which I have a copy in my possession. "Posterity must judge

if the new chart of the Academy is to be preferred to the

former one for removing the continent of America (which is

represented as lying near the coast of Tschutski) to a

greater distance. Synd, who is more to be trusted than the

Promyschlenics, persists in the old system. He places America

as near as before to Tschukotskoi Noss, but knows nothing of

a large island called Alashka, which takes up the place of

the continent, and which ought to be laid down much more to

the South or South East."]

5. Carte du nouvel Archipel du Nord decouvert parles Russes dans la mer

de Kamtchatka et d'Anadir.

This chart is prefixed to Mr. Stæhlin's account of the New Northern

Archipelago. In the English translation it is called, A Map of the New

Northern Archipelago, discovered by the Russians in the seas of

Kamtchatka and Anadyr. It differs from the last mentioned chart only in

the size and position of a few of the islands, and in the addition of

five or six new ones, and is equally incorrect. The New Discovered

Islands are classed in this chart into three groups, which are called

the Isles of Anadyr[144], the Olutorian[145] Isles, and the Aleütian

Isles. The two last mentioned charts are alluded to, p. 26 of this work.

[Footnote 144: Monsieur Buffon has adopted the apellation and

erroneous representation of the isles of Anadyr, in his Carte

de deux regions Polaires, lately published. See Supplement à

l'Hist. Nat. vol. V. p. 615.]

[Footnote 145: The Olotorian Isles are so named from the

small river of Olotora, which flows into the sea at

Kamtchatka, about latitude 61°. The following remarks upon

this group of islands are taken from a letter of Mr. Muller

mentioned in the last note. "This appellation of Olutorian

Isles is not in use at Kamtchatka. These islands, called upon

this chart Olutorians, lie according to the chart of the

Promyschlenics, and the chart of the Academy, very remote

from the river Olutora: and it seems as if they were advanced

upon this chart nearer to Kamtchatka only in favour of the

name. They cannot be situated so near that coast, because

they were neither seen by Beering in 1728, nor by the

Promyschlenics, Novikoff and Bacchoff, when they sailed in

1748 from the Anadyr to Beering's Island." See p. 42.]

6. An excellent map of the Empire of Russia, published by the

geographical department of the Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg in

1776, comprehends the greatest part of the New Discovered Islands. A

reduced copy of this chart being prefixed to this work, I shall only

mention the authorities from whence the compilers have laid down the New

Discovered Islands. The Aleütian Isles are partly taken from Beering's

chart, partly from [146]Otcheredin's, whose voyage is related in the

eleventh chapter, and partly from other MS. charts of different

navigators. The islands near the coast of the Tschutski are copied from

Synd's chart. The Fox Islands are laid down from the chart of

Otcheredin. The reader will perceive, that the position of the Fox

Islands, upon this general map of Russia, is materially different from

that assigned to them in the chart of Krenitzin's and Levasheff's

voyage. In the former they are represented as stretching between 56° 61´

North latitude, and 210° and 230° longitude from the isle of Fero: in

the latter they are situated between 51° 40´ and 55° 20´ latitude, and

199° 30´ and 207° 30´ longitude. According to the most recent accounts

received from Petersburg, the position given to them upon this general

map is considerably too much to the North and East; consequently that

assigned to them upon Krenitzin's chart is probably the most to be

depended upon.

[Footnote 146: I have a MS. copy of Otcheredin's chart in my

possession; but as the Fox Islands, in the general Map of

Russia, are copied from thence, the reader will find them

laid down upon the reduced map prefixed to this work. The

anonymous author of the account of the Russian Discoveries,

of whose work I have given a translation in Part I. seems to

have followed, in most particulars, Otcheredin's chart and

journal for the longitude, latitude, size, and position of

the New Discovered Islands. For this reason, I should have

had his chart engraved if the Fox Islands upon the general

map had not been taken from thence: there seemed no occasion

therefore for increasing the expence of this work, already

too great from the number of charts, by the addition of

another not absolutely necessary.]

7. Carte des dècouvertes Russes dans la mer orientale et en Amerique,

pour servir à l'Essai[147] sur le commerce de Russie, 1778, Amsterdam.

It is natural to expect, that a chart so recently published should be

superior to all the preceding ones; whereas, on the contrary, it is by

far the most incorrect representation of the New Discovered Islands

which has yet appeared.

[Footnote 147: The twelfth chapter of this Essay relates to

the discoveries and commerce of the Russians in the Eastern

Ocean. The account of the Russian discoveries is a

translation of Mr. Stæhlin's Description of the New Northern

Archipelago. In addition, he has subjoined an account of

Kamtchatka, and a short sketch of the Russian commerce to the

New Discovered Islands, and to America. If we may believe the

author of this Essay, the Russians have not only discovered

America, but they also every year form occasional settlements

upon that continent, similar to those of the Europeans in

Newfoundland. His words are: "Il est donc certain, que les

Russes ont dècouvert le continent de l'Amérique; mais on peut

assurer qu'ils n'y ont encore aucun port, aucun comptoir. Il

en est des établissements de cette nation dans la grande

terre, comme de ceux des nations Européennes dans l'isle de

Terre Neve. Ses vaisseaux ou frégates arrivent en Amèrique;

leurs equipages et les Cosaques chasseurs s'etablissent sur

la côte; les uns se retranchent, et les autres y font la

chasse et la pêche du chien marin et du narval. Ils

reviennent ensuite au Kamtchatka, après avoir été relevès par

d'autres frégates sur les mêmes parages, ou à des distances

plus ou moins eloignés, &c. &c." See Essai sur le commerce de

la Russie, p. 292-293. Thus the publick is imposed upon by

fictitious and exaggerated accounts.]

N^o V.

Position of the _Andreanoffsky Isles_ ascertained--Number of the

_Aleütian Isles_.

[Sidenote: Position of the Andreanoffsky Isles.] When the anonymous

author published his account of the Russian Discoveries in 1766, the

position of the Andreanoffsky Isles was not ascertained. It was

generally supposed, that they formed part of that cluster of islands,

which Synd[148] fell in with in his voyage towards Tschukotskoi Noss;

and Buffon[149] represents them to be the same with those laid down in

Stæhlin's chart, under the name of Anadirsky Isles. The anonymous author

in the passage here referred to, supposes them to be N. E. of the

Aleütian Isles; "at the distance of 600 or 800 versts; that their

direction is probably East and West, and that some of them may unite

with that part of the Fox Islands which are most contiguous to the

opposite continent." This conjecture was advanced upon a supposition

that the Andreanoffsky Isles lay near the coast of the Tschutski; and

that some of the Fox Islands were situated in latitude 61, as they are

laid down upon the general map of Russia. But according to subsequent

information, the Andreanoffsky Isles lie between the Aleütian and the

Fox Islands, and complete the connection between Kamtchatka and

America[150]. Their chain is supposed to begin in about latitude 53,

near the most Easterly of the Aleütian Isles, and to extend in a

scattered series towards the Fox Islands. The most North Easterly of

these islands are said to be so near the most Southerly of the Fox

Islands, that they seem occasionally to have been taken for them. An

instance of this occurs in p. 61 and 62 of this work; where Atchu and

Amlach are reckoned among the Fox Islands. It is however more probable,

that they are part of the group called by the Aleütian chief Negho[151],

and known to the Russians under the name of Andreanoffsky Islands,

because they were supposed to have been first discovered by Andrean

Tolstyk, whose voyage is related in the seventh chapter of the First

Part.

[Footnote 148: See N^o IX. of this Appendix.]

[Footnote 149: Isles Anadyr ou Andrien. Supp. vol. V. p.

591.]

[Footnote 150: P. 58. Some of the remoter islands are said to

be E. S. E. of the Aleütian Isles; these must be either part

of the Andreanoffsky Isles, or the most Southerly of the Fox

Islands.]

[Footnote 151: See N^o VIII. of this Appendix.]

[Sidenote: Number of the Aleütian Isles.] I take this opportunity of

adding, that the anonymous author, in describing the Aleütian Isles,

both in the first and last chapter of the account of the Russian

discoveries, mentions only three; namely, Attak, Semitshi, Shemiya. But

the Aleütian Isles consist of a much larger number; and their chain

includes all the islands comprehended by the islander in the two groups

of Khao and Sasignan[152]. Many of them are laid down upon the general

map of Russia; and some of them are occasionally alluded to in the

journals of the Russian voyages[153].

[Footnote 152: See N^o VIII.]

[Footnote 153: See p. 30, and particularly p. 46, where some

of these islands are mentioned under the names of Ibiya,

Kiska, and Olas.]

N^o VI.

Conjectures concerning the proximity of the _Fox Islands_ to the

continent of _America_.

The anonymous author, in the course of his account of the Russian

discoveries, has advanced many proofs drawn from natural history, from

which he supposes the Fox Islands to be at a small distance from the

continent of America: hence he grounds his conjecture, that "the time is

not far distant when some of the Russian navigators will fall in with

that coast."

[Sidenote: Proofs of the Vicinity of the Fox Islands to America.] The

small willows and alders which, according to Glottoff, were found

growing upon Kadyak, do not appear to have been sufficient either in

size or quantity to ascertain, with any degree of certainty, the close

vicinity of that island to America. River-otters, wolves, bears, and

wild boars, which were observed upon the same island, will perhaps be

thought to afford a stronger presumption in favour of a neighbouring

continent; martens were also caught there, an animal which is not known

in the Eastern ports of Siberia, nor found upon any of the other

islands. All the above mentioned animals, martens alone excepted, were

seen upon Alaksu, which is situated more to the North East than Kadyak,

and also rein-deers and wild dogs. To these proofs drawn from natural

history, we must add the reports of a mountainous country covered with

forests, and of a great promontory called Atachtak, lying still more to

the N. E. which were prevalent among the inhabitants of Alaksu and

Kadyak.

Although these circumstances have been already mentioned[154], yet I

have thought proper to recapitulate them here, in order to lay before

the reader in one point of view the several proofs advanced by the

anonymous author, which seem to shew, that the Fox Islands are situated

near America. Many of them afford, beyond a doubt, evident signs of a

less open sea; and give certain marks of a nearer approach towards the

opposite continent. But how far that distance may be supposed, must be

left to the judgment of the reader; and remains to be ascertained by

subsequent navigators. All that we know for certain, is, that as far as

any Russian vessels have hitherto sailed, a chain of islands has been

discovered lying E. or N. E. by E. from Kamtchatka, and stretching

towards America. Part of this chain has only been touched at; the rest

is unknown; and all beyond is uncertainty and conjecture.

[Footnote 154: See p. 68 and 69-116-118-170.]

N° VII.

_Of the Tschutski--Reports of the vicinity of_ America _to their coast,

first propagated by them, seem to be confirmed by late accounts from

those parts._

[Sidenote: The Tschutski.] The Tschutski, it is well known, inhabit the

North Eastern part of Siberia; their country is a small tract of land,

bounded on the North by the Frozen Sea, on the East by the Eastern

Ocean; on the South it borders upon river Anadyr, and on that of Kovyma

to the West. The N. E. cape of this country is called Tschukotskoi-Noss,

or the promontory of the Tschutski. Its inhabitants are the only people

of Siberia who have not yet been subdued by the Russians.

The anonymous author agrees with Mr. Muller in supposing, that America

advances to within a small distance of the coast of the Tschutski; which

he says "is confirmed by the latest accounts procured from these parts."

The first intelligence concerning the supposed vicinity between Asia and

America was derived from the reports of the Tschutski in their

intercourse with the Russians. Vague and uncertain accounts, drawn from

a barbarous people, cannot deserve implicit credit; but as they have

been uniformly and invariably propagated by the inhabitants of those

regions from the middle of the last century to the present time, they

must merit at least the attention of every curious enquirer.

[Sidenote: The Reports concerning the Proximity of America to their

Coast.] These reports were first related in Muller's account of the

Russian discoveries, and have been lately thought worthy of notice by

Dr. Robertson[155], in his history of America. Their probability seems

still further increased by the following circumstances. One Plenisner, a

native of Courland, was appointed commander of Ochotsk, in the year

1760, with an express order from the court to proceed as far as [156]

Anadirsk, and to procure all possible intelligence concerning the North

Eastern part of Siberia, and the opposite continent. In consequence of

this order Plenisner repaired to Anadirsk, and proceeded likewise to

Kovimskoi Ostrog: the former of these Russian settlements is situated

near the Southern; the latter near the Western limits of the Tschutski.

Not content however with collecting all the information in his power

from the neighbouring Koriacs, who have frequent intercourse with the

Tschutski; he also sent one Daurkin into their country. This person was

a native Tschutski, who had been taken prisoner, and bred up by the

Russians: he continued two years with his countrymen, and made several

expeditions with them to the neighbouring islands, which lie off the

Eastern coast of Siberia.

[Footnote 155: Hist. of America, vol. I. p. 274-277.]

[Footnote 156: Anadirsk has been lately destroyed by the

Russians themselves.]

The sum of the intelligence brought back by this Daurkin was as follows:

that Tschukotskoi-Noss is a very narrow peninsula; that the Tschutski

carry on a trade of barter with the inhabitants of America; that they

employ six days in passing the strait which separates the two

continents: they direct their course from island to island, and the

distance from the one to the other is so small, that they are able to

pass every night ashore. More to the North he describes the two

continents as approaching still nearer to each other, with only two

islands lying between them.

This intelligence remarkably coincided with the accounts collected by

Plenisner himself among the Koriacs. Plenisner returned to Petersburg in

1776, and brought with him several [157]maps and charts of the North

Eastern parts of Siberia, which were afterwards made use of in the

compilation of the general map of Russia, published by the academy in

1776[158]. By these means the country of the Tschutski has been laid

down with a greater degree of accuracy than heretofore. These are

probably the late accounts from those parts which the anonymous author

alludes to.

[Footnote 157: The most important of these maps comprehends

the country of the Tschutski, together with the nations which

border immediately upon them. This map was chiefly taken

during a second expedition made by major Pauloffsky against

the Tschutski; and his march into that country is traced upon

it. The first expedition of that Russian officer, in which he

penetrated as far as Tschukotskoi-Noss, is related by Mr.

Muller, S. R. G. III. p. 134--138. We have no account of this

second expedition, during which he had several skirmishes

with the Tschutski, and came off victorious; but upon his

return was surprised and killed by them. This expedition was

made about the year 1750.]

[Footnote 158: This detail I procured during my continuance

at Petersburg from several persons of credit, who had

frequently conversed with Plenisner since his return to the

capital, where he died in the latter end of the year 1778.]

N^o VIII.

List of the new-discovered Islands, procured from an _Aleütian_

chief--Catalogue of islands called by different names in the Account of

the _Russian_ Discoveries.

[Sidenote: Mr. Muller divides the new-discovered Islands into four

Groups.] The subsequent list of the new-discovered islands was procured

from an Aleütian chief brought to Petersburg in 1771, and examined at

the desire of the Empress by Mr. Muller, who divides them into four

principal groups. He regulates this division partly by a similarity of

the language spoken by the inhabitants, and partly by vicinity of

situation.

[Sidenote: First Group, called Sasignan.] The first group[159], called

by the islander Sasignan, comprehends, 1. Beering's Island. 2. Copper

Island. 3. Otma. 4. Samya, or Shemiya. 5. Anakta.

[Footnote 159: These two first groups probably belong to the

Aleütian Isles.]

[Sidenote: Khao, the second Group.] The second group is called Khao, and

comprises eight islands: 1. Immak. 2. Kiska. 3. Tchetchina. 4. Ava. 5.

Kavia. 6. Tschagulak. 7. Ulagama. 8. Amtschidga.

[Sidenote: Negho, the third Group.] The third general name is Negho, and

comprehends the islands known by the Russians under the name of

Andreanoffskye Ostrova: Sixteen were mentioned by the islander, under

the following names:

1. Amatkinak. 2. Ulak. 3. Unalga. 4. Navotsha. 5. Uliga. 6. Anagin. 7.

Kagulak. 8. Illask, or Illak. 9. Takavanga, upon which is a volcano. 10.

Kanaga, which has also a volcano. 11. Leg. 12. Shetshuna. 13. Tagaloon:

near the coasts of the three last mentioned islands several small rocky

isles are situated. 14. An island without a name, called by the Russians

Goreloi[160]. 15. Atchu. 16. Amla.

[Footnote 160: Goreloi is supposed by the Russian navigators

to be the same island as Atchu, and is reckoned by them among

the Fox Islands. See part I. p. 61. and N^o V. of this

appendix.]

[Sidenote: Kavalang, the fourth Group.] The fourth group is denominated

Kavalang; and comprehends sixteen islands: these are called by the

Russians Lyssie Ostrova, or the Fox Islands.

1. Amuchta. 2. Tschigama. 3. Tschegula. 4. Unistra. 5. Ulaga. 6.

Tana-gulana. 7. Kagamin. 8. Kigalga. 9. Schelmaga. 10. Umnak. 11.

Aghun-Alashka. 12. Unimga. At a small distance from Unimga, towards the

North, stretches a promontory called by the islanders the Land of Black

Foxes, with a small river called Alashka, which empties itself opposite

to the last-mentioned island into a gulf proper for a haven. The extent

of this land is not known. To the South East of this promontory lie four

little islands. 13. Uligan. 14. Antun-dussume. 15. Semidit. 16. Senagak.

[Sidenote: Islands called by different Names in the Russian Journals.]

Many of these names are neither found in the journals or charts; while

others are wanting in this list which are mentioned in both journals and

charts. Nor is this to be wondered at; for the names of the islands have

been certainly altered and corrupted by the Russian navigators.

Sometimes the same name has been applied to different islands by the

different journalists; at other times the same island has been called by

different names. Several instances of these changes seem to occur in the

account of the Russian discoveries: namely,

Att, Attak, and Ataku.

Shemiya and Sabiya.

Atchu, Atchak, Atach, Goreloi or Burned Island.

Amlach, Amlak, Amleg.

Ayagh, Kayachu.

Alaksu, Alagshak, Alachshak.

Aghunalashka, Unalashka.

N^o IX.

Voyage of Lieutenant _Synd_ to the North East of _Siberia_--He

discovers a cluster of islands, and a promontory, which he supposes to

belong to the continent of _America_, lying near the coast of the

_Tschutski_.

In 1764 lieutenant Synd sailed from Ochotsk, upon a voyage of discovery

towards the continent of America. He was ordered to take a different

course from that held by the late Russian vessels, which lay due East

from the coast of Kamtchatka. As he steered therefore his course more to

the North East than any of the preceding navigators, and as it appears

from all the voyages related in the first part of this work[161], that

the vicinity of America is to be sought for in that quarter alone, any

accurate account of this expedition would not fail of being highly

interesting. It is therefore a great mortification to me, that, while I

raise the reader's curiosity, I am not able fully to satisfy it. The

following intelligence concerning this voyage is all which I was able to

procure. It is accompanied with an authentic chart.

[Footnote 161: See p. 27.]

[Illustration: CHART of SYND's _VOYAGE toward Tschukotskoi Noss_.]

In 1764 Synd put to sea from the port of Ochotsk, but did not pass (we

know not by what accident) the southern Cape of Kamtchatka and Shushu,

the first Kuril Isle, before 1766. He then steered his course North at

no great distance from the coast of the Peninsula, but made very little

progress that year, for he wintered South of the river Uka.

The following year he sailed from Ukinski Point due East and North East,

until he fell in with a cluster of islands[162] stretching between 61

and 62 degrees of latitude, and 195° and 202° longitude. These islands

lie South East and East of the coast of the Tschutski; and several of

them are situated very near the shore. Besides these small islands, he

discovered also a mountainous coast lying within one degree of the coast

of the Tschutski, between 64 and 66 North latitude; its most Western

extremity was situated in longitude 38° 15´ from Ochotsk, or 199° 1´

from Fero. This island is laid down in his chart as part of the

continent of America; but we cannot determine upon what proofs he

grounds this representation, until a more circumstantial account of his

voyage is communicated to the public. Synd seems to have made but a

short stay ashore. Instead of endeavouring to survey its coasts, or of

steering more to the East, he almost instantly shaped his course due

West towards the course of the Tschutski, then turned directly South and

South West, until he came opposite to Chatyrskoi Noss. From that point

he continued to coast the peninsula of Kamtchatka, doubled the cape, and

reached Ochotsk in 1768.

[Footnote 162: These are certainly some of the islands which

the Tschutski resort to in their way to what they call the

continent of America.]

N^o X.

Specimen of the Aleütian language.

Sun Agaiya

Moon Tughilag

Wind Katshik

Water Tana

Fire Kighenag

Earth hut Oollae

Chief Toigon

Man Taiyaga

Wood Yaga

Shield Kuyak

Sea otter Tscholota

Name of the nation. Kanagist.

One Tagatak

Two Alag

Three Kankoos

Four Setschi

Five Tshaw

Six Atoo

Seven Ooloo

Eight Kapoé

Nine Shiset

Ten. Asok.

It is very remarkable, that none of these words bear the least

resemblance to those of the same signification, which are found in the

different dialects spoken by the Koriaks, Kamtchadals, and the

inhabitants of the Kuril Isles.

N^o XI.

Attempts of the _Russians_ to discover a North East passage--Voyages

from _Archangel_ towards the _Lena_--From the _Lena_ towards

_Kamtchatka_--Extract from _Muller's_ account of _Deschneff's_ voyage

round _Tschukotskoi Noss_--Narrative of a voyage made by _Shalauroff_

from the _Lena_ to _Shelatskoi Noss_.

The only communication hitherto known between the Atlantic and Pacific

Oceans, or between Europe and the East Indies, is made either by sailing

round the Cape of Good Hope, or by doubling Cape Horn. But as both these

navigations are very long and dangerous, the great object of several

late European voyages has been turned towards the discovery of a North

East or a North West passage. As this work is entirely confined to the

Russian navigations, any disquisition concerning the North West passage

is totally foreign to the purpose; and for the same reason in what

relates to the North East, these researches extend only to the attempts

of the Russians for the discovery of that passage.

The advocates for the North East passage have divided that navigation

into three principal parts; and by endeavouring to shew that these three

parts have been passed at different times, they conclude from thence,

that the whole when taken collectively is practicable.

These three parts are, 1. from Archangel to the Lena; 2. from the Lena

to Kamtchatka; 3. from Kamtchatka to Japan. With respect to the latter,

the connection between the seas of Kamtchatka and Japan first appeared

from some Japanese vessels, which were wrecked upon the coast of

Kamtchatka in the beginning of this century; and this communication has

been unquestionably proved from several voyages made by the Russians

from Kamtchatka to Japan[163].

[Footnote 163: S. R. G. III. p. 78, and p. 166, &c.]

No one ever asserted that the first part from Archangel to the Lena was

ever performed in one voyage; but several persons having advanced that

this navigation has been made by the Russians at different times, it

becomes necessary to examine the accounts of the Russian voyages in

those seas.

[Sidenote: Voyages from Archangel to the Yenisèi.] In 1734 lieutenant

Morovieff sailed from Archangel toward the river Oby; and got no farther

the first year than the mouth of the Petchora. The next summer he passed

through the straits ef Weygatz into the sea of Kara; and coasted along

the Eastern side of that sea, as high as latitude 72° 30´, but did not

double the promontory which separates the sea of Kara from the Bay of

Oby. In 1738, the lieutenants Malgyin and Skurakoff doubled that

promontory with great difficulty, and entered the bay of Oby. During

these expeditions the navigators met with great dangers and impediments

from the ice. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to pass from the

bay of Oby to the Yenisèi, which was at last effected, in 1738, by two

vessels commanded by lieutenants Offzin and Koskeleff. [Sidenote:

Unsuccessful Attempt to pass from the Yenisèi to the Lena.] The same

year the pilot Feodor Menin sailed from the Yenisèi rowards the Lena: he

steered North as high as lat. 73°. 15´. and when he came to the mouth of

the Piasida he was stopped by the ice; and finding it impossible to

force a passage, he returned to the Yenisèi[164].

[Footnote 164: P. 145 to 149.]

[Sidenote: Voyage of Prontshistsheff from the Lena towards the Yenisèi.]

July, 1735, lieutenant Prontshistsheff sailed from Yakutsk up the Lena

to its mouth, in order to pass from thence by sea to the Yenisèi. The

Western mouths of the Lena were so choaked up with ice, that he was

obliged to pass through the most Easterly one; and was prevented by

contrary winds from getting out until the 13th of August. Having steered

North West along the islands which lie scattered before the mouths of

the Lena, he found himself in lat. 70° 4´. He saw much ice to the North

and North East; and observed ice-mountains from twenty-four to sixty

feet in height. He steered betwixt the ice, which in no place left a

free channel of greater breadth than an hundred or two hundred yards.

The vessel being much damaged, on the 1st of September he ran up the

mouth of the Olenek, which, according to his estimation, lies in 72°

30´, near which place he passed the winter[165].

[Footnote 165: Gmelin Reise, II. 425 to 427.]

He got out of the Olenek the beginning of August in the following year;

and arrived on the third at the mouth of the Anabara, which he found to

lie in lat. 73° 1´. There he continued until the 10th, while some of the

crew went up the country in search of some mines. On the 10th he

proceeded on his voyage: before he reached the mouth of the Chatanga he

was so entirely surrounded and hemmed in with ice, that it was not

without great difficulty and danger he was able to get loose. He then

observed a large field of ice stretching into the sea, on which account

he was obliged to continue near the shore, and to run up the Chatanga.

The mouth of this river was in lat 74° 9´. From thence he bent his

course mostly Northward along the shore, until he reached the mouth of

the Taimura on the 18th. He then proceeded further, and followed the

coast towards the Piasida. Near the shore were several small islands,

between which and the land the ice was immovably fixed. He then directed

his course toward the sea, in order to pass round the chain of islands.

At first he found the sea more free to the North of the islands, while

he observed much ice lying between them. He came at length to the last

island, situated in lat. 77° 25´. Between this island and the shore, as

well as on the other side of the island which lay most to the North, the

ice was firm and immovable. [Sidenote: Prevented by a Chain of Islands

and the Ice from getting to the Yenisèi] He attempted however to steer

still more to the North; and having advanced about six miles, he was

prevented by a thick fog from proceeding: this fog being dispersed, he

saw on each side, and before him, nothing but ice; that towards the sea

was not fixed; but the accumulated masses were all so close, that the

smallest vessel could not have worked its way through. Still attempting

however to pass to the North; he was forced by the ice N. E.

Apprehensive of being hemmed in, he returned to the Taimura; and from

thence got, with much difficulty and danger, to the Olenek, on the 29th

of August.

This narrative of Prontshistsheff's expedition is extracted from the

account of professor[166] Gmelin: according to Mr. Muller[167], who has

given a cursory relation of the same voyage, Prontshistsheff did not

quite reach the mouth of the Taimura; for he there found the chain of

islands stretching from the continent far into the sea. The channels

between the islands were so choaked up with ice, that it was impossible

to force a passage: after steering as high as lat. 77° 25´, he found

such a plain of fixed ice before him, that he had no prospect of getting

any farther. Accordingly he returned to the Olenek.

[Footnote 166: Gmelin Reise, vol. II. p. 427 to p. 434.]

[Footnote 167: S. R. G. III. p. 149, 150.]

Another attempt was made to pass from the Lena to the Yenisèi in 1739,

by Chariton Laptieff, with equal bad success; and he relates, that

between the rivers Piasida and Taimura, a promontory stretches into the

sea which he could not double, the sea being entirely frozen up before

he could pass round[168].

[Footnote 168: Gmelin Reise, p. 440. Mr. Muller says only,

that Laptieff met with the same obstacles which forced

Prontshistsheff to return. S. R. G. III. p. 150.]

[Sidenote: Cape between the Rivers Chatanga and Piasida never yet

doubled.] From all these circumstances we must collect, that the whole

space between Archangel and the Lena has never yet been navigated; for

in going East from the Yenisèi the Russians could get no farther than

the mouth of the Piasida; and, in coming West from the Lena, they were

stopped, according to Gmelin, North of the Piasida; and, according to

Muller, East of the Taimura.

The Russians, who sail almost annually from Archangel, and other towns,

to Nova Zemla, for the purpose of catching sea-horses, seals, and white

bears, make to the Western Coast; and no Russian vessel has ever passed

round its North Eastern extremity[169].

[Footnote 169: Although this work is confined to the Russian

Discoveries, yet as the N. E. passage is a subject of such

interesting curiosity, it might seem an omission in not

mentioning, that several English and Dutch vessels have

passed through the Straits of Weygatz into the sea of Kara;

they all met with great obstructions from the ice, and had

much difficulty in getting through. See Histoire Gen. Des

Voyages, tome XV. passim.

In 1696 Heemskirk and Barentz, after having sailed along the

Western coast of Nova Zemla, doubled the North Eastern cape

lying in latitude 77° 20, and got no lower along the Eastern

coast than 76°, where they wintered.

See an account of this remarkable voyage in Girard Le Ver's

Vraye Description De Trois Voyages De Mer, p. 13 to 45; and

Hist. Gen. des Voy. tom. XV. p. 111 to 139.

No vessel of any nation has ever passed round that Cape,

which extends to the North of the Piasida, and is laid down

in the Russian charts in about 78° latitude. We have already

seen that no Russian vessel has ever got from the Piasida to

the Chatanga, or from the Chatanga to the Piasida; and yet

some authors have positively asserted, that this promontory

has been sailed round. In order therefore to elude the

Russian accounts, which clearly assert the contrary, it is

pretended, that Gmelin and Muller have purposely concealed

some parts of the Russian journals, and have imposed upon the

world by a misrepresentation of facts. But without entering

into any dispute on this head, I can venture to affirm, that

no sufficient proof has been as yet advanced in support of

this assertion; and therefore until some positive information

shall be produced, we cannot deny plain facts, or give the

preference to hearsay evidence over circumstantial and well

attested accounts.

Mr. Engel has a remarkable passage in his Essai sur une route

par la Nord Est, which it may be proper to consider in this

place, because he asserts in the most positive manner, that

two Dutch vessels formerly passed three hundred leagues to

the North East of Nova Zemla; from thence he infers that they

must have doubled the above-mentioned Cape, which extends to

the North of the Piasida, and have got at least as far East

as the mouth of the Olenek. His words are L'Illustre Societé

Royale, sous l'an 1675, rapporte ce voyage et dit, que peu

d'années auparavant une Societé de merchands d'Amsterdam

avoit fait une tentative pour chercher le passage du Nord

Est, et équippa deux vaisseaux les quels etant passé au

septante neuf ou huitantieme degrè de latitude, avoient

poussè selon Wood, jusqu' à trois cent lieues à l'Est de la

Nouvelle Zemble, &c. &c. Upon this fact he founds his proof

that the navigation from Archangel to the Lena has been

performed. Par consequent cette partie de la route a èté

faite. He rests the truth of this account on the authority of

the Philosophical Transactions, and of Captain Wood, who

sailed upon a voyage for the discovery of the North East

passage in 1676. The latter, in the relation of his voyage,

enumerates several arguments which induced him to believe the

practicability of the North East passage.--"The seventh

argument," he says, "was another narration, printed in the

Transactions, of two ships of late that had attempted the

passage, sailed 300 leagues to the Eastward of Nova Zemla,

and had after prosecuted the voyage, had there not a

difference arose betwixt the undertakers and the East-India

company." We here find that Captain Wood refers to the

Philosophical Transactions for his authority. The narration

printed in the Transactions, and which is alluded to by both

Captain Wood and Mr. Engel, is to be found in Vol. IX. of the

Philosophical Transactions, p. 209, for December, 1674. It

consists of a very curious "Narrative of some observations

made upon several voyages, undertaken to find a way for

sailing about the North to the East-Indies; together with

instructions given by the Dutch East-India Company for the

discovery of the famous land of Jesso near Japan." These

instructions were, in 1643, given to Martin Geritses Vries,

captain of the ship Castricum, "who set out to discover the

unknown Eastern coast of Tartary, the kingdom of Catay, and

the West coast of America, together with the isles situate to

the East of Japan, cried up for their riches of gold and

silver." These instructions contain no relation of two Dutch

vessels, who passed 300 leagues East of Nova Zemla. Mention

is made of two Dutch vessels, "who were sent out in the year

1639, under the command of Captain Kwast, to discover the

East coast of the Great Tartary, especially the famous gold

and silver islands; though, by reason of several unfortunate

accidents, they both returned re infectà." Short mention is

afterwards made of Captain Kwast's journal, together with the

writings of the merchants who were with him, as fallows:

"That in the South Sea, at the 37-1/2 degrees Northern

latitude, and about 400 Spanish, or 343 Dutch miles, that is,

28 degrees longitude East of Japan, there lay a very great

and high island, inhabited by a white, handsome, kind and

civilized people, exceedingly opulent in gold and silver, &c.

&c."

From these extracts it appears, that, in the short account of

the journals of the two Dutch vessels, no longitude is

mentioned to the East of Nova Zemla; but the discoveries of

Kwast were made in the South sea, to which place he, as well

as Captain Vries afterwards, must have sailed round the Cape

of Good Hope. The author of the narrative concludes, indeed,

that the N. E. passage is practicable, in the following

words: "to promote this passage out of the East-Indies to the

North into Europe, it were necessary to sail from the

East-Indies to the Westward of Japan, all along Corea, to see

how the sea-coasts trend to the North of the said Corea, and

with what conveniency ships might sail as far as Nova Zemla,

and to the North of the same. Where our author saith, that

undoubtedly it would be found, that having passed the North

corner of Nova Zemla, or, through Weygatz, the North end of

Yelmer land, one might go on South-Eastward, and make a

successful voyage." But mere conjectures cannot be admitted

as evidence. As we can find no other information relative to

the fact mentioned by Captain Wood and Mr. Engel, (namely,

that two Dutch vessels have passed 300 leagues to the East of

Nova Zemla) that we have no reason to credit mere assertions

without proof: we may therefore advance as a fact, that

hitherto we have no authentic account, that any vessel has

ever passed the cape to the East of Nova Zemla, which lies

North of the river Piasida. See Relation of Wood's Voyage,

&c. in the Account of several late Voyages and Discoveries to

the South and North, &c. London, 1694, p. 148. See also

Engel, Mem. et Obs. Geog. p. 231 to 234.

I should not have swelled my book with this extract, if the

English translation of Mr. Muller's work was not extremely

erroneous in some material passages. S. R. G. III. p. 8-20.]

[Sidenote: Attempts of the Russians to pass from the Lena to

Kamtchatka.] The navigation from the Lena to Kamtchatka now remains to

be considered. If we may believe some authors, this navigation has been

open for above a century and an half; and several vessels have at

different times passed round the North Eastern extremity of Asia. But

if we consult the Russian accounts, we shall find, that frequent

expeditions have been unquestionably made from the Lena to the Kovyma;

but that the voyage from the Kovyma round Tschukotskoi Noss, into the

Eastern ocean, has been performed but once. According to Mr. Muller,

this formidable cape was doubled in the year 1648. The material

incidents of this remarkable voyage are as follow.

[Sidenote: Narrative of Deshneff's voyage round Tschukotskoi-Noss.] "In

1648 seven kotches or vessels sailed from the mouth or the river

Kovyma[170], in order to penetrate into the Eastern Ocean. Of these,

four were never more heard of: the remaining three were commanded by

Simon Deshneff, Gerasim Ankudinoff, two chiefs of the Cossacs, and Fedot

Alexeeff, the head of the Promyshlenics. Deshneff and Ankudinoff

quarrelled before their departure: this dispute was owing to the

jealousy of Deshneff, who was unwilling that Ankudinoff should share

with him the honour, as well as the profits, which might result from the

expected discoveries. Each vessel was probably manned with about thirty

persons; Ankudinoff's, we certainly know, carried that number. Deshneff

promised before-hand a tribute of seven fables, to be exacted from the

inhabitants on the banks of Anadyr; so sanguine were his hopes of

reaching that river. This indeed he finally effected; but not so soon,

nor with so little difficulty, as he had presumed.

[Footnote 170: Mr. Muller calls it Kolyma.]

On the 20th of June, 1648, the three vessels sailed upon this remarkable

expedition from the river Kovyma. Considering the little knowledge we

have of the extreme regions of Asia, it is much to be regretted, that

all the incidents of this voyage are not circumstantially related.

Deshneff[171], in an account of his expedition sent to Yakutsk, seems

only as it were accidentally to mention his adventures by sea: he takes

no notice of any occurrence until he reached the great promontory of

the Tschutski; no obstructions from the ice are mentioned, and probably

there were none; for he observes upon another occasion, that the sea is

not every year so free from ice as it was at this time. He commences

his narrative with a description of the great promontory: "It is," says

he, "very different from that which is situated West of the Kovyma, near

the river Tschukotskia. It lies between North and North East, and bends,

in a circular direction, towards the Anadyr. It is distinguished on the

Russian (namely, the Western) side, by a rivulet which falls into the

sea, close to which the Tschutski have raised a pile, like a tower, with

the bones of whales. Opposite the promontory, (it is not said on which

side), are two islands, on which he observed people of the nation of the

Tschutski, who had pieces of the sea-horse tooth thrust into holes made

in their lips. With a good wind it is possible to sail from this

promontory to the Anadyr in three days; and the journey by land may be

performed in the same space of time, because the Anadyr falls into a

bay." Ankudinoff's kotche was wrecked on this promontory, and the crew

was distributed on board the two remaining vessels. On the 20th of

September Deshneff and Fedot Alexeef went on shore, and had a skirmish

with the Tschutski, in which Alexeef was wounded. The two vessels soon

afterwards lost sight of each other, and never again rejoined. Deshneff

was driven about by tempestuous winds until October, when he was

shipwrecked (as it appears from circumstances), considerably to the

South of the Anadyr, not far from the river Olutora. What became of

Fedot Alexeff and his crew will be mentioned hereafter. Deshneff and his

companions, who amounted to twenty-five persons, now sought for the

Anadyr; but being entirely unacquainted with the country, ten weeks

elapsed before they reached its banks at a small distance from its

mouth: here he found neither wood nor inhabitants, &c.

[Footnote 171: In order thoroughly to understand this

narrative, it is necessary to inform the reader, that the

voyage made by Deshneff was entirely forgotten, until the

year 1736, when Mr. Muller found, in the archives of Yakutsk,

the original accounts of the Russian navigations in the

Frozen Ocean.

These papers were extracted, under his inspection, at

Yakutsk, and sent to Petersburg; where they are now preserved

in the library belonging to the Imperial Academy of Sciences:

they consist of several folio volumes. The circumstances

relating to Deshneff are contained in the second volume.

Soliverstoff and Stadukin, having laid claim to the discovery

of the country on the mouth of the Anadyr, had asserted, in

consequence of this claim, that they had arrived there by

sea, after having doubled Tschukotskoi Noss. Deshneff, in

answer, sent several memorials, petitions, and complaints,

against Stadukin and Soliverstoff, to the commander of

Yakutsk, in which he sets forth, that he had the sole right

to that discovery, and refutes the arguments advanced by the

others. From these memorials Mr. Muller has extracted his

account of Deshneff's voyage. When I was at Petersburg I had

an opportunity of seeing these papers: and as they are

written in the Russian language, I prevailed upon my

ingenious friend Mr. Pallas to inspect the part which relates

to Deshneff. Accordingly Mr. Pallas, with his usual readiness

to oblige, not only compared the memorials with Mr. Muller's

account, but even took the trouble to make some extracts in

the most material passages: these extracts are here

subjoined; because they will not only serve to confirm the

exactness of Mr. Muller; but also because they tend to throw

some light on several obscure passages. In one of Deshneff's

memorials he says, "To go from the river Kovyma to the

Anadyr, a great promontory must be doubled, which stretches

very far into the sea: it is not that promontory which lies

next to the river Tschukotskia. Stadukin never arrived at

this great promontory: near it are two islands, whose

inhabitants make holes in their under-lips, and insert

therein pieces of the sea-horse tush, worked into the form of

teeth. This promontory stretches between North and North

East: It is known on the Russian side by the little river

Stanovie, which flows into the sea, near the spot where the

Tschutski have erected a heap of whale-bones like a tower.

The coast from the promontory turns round towards the Anadyr,

and it is possible to sail with a good wind from the point to

that river in three days and nights, and no more: and it will

take up no more time to go by land to the same river, because

it discharges itself into a bay." In another memorial

Deshneff says, "that he was ordered to go by sea from the

Indigirka to the Kovyma; and from thence with his crew to the

Anadyr, which was then newly discovered. That the first time

he sailed from the Kovyma, he was forced by the ice to return

to that river; but that next year he again sailed from thence

by sea, and after great danger, misfortunes, and with the

loss of part of his shipping, arrived at last at the mouth of

the Anadyr. Stadukin having in vain attempted to go by sea,

afterwards ventured to pass over the chain of mountains then

unknown; and reached by that means the Anadyr. Soliverstoff

and his party, who quarrelled with Deshneff, went to the same

place from the Kovyma by land; and the tribute was afterwards

sent to the last mentioned river across the mountains, which

were very dangerous to pass amidst the tribes of Koriacs and

Yukagirs, who had been lately reduced by the Russians."

In another memorial Deshneff complains bitterly of

Soliverstoff; and asserts, "that one Severka Martemyanoff,

who had been gained over by Soliverstoff, was sent to

Yakutsk, with an account that he (Soliverstoff) had

discovered the coasts to the North of the Anadyr, where large

numbers of sea-horses are found." Deshneff hereupon says,

that Soliverstoff and Stadukin never reached the rocky

promontory, which is inhabited by numerous bodies of the

Tichutski; over against which are islands whose inhabitants

wear artificial teeth thrust through their under lips. This

is not the first promontory from the river Kovyma, called

Svatoi Noss; but another far more considerable, and very-well

known to him (Deshneff), because the vessel of Ankunidoff was

wrecked there; and because he had there taken prisoners some

of the people, who were rowing in their boats; and seen the

islanders with teeth in their lips. He also well knew, that

it was still far from that promontory to the river Anadyr.]

The following year he went further up the river, and built Anadirskoi

Ostrog: here he was joined by some Russians on the 25th of April, 1650,

who came by land from the river Kovyma. In 1652, Deshneff having

constructed a vessel, sailed down the Anadyr as far as its mouth, and

observed on the North side a sand bank, which stretched a considerable

way into the sea. A sand bank of this kind is called, in Siberia, Korga.

Great numbers of sea-horses were found to resort to the mouth of the

Anadyr. Deshneff collected several of their teeth, and thought himself

amply compensated by this acquisition for the trouble of his expedition.

In the following year, Deshneff ordered wood to be felled for the

purpose of constructing a vessel, in which he proposed sending the

tribute which he had collected by sea to Yakutsk[172]. But this design

was laid aside from the want of other materials. It was also reported,

that the sea about Tschukotskoi Noss was not every year free from ice.

[Footnote 172: That is, by sea, from the mouth of the Anadyr,

round Tschukotskoi Noss to the river Lena, and then up that

river to Yakutsk.]