Chapter XII: Appendix: I (1)

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.]