of the Company, and had imparted to him a fragment of them relative to the situation of the islanders and their conquerors.  This however is not communicated, apparently for a reason mentioned, viz. that this officer proposed publishing on the subject when he returned to St Petersburg; and that though unfortunately he lost his life in the Neva before that took place, his manuscript, which was in the hands of Admiral Schischkoff, will be printed by the Admiralty.  We shall wonder if it be so, concluding as to its contents from what is already made known.  Though it is possible, indeed, to imagine, that it may be made use of as a testimony against the bad management and inhuman conduct of the agents of the Company, in order to justify the interference of the legislature in their concerns, which certainly appears to be much wanted.  Altogether, it is obvious then, that the statement of matters which Captain Cook has given in the text, applies to a golden age, in comparison of what we are assured was lately existing in these regions.  What changes have been wrought by the representations of Krusenstern we have not heard.—­E.]

These people are rather low of stature, but plump and well-shaped, with rather short necks, swarthy chubby faces, black eyes, small beards, and long, straight, black hair, which the men wear loose behind and cut before, but the women tie up in a bunch.

Their dress has been occasionally mentioned.  Both sexes wear the same in fashion, the only difference is in the materials.  The women’s frock is made of seal-skin, and that of the men, of the skins of birds, both reaching below the knee.  This is the whole dress of the women.  But over their frock, the men wear another made of gut, which resists water, and has a hood to it, which draws over the head.  Some of them wear boots, and all of them have a kind of oval snouted cap, made of wood, with a rim to admit the head.  These caps are dyed with green and other colours; and round the upper part of the rim are stuck the long bristles of some sea-animal, on which are strung glass-beads, and on the front is a small image or two made of bone.

They make use of no paint; but the women puncture their faces slightly; and both men and women bore the under-lip, to which they fix pieces of bone.  But it is as uncommon, at Oonalashka, to see a man with this ornament, as to see a woman without it.  Some fix beads to the upper-lip, under the nostrils; and all of them hang ornaments in their ears.

Their food consists of fish, sea-animals, birds, roots, and berries, and even of sea-weed.  They dry large quantities of fish in summer, which they lay up in small huts for winter use; and probably they preserve roots and berries for the same time of scarcity.  They eat almost every thing raw.  Boiling and broiling were the only methods of cookery that I saw them make use of; and the first was probably learnt from the Russians.  Some have got little brass-kettles; and those who have not, make one of a flat stone, with sides of clay, not unlike a standing pye.