[17] Extraordinary as this may appear, Krascheninikoff, whose account of
Kamtschatka, from every thing that I saw, and had an opportunity of
comparing it with, seems to me to deserve entire credit, and whose
authority I shall, therefore, frequently have recourse to, relates
instances of this kind that are much more surprising. "Travelling
parties," says he, "are often overtaken with dreadful storms of snow,
on the approach of which they drive with the utmost precipitation into
the nearest wood, and there are obliged to stay till the tempest,
which frequently lasts six or seven days, is over; the dogs remaining
all this while quiet and inoffensive; except that sometimes, when
prest by hunger, they will devour the reins and the other leathern
parts of the harness."--_History and Description of Kamtschatka, by
Krascheninikof_.

[18] Captain King does not seem to have heard or inferred any thing as to
the danger usually encountered in the summer excursions on the river,
from the nature of the vessels employed. This, according to
Krusenstern, infinitely more resembles a trough than a boat, being, in
fact, the hollow trunk of a tree, and exceedingly apt to be upset by
the rapidity of the stream. Thus, he says, scarcely a year passes in
which several people are not drowned, both in the Kamtschatka river
and the Awatscha; a serious loss any where, no doubt; but in this
country, where population is so scanty, and so uncertain, incomparably
more important in a political point of view.--E.

[19] On this occasion Major Behm permitted us to examine all the maps and
charts that were in his possession. Those relating to the peninsula of
the Tschutski, were made in conformity to the information collected by
Plenishner, between the years 1760 and 1770. As the charts of