Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 3.djvu/225

200 1794. June.

Ruflians in an equal degree ; but whether this may arife from a difference in their difpofitions, or whether it be owing to the Ruffians having come more recently amongft them, and that a fufficient intercourfe had not yet induced them to fubmit to a docile and confidential fiibordination, v/e could not correftiy determine. Although, from the convcrfation of the Ruffians, the former would appear to he the cafe, yet the Ruffians feemed to repofe tl^ greateft confidence in the party Mr. Johnftone met with at the large Indian village, and to refign themfelves completely to their power. This meafure might probably be indifpenfably i"equi- fite for carrying into effeft their commercial purfuits, which cannot fail of being highly advantageous to the Ruffian adventurers, who it is rea- fonable to expcft may be enabled to difpofe of the furs thus collcftcd at a much better market in the northern parts of China; and this after having procured them at a much more reafonable rate than either the European or American traders could poffibly have done; firft becaufe they are competitors, and fecondly becaufe they have only one place in the moll fouthern parts of China to refort to as a market ; where the Canton merchants purchafe the furs nearly at their own price, and moft probably infinitely under their real value.

It is very podible that no other people will hereafter be fo well able to carry on this valuable traffic as the Ruffians, who, being natives of a fri- gid region and naturally a hardy race, and little acquainted with the luxu- ries of their more fouthern neighbours, have in thcfe refpefts greatly the advantage over all other civilized nations. Without deviating much from the habits and praftices continued from their earlieft infancy, the Ruffians can readily adopt many of the Indian cuftoms, by which means the manners of the two people become much affimilated. This is greatly furthered by their partaking of the fame fort of food, and wearing the lame fort of clothing. Their external appearance differs little from the natives ; and with refpe6l to the principal occupations of the Indians, fueh as hunting and fifliing, the Ruffian, who has no better means of palfing away his time, for we fcarccly faw a book of any defcription aniongd ihem, is moft likely able, from his fuperior knowledge, to afford them in thcfe purfuits fome in(lru6lion that may tend to render thofe