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In MEMOIRS AND TRAVELS OF MAURITIUS AUGUSTUS, COUNT DE BENYOWSKY (1746 to 1786)
Pg 52- "At
length however we arrived on the 25th of July, and the 26th day of our
march, on the banks of the river Angara, where we had the good fortune
to meet a hord of Tungus Tartars, who gave us four elks, with a provision
of dry fish, in exchange for tobacco and brandy. "
On the 26th we arrived at Illimsk, the capital of the province of the
same name, situated on the banks of the river Illima."
Pg 61- "Though
Judoma is composed only of six wretched houses, the place is well known,
because it is the rendezvous of several Tunguse nations, and some hords
of Mongols, who repair thither to trade with the hunters. It is by this
contraband intercourse that the most beautiful skins pass into China without
paying any duties ; and it would be
difficult for government to put a stop to it, because all the Cossacks,
and their chiefs, are interested. In the month of November they meet at
Judoma, to the number of four or five hundred armed men; besides which
it is a part of the policy of government to wink
at this contravention, as it would be dangerous to excite the Siberians
to revolt ; the slightest disturbance would arm the inhabitants, and,
if this should once happen,
Siberia would be for ever lost to Russia."
Pg 63 -
"The rich furs which the Koraks, Lamuths and Tunguses, who are in
subjection to the Russian government, and whose number amounts to forty-two
thousand souls, pay as a tribute to government, and of which the imposition
is arbitrarily varied, according to the interest of these members, who
in turn perform the function of Collector, supply them with the means
of obtaining strong liquors, whatever may be their prices, and they do
not fail to drown their cares in brandy."
"Two years before my arrival a battery had been erected on the point
of land which closes the entrance of the river, in order to defend the
town from the incursions of the independent Koraks and Tsuktsy, two savage
nations who inhabit the northern part of the
province, and are irreconcilable enemies of the Russians. They maintain
a correspondence with the subjected Koraks and the Tunguses, which circumstance
finds
government sufficient business to prevent their confederation."
Pg 242 "From
Uda to Ochoczk the coast runs N. E. and may be sailed along with safety
every where, at the distance of three leagues ; the depth of water being
from fourteen to fifteen fathoms. The whole extent of this coast is inhabited
by the Tungusi, who subsist on their flocks of elks, and the whales, which
sometimes get aground"
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