Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 337

1850.

Notices of the Island of Tarakai.

299

the Kuyiks in the centre, and the Orunchun in the south; they are ruled by the Colonial Office at Peking, and under the immediate go- vernment of the authorities at Pétune. The productions are rice, millet, cattle, sheep, martin skins, &c. The Orunchun and Solon- tafurs bring in a tribute of martin skins, but it is not required of others who do service. Each man is required to bring in one martin skin; out of the whole, 500 are selected of the best quality, and a thousand of the second sort, the remainder being assorted in three qualities."

La Peyrouse saw many skins and furs among the people on the coast. On the Chinese maps, three tribes are represented as occupying the island, the Fiatta in the north, the Kúyiks in the centre, and the Orunchun in the south. Many small rivers flow from the ridge of mountains in the centre, several peaks of which are named. Otongki

In the south, is probably Peak Ber- nizet of La Peyrouse; Yinkaching and Tatama

are portions of the same range as Peaks Mongoz and Martiniere of

La Peyrouse, whose summits Krusenstern describes as lost among the clouds, and covered with snow in May. The river Neva named by him is probably the Tatama ho. In the northern part is Toksuto Mt.

圖克蘇圖山 part of which received the name of Peak Espen-

berg from Krusenstern. The country between these ranges is repre- sented as level.

The bay at the mouth of the Sagalien is about fifty miles wide;

and probably quite deep. It is a sort of cess-pool to the river, in

which much of its sediment is deposited. The Chinese maps notice

a range of eight islets on its southern side, and two larger ones called Churka and Yapokli, while on the north-

楚爾庫 ern side are two others, Aisin 委辛 and Cholhat 楚魯哈達;

all these, and the settlements on Tarakai, are under the jurisdiction of the officers at Gidatka situated on the river Sagalien. It is not improbable that some arrangement has been made between the Man- chus and Japanese authorities in respect to the jurisdiction of the whole island, one which probably leaves nothing for the freedom of the aborigines.

These few particulars relating to the great artery of Manchuria, and the island opposite its mouth, only show how meagre is our information relating to them. The coast too, from Corea north to the Sagalien, has never been thoroughly explored, though few or no inhabitants were seen at the few spots where La Peyrouse landed. The whole of this coast, about two thousand miles long, the shores of Tarakai, and