ay place could afford.

They had been fortunate, upon their route, to procure a skin of the
"cinnamon" bear--as well as one of black colour with a white breast,
both of which Alexis was able to identify as mere varieties of the
_ursus americanus_. These varieties are sometimes seen to the east of
the Rocky Mountains; but they are far more common throughout the
countries along the Pacific--and especially in Russian America, where
the cinnamon-coloured kind is usually termed the "red bear." They
occur, moreover, in the Aleutian islands; and very probably in Japan and
Kamschatka--in which country bears are exceedingly numerous--evidently
of several species, confusedly described and ill identified.
Unfortunately, the Russian naturalists--whose special duty it has been
to make known the natural history of the countries lying around the
North Pacific--have done their work in a slovenly and childlike manner.

Bruin--by Captain Mayne Reid

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.

THE KAMSCHATDALES.

The bear of Kamschatka had to be skinned next. But it was necessary to
catch one before he could be skinned; and also necessary to go to
Kamschatka before he could be caught. To get to Kamschatka was not so
difficult as it may sound to the ear. Our travellers were just in the
place, from which it was possible to, proceed direct to this Asiatic
peninsula. Vessels belonging to the Russian Fur Company every year
collect the furs along the north-west coast of America, and among the
Fox and Aleutian islands--Sitka being their port of rendezvous. Thence
proceeding to the harbour of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
(Petropaulouski), on the coast of Kamschatka, they complete their
cargoes with the "skin crop" that during the winter has been collected
throughout the peninsula. Thence to China a portion of these furs are
taken--especially skins of the sable, which the Chinese mandarins use
extensively for trimming their costly robes; and for which, teas, silk,
lacquer-ware, and other articles of Chinese manufacture are given in
exchange.

The Japanese also, and other wealthy Oriental nations, buy up quantities
of costly furs; but by far the greater portion of this produce is
consumed by the Russians themselves--in whose cold climate some sort of
a fur coat is almost a necessity. Even most of the furs collected by
the Hudson's Bay Company find their way into Russia: for the consumption
of these goods in Great Britain is extremely limited, compared wi