[60] The revolution which took place in Kamtschatka respecting the chamans, is the precise history of all our mountebanks. Similar in their impostures, their reign and their fall are similar. Various reflections might be made on this subject. That a people equally simple and uninformed, like the Kamtschadales, should for a time have been the dupes of the impostures of their magicians, is not astonishing, and will admit of an excuse: but that such extreme ignorance and credulity should be made sensible of their error, and blush at it, is a matter of surprise and congratulation; for even with the most enlightened nations of Europe, do not some kinds of chamans spring up every day, equally perfidious and destructive! They have all in the mean time their apostles, their proselytes, and a prodigious number of martyrs. [61] A Russian weight equal to about thirty-three pounds. [62] These hurricanes prevail chiefly in the months of November, December, and January. [63] They were chiefly common sledges, such as we have already described, page 118. Some were closed in the manner of _vezocks_ or _kibicks_; mine was of this description, as I have mentioned, page 127. In the thirty-five sledges do not include those of the inhabitants of Bolcheretsk, who accompanied us as far as Apatchin. [64] Forty-five dogs were harnessed to M. Kasloff's sledge, and thirty-seven to mine. [65] I had passed through this village on my road to Bolcheretsk, and have described it, page 65. [66] Another object of this journey was to procure us provisions. We rejoined him afterwards, as will be seen in the sequel. [67] The Kamtschatka, which was not yet frozen. [68] See page 19. [69] This object of their worship is accurately described in Steller. [70] A sort of _tambour de vasque_ called _bouben_. It is still in use amongst the Yakoutsk, as will be seen hereafter. [71] A village upon the border of the river Pengina.