COUNT   de   BENYOWSKY.         107
acknowledged me as chief of the exiles, and com*
manded the chancellor to regifter an ad in the chan*
eery, to authenticate this nomination; at the fame time
promifing to write a reprefentation in my favour to go-
vernment, in order that I might be employed in the
fervice of the flate: The chancellor and the hettman.
fupported the intentions of the governor, and had the
fatisfadion to win near feven thoufand roubles from the
merchants, at chefs, who by this means paid the charges
of our entertainment.
On the iith we determined to go in chace of the bear,
and obtained permiflion from the governor of four days
abfence. On this day I received a confiderable prefent
in linen and fome peices of plate from Mr. Nilow. On
the 12th we departed, to the number of fixteen, well ar-
med, with eight fledges, and went down the rivfcr which
was frozen. At the difttnee of twenty-eight verftes we
Hopped at the dwelling of the tajou or chief of Cfekawka ^
he gave us an account of the feveral vifits he had re-
ceived from the bears in his neigbourhood, and entertained
us and our dogs with a dinner; after which he condu&ed
us to a brook which fell into the river of Kamchatka.
But the inftant that he perceived three bears at play on
the banks of this rivulet, he earneftly entreated us to re-
tire, affuring us that thefe creatures would be the death
of us. After delivering this advice, he decamped, and
we approached our enemies 'till within the diftance of
mufquet fhot, when we difcharged our fire-arms, and
wounded them. Enraged with their wounds, they
came forward to attack us with the utmoft fury. It
was a fortunate circumftance that my companions were
P 2                            accuftomed