This engraving is after a drawing by John Webber from John Hawkesworth's account (1773) of the voyages of Captain James Cook, Joseph Banks and Captain John Byron.

Captain James Cook (1728-1779) made three separate voyages to the Pacific (with the ships Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure, and Discovery) and did more than any other voyager to explore the Pacific and Southern Ocean. Cook not only encountered Pacific cultures for the first time, but also assembled the first large-scale collections of Pacific objects to be brought back to Europe. He was killed in Hawaii in 1779.

John Webber was the artist on Cook’s third voyage from 1776-1780.

The Resolution and the Discovery visited Avacha Bay, Kamchatka between 29 April to 16 June 1779. Many of the drawings from this period show snowy scenes, especially of the town and harbour of St Peter and St Paul.

This engraving is a three-quarter view with long hair, a fur-trimmed coat, facing right. This and the other portraits of the inhabitants of Kamchatka seem sill to have been taken during the winter period.

The winter dress of the Kamchadal was a skin frock, a pair of leather trousers, dog or deer skin boots and a fur cap with flaps.

Loosely bound in album with PAI3893-PAI3932, PAI3934-PAI3936.; Plate No.75.