The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-17

the AMOR proper, in a distance Of two thousand
niles, combines many, If not all of the varieties OF
The picturesque, the beautiful and the grand, OF such
streams as the Hudson ofNew York, the Connecticut,
the Ohio and the Mississippi, with the San Joaquin
and Sacramento of California. As to its size and
navigable qualities, it may be compared with the
mississippi (eaving out the MlssourlS,, hed and
Arkansas rivers, with their waters. The Amo0r is
formed by the union Of the Argoon and the Schilkah,
IN about ffty-three degrees thirty minutes north
latitude, and longitude east from Greenwich
one hundred and twenty-one degrees forty minutes.
The Argoon fows from the south and west, and
forms the boundary for some six or seven hundred
versts between Russia (Siberia) and China mon
Rolia), while the Sctilkah and Ingodah pass more
directly to the west, through the great silver region
Of Nerschinsk, draining that portion Of the province
of Traus- Baikal east of the mountains.
The main course of the AMOR Is nearly east, but
IN its middle or central section it makes an immense
sweep to the south, where the comparative mildness
of the climate is evidenced by the production Of
Indian corn and the indigenous growth OF the grape.
From the Ham-garee to its entrance into the strafts
Of Tartary In about north latitude 63 degrees and
east longitude lao degrees, its course ls nearly north;
all the generally received maps of the Amoor Me
incorrect. The current OF the river will average in
it's whole course about three and a half miles per
hour; in many parts it is extremely %sinuous, and
contains hundreds Of islands, with many lakes, bays
and island clusters. The reaches are often grand
and extensive, while snow capped mountains, ragged
sierras and smoking volcanoes give beauty and
grandeur to the scenery.
THE NATIVE TRIBES.
The Amoor down to the river Ia is inhabited by
q tribe of Indians who bear the name of MaRa-gres.
They exhibit many of the characteristics of the
fonguse of Northern Siberia, and differ from them
very little even in language. In the vast extent OF
country lying along the shores OF the AMOR from
the Ia to the Hingan Mountains dwell the Mand-
sshurs and Chinese. By both these races the soil is
cultivated. Along the Hingan Mountain ridge
wander q nomadic race, or tribe, having horses, and
called Solon-see. This tribe belongs exclusively to
- rtAnlr N n pNntnf 0havf fuuD hmm
bred versts above the river Lengahree down to the
Cah-rin is the country of the Gal-dee. The language
of this latter tribe is a mixture OF Mandschur, Tar
tarand Tonguse, in which the first mentioned da-
hct, however, largely predominates. Like most OF
the tribes inhabiting the AMOR river country, tho
Galdee live chiefly upon sh-wh are found IN
great abundance in the waters OF this noble river.
They are of an exceedingly fine flavor, and Of
various species. The catching and curing Of Fish
appear to be the chief occupation of this tribe
during the summer. In winter, however, they for
sake the shores of the Amoor, and proceed to
the distant mountains to hunt for fur aniDsls.
These mountains lie to the north of the AMOR, end
IN them are found the richest sable and ermine.
They remain frequently during the whole winter in
these mountains, and the spring IS sometimes far ad-
vanced before the return OF tine hunters to the VII
hgeA. yAt is only between the San-gah-ree and the
O1-su-ree that signs of cultivation are observable;
and here, also, horses are found. From the Gah-rin
10 the Bogoroiskoy dwell the Mangoon-a tribe
very closely allied to the Ga,dee IN language and
hui ~ hiLAOOA W. "a wv oN0 sNS
coast, south of De Castries, dwell a semi-nor1adic
people, calling themselves O-roch-cha; and from the
Russian village of Bogo-roi-skoy, along the shores of
the AMOR to its mouth, and along the ocast OF
Leman to De Castries and Tetrapskoy, and along
the coast of Sack-hah-lin, dwell the Ge-lack, or
Celan, a powerful tribe, entirely different in lam
guage and social customs from any of the above
mentioned people. In Southern Sack-hah-hn are
Nhe Inee, or Rourel-see; an6 in the mountains of the
same island a tribe of nomads, with reindeer, calling
themselves O-ro-ka-te. They belong, probably, to
the Tongusean tribe, are shy, and consequently very
little is known OF them.
The TRAITS common to all the tribes enumerated
are idolatry and scamanism, independence OF every
male person, polygamy and female oppression. The
wife Is purchased from the parents, and she is
obliged TO perform all the drudgery incident to
savage life. The men spend their time in hunting,
6ehing and trade. The Galdee and the tribes al
he'd by consanguinity with them rank atove the
GiIyacks, and those tribes which have little or no
intercourse with the Mandschurs or Chinese.
From their intercourse with the latter, the
Gal dee have acquired at least some crude ideas
Of a God az the Supreme Ruler of the Universe;
yet they worship representatives OF the tiger,
panther, a large snake, and anthropophagus
ash. which they regard as the embodiment Of
certain evil spirits. The schamans or priests are
booked upon as powerful medntors between the peo--
pie and the evil spirits, while the true God Is adored
or worshipped without their assistance. This latter
ceremony is only performed once a year. The time
set apart il the autumn, and the whole community
mite in the performance Of the solemn rites observed
on the occasion. Their religion Is quite novel in its
vay. and Il must be admitted to be decidedly COM
Portable. They hold that the soul Of the dead, pass
ing into the interior Of the earth, which Is lighted by
Is own sun and moon, continues In the same occu-
patton as when in this life. There Is no nell ior une
people, but for the untaithful schanlans there is, Tor
II they have abused or misussd their power over the
evil spirits in order 70 make a fellow creature I'M
fortunate, they go to their own hell, when N
dark and damp, and filed with gnawing reptiles.
The dead body among the Galdee and Mangoons
N placed in a coffin, which n then put into a low
frame on the ground, or as among the Orockah,
upon three posts sunk in the ground, 80 sooh ~
the relatives of the deceased are able TO provde
the means, offerings ~(poim-kee) are made ard
PRAYERS are delivered over the tomb OF the dead. TN
such occasions all indulge heartily in eating and
drinking, and make presents to their friends, In
character the Galdee, the most important and inte.
resting of all these tribes, resembles the Northern
Tonguse, viz.;-They are cheerful, but timid and
law. inclined TO civilization, but not to enterprise.
They live in houses like those of the Mandschurs-
In each house there are generally four families. In
the spring they remove into bark hats, situated In
places convenient for fishing. The O-rock-ah live
constantly in bark huts.
The Gil-yack IL appears has no idea OF the true
God-at leas they worship only idois, representing
evil spirits. which they endeavor TO hribe with the aid
of their schamans; unlike the Gal-dee, they consider
the bear as a personifed evil spirit, having soul and
reason, with great power OF harm; They Keep u awe,
feed and raise IL TO full size, and hnally Kill IL With
great forms, daneings, and ceremonies. This
and Tnees on Lackhahlin. The G~i.yacks have
the same idea of life hereafter as the
,Galdee. They, however, burn their dead on
funeral pyres, and build q low house over the ashes.
The ceremonies on the tomb differ in some respects
from those of the Galdee; these, after the death OF
relations, make q wooden idol, under the belief that
the soul of the deceased enters II, placing before II
food, and besmearpg its face with oil, when they de-
liver prayers and 0ther ceremonies on the comb alter
the service of the schamans, when IL Is supposed the
eoul of the deceased has departed IRON the idol to
its paradise; the hal IL then broken and thrown
away. The Gilyack. ON the contrary, take the IA
vorife dog OF the deceased. feed il with care on
choice food for some time, and then kill 10 on the
tomb after the prayers have been delivered, wberf
the soul Of deceased, supposed up TO this time to
have been living in the dog, departs whence it pro
perly belongs.
The character of the Ga -yack is harsh and ~arstere;
they are active and fend Of gain, enterprising
and disposed 10 trade On Lackhahlin they
are quite ina primitive state, Inclined TO pilsge,