The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-02

GEORGE krSSAS's LECTURE BEFORE THE

GEORGE REMAINS LECTURE BEFORE THE
AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.
AT the meeting OF the American Geographical Society
last night four members elected, and 1t
officially announced by Chief Justice Daily, It's pros
dent, that the house No IL West Twenty ninth street
had been purchased Tor the home OF the society
and would be Gifted and prepared for its occupancy by
the first day Of July Tho edice cost $4,000. OF the
sum So 600 has already been subscribed by members
and moro money is coming in every day. The meeting
OF last night held Chickering Hall, and Its ea
ture tho delivery by George KEENAN, Esq, of an
address describing the adventures OF the Russian
American telegraph expedition party, OF which no was
member, IN northeastern Siberia, when exploring
that country In 1884, with to the laying OF the
cable and telegraph which connect ST. Peters
burg with this country.
Mr. Kcunan began his lecture by quoting the old
saying that one-haf the world does know how the
other half lives. Much had been done the way Of
rendering the saying untrue he said by the efforts OF
Kane, Hayes and Hall in tho Polar regions by Baker
Spoke, Grant, Livingstone, Stanley and Cameron IN
Africa, and by Burton, Shaw and Forsyth, who trav-
crsed the burning plains Of Arabia and Central ASA
The cxertions OF these and their fellow laborcrs
had now made tho English language like the sound OF
the British drum heard around the globe. Many re-
gions, however, were still to be explored Among
them the northeast OF Russian Siberia which
no better known or populated than 1t in tho
time Of Peter the Great The speaker related
the project by the Western Union Telegraph Company
in 1854 OF limo by the way OF Alaska and
Behring's Straits anu Siberia TO the Russian capital
In July. 1865, the speaker formed one OF the first
exploring party oil four sent look at the
Try He described the people, their manners, GUS
toms, religion, and, above ali their language, in
struclve manner. Tho lecturer was of opinion that
n. D.,na.
the Tower OF Babel TO be afflicted with such infer
nal distorted mixed up language. He was inclined to
believe they must have built up their side of the
Tower q little higher than anybody else. Many
curious Illustrations OF the difficulties Of the
tongue were illustrated The journey from that
place through the unbroken wilderness
pictured by Mr.. Kcnnan which fairly
presented to the gaze of his audience the tall volca
noes with which the route lined. towering up
IL 900 feet, their peaks Crowned with perpetual snow
autumn foliage. The Siberian dog came in Tor large
share OF attention "He is !" SAID the speaker 'noth
wolf and is probably OF the hardy aud cndur
ing animals III existence. He may be compelled to
sleep IN the open air in snow when the thermometer
marks 70 deg below zero driven TIL his toes crack
open with the cold and fatigue and leave their prints
upon the ice or starved I'LL no eats up his
ial.' Tho speaker had driven pack more .han
100 miles IN day night, and had repeatedly worked
them foriy-eight hours without giving them food
Each animal Is gwen dried hsh, weighing from
and half to three pounds THIS Is gwen them at
night so that thoy start in tho morning with empty
stomachs Tho sedges they draw are about icei in
length and two feet wide with framework pf birch
timber fastened with sealski thongs The whole APP
paratus weighs but thirty pounds most and viii
bear load OF 400 pounds and stand the hardship OF
mountain travel The dogs are harnessed 70 this in
couples. each being attached TO central thong by
collar and trace, and they arc guided entirely by
the voice. occasionally assisted by an iron shod
this limo had convinced the speaker that
aog drivers are like poets-born, made. The nomad
stany finding fresh pasture for the reindeer. which
formed his STAFF OF hfc. The unexpected manner in /
which tho exploring party with its team Of dogs and
sledges, burst suddenly into encampment OF Co.'S |
sacks at night when the deer were scattered far and
with much humor. When the aston,shed Cossacss
found who their disturbcrs werc they made them vel
come and ma prepared supper inc best way 10 eat
II the worst thing you know shut your eyes and swal
owt quickly without asking questions, Tor appetite
was in an inverse ratio To knowledge The national |
dish is made of cloted blood, taow and the contents
Of tho reindeers stomach taken after the death of
the animal all mixed up with peculiar kind oil grass
which the reindeer has eaten before The religion
OF these people Mr.. KEENAN, said, is nothing than
the worship Of the devil or spirit OF evil II
they have any idea Of good spirit 1t is
as secondary being. In times OF trouble they
go to their native priest, who performs some alb
surd rites and tells them what the spirit will
have them do The curious mixture OF sccpticism aud
superstition in thor nature illustrated by the fact
that IL the nat OF the does suit them they
whip the priest till no pronounces another. These
people when one OF their tribe becomes through age
or disease nfirn, Kill him with spears crush him 10
death with stones. In contrast with these gloomy
features the speaker described tho laughter provoking
ceremonies OF Cossacs wedding wherein the bride.
groom after working two or three years for the father
OF his BRIDE has to run the gauntlet Of all the
Of the tribe armed with sticks and II In spite of
their distractions he docs not catch his nimblc
footed love, he has the satisfaction OF going
back work for her father for few years more when
he may try 1t again. The speaker man who
had been married four times and he respected him
he would one OF the famous 800 OF Baaklava The
effects upon the health aud comfort OF living in
mospherc some seventy degrees below zero were de-
scribcd length illustrated by tho speaker exhibit
ing himself Siberian suit OF furs which he claimed
wercmuch more warm and comfortable than the Es
quimau style adopted by Archie explorers The las
cinatng discourse concluded with vivid and elabor-
ate description OF display OF aurora borcas those
far distant and desert regions