The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-04
TIE SWEDISH .iRCTIc EXPEDITION.
Prof Nordenshjoid's Report OF his Observe
lions In the Nova ZembIa Region.

The northeast passage expedition in tho
Vega. under Prof. NordenskJ6ld. reached the
mouth OF the Lena in the latter part Of August.
and we may every day expect news Of its safe
arrival at Yokohama.
Meantime. Mr. Oscar Dickson Of Gottenburg
published a letter from Prof Sordcnski6ld.
giving some OF the results obtained IN the
Noyaya Zemiya region, while detained at
visit was paid 10 the Samoeide village Of Cha
baroya. DIR: StuXberg collected many speci-
mems OF the fauna Of the Strait, including some
remarkably large cinclQus sPQLges MANY
specimens Of various X lnds OF fish very bought
from tho natives pr hlellman collected
and directed his attention specially 10 the
morphology and development Of the phanero-
Hitherto little studied Lieut. Nordgyist de-
voted his attention 70 insects. while DR.;
Almqyist examined the Samoelde9 with regard
70 their sense Of color. and found 1t normally
Prof NordenskJ6ld bought some costumes
utensils &c. from the SamOeides and. after some
Of their" gods" They at first eYAded his in
quirles, but at last an old Samoide woman con
scented 10 show him some. She drew them from
In rcindecr skins. Prof Nordenskj5id at last
surc9eded In perhuadlng the OLD woman TO
roubles Each Of them had a different purpose
and aspect. One. for example was composed
OF a stone, which mo rags transformed into a
kind Of a doll; another was a maronette with
plate Of copper for face; a third was in fur.
e.
these objects 81 veneratiOn and alteration Of the
hamOedes resemble tho rude rag dolls OF chill
dren who are unable 10 obtain anything better.
Chabarova Is inhabited in summer by uins
Russians, who In spring come from POustO-
sersk. where are their wives and children.
They depart in autumn. During their sOIOurn
these Russians curry on barter traffic with
tho SamOcldDs and engage in fishing and in
rearing reindeer. The Russians inhabit little
wooden cabins, low and covered with turf while
the indlgene have tents Of reindeer skin. sim %
lar In form TO those Of the LApps. Tho Rus
slams have formed a company 10 fish the white
dolphin, two out OF the twenty-five shares OF
tho company being reserved Tor ~. Nicholas 10
secure his blessing. In spite u this. their en-
terprise has not been very successful.
DR.. NOrdenskJold, guided by ono u the Rus
ans. visited one of tho sacrlirlal affairs Of tho
lmoeides. who, although baptized Christians
tain many Oi their Old hcnthrn customs. This
q tar Is on prOmoutory ~ NuigRt2 Island, in a
w regarded as sacred by the SHmoeidcs Not
lhstandlnR that an HrchimAndrite thirty
ars ago destroyed the original altar and erect
cross. the SAmOedcs have chosen n neigh.
ring spot whore Dr. Nordcnsklold saw many
ms OF recent aacriaes 10 the native gods
my images Of which We're fixed around. Tho
Island Of NisgHtZ DR.. Norlcnbkl6ld describes
"7 very regular, about ninety kilometres Ions
ana iorY broad II may be considered M
tih%lo plnteau, terminating pcrpcndiculurly IL
wv sen. mo nllurlan md limestone beds con
nm many iosails, and the Island as a WhOlI
hDLllS a k00d pasldraRo ground Tor reindeer.