American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-20
NORDENSKJOLD'S DISCOVERIES.
The People of the Northern Shores OF


Russia.
The Copenhagen correspondent of the
Pail Mall Ga5ete has been furnishing
that paper with summary of the re-
ports of Prof. Nordenskjold of the
Swedish Arctic expedition. The follow
ing is an interesting extract:
.'During the 9th and 9TH of Septem-
Der the Vega steamed on slowly along
the coast; but on the Sth she was
obliged to anchor; and on the morning
of the 9th, the natives having by signs
invited Prof. Nor,lenskjold to come on
shore, he landed with most of his COM
pnnions and visited the "Reminiscences
tents, which were generally covered in
side with the skins of reindeer, and
lighted and warmed by lamps burning
train-oil. The travellers We're kindly re-
ceived, and treated most Hospitality, the
provisions of the natives for the mo-
ment being plentiful. In one tent rein
deer flesh was being boiled in large
iron pot; in another the natives were
occupied in dressing two newly shot
reindeer. In Il third tent an old woman
was busy preserving the contents of the
reindeers' stomachs, a greenish, spinach
like looking substance, in a bag made of
scal-skin, evidently as dclicacy for the
winter; the half-digested vegetables be-
ing looked upon by the natives as n
great delicacy. They are mixed with
the green buds of trees, allowed
to ferment and then to freeze, and
in winter are stewed and eaten with
meat or boiled into kind of vegetable
soup. Others of the natives were occu-
pied in filing sealskin bottles with train
oil. Children swarmed everywhere;
they were evidently kindly treated, and
looked healthy. Outside the tents the
children were covered up in skins, but
inside they were nearly naked, like the
women, who only wore skin cover
round the waist-probably a reminis
cence of the habit which prevailed when
they inhabited much warmer climate.
The result of botanical and geological
researches was unsatisfactory, and the
scraping along the sea bottom was also
without result. In the sea only one
walrus and some seals were observed
and number of the swimming snipe
belonging to the family of the Phalaro
pus). At the mouth of small, nearly
dried-up river was discovered a burial
place containing a large number of
burned bones covered with turf and
stones. 1t was the first time any ship
Vega was a great event, and was quickly
noised about, the consequence being a
succession of fresh arrivals from the in
terror, and numerous visits. 1t is re-
markable how closely the implements
used by the natives resemble, even to
the minutest details, those en-
ployed by the Esquimaux, which will
be shown by comparison when the
Professor returns. Nj. Nordenskjold
writes: AS in 1875 and 1876, could
not make any use of the different arti-
cles which l had brought with me for
barter with the natives, who, however,
accepted eagerly even Russian paper
money. This time unfortunately took
only Russian money with me; but this
is quite useless here. A note of 25 ru-
bles is thought less of here than a gilt
sheet of paper covering piece of soap;
and gold or silver coin is of less value
than gilt button, and to be of any use
for bartering must first be perforated, so
as to be able to serve as an earring.
What is in most demand here are coarse
needles, darning- knives, es
pecially large ones, axes, saws, drilling
implements, shirts made of linen or
wool, dyed in brilliant colors, neckties,
tobacco and, need hardly add, brandy,
for which the natives would sacrifice any
thing, but which 1 have refused to serve
ont to them generally. The people are
sharp and cunning, and trained up from
childhood TO be sharp in their dealings
and gatherings with the American trad
Island of Irbit. 1t is stated that the
skin of a beaver is sometimes paid for
with Il leaf of tobacco. Tobacco is here
generally used by the men, and by wom-
en- also when they have chance. 1t is
usually smoked in short, curiously con-
structed pipes, which every adult male
carries about with him. Usually the to-
bacco serves first for chewing purposes;
it is afterward placed behind the ear to
dry, and is then in fine condition for
smoking in Il pipe. Salt is never used,
but sugar is considered great delicacy.
Coffee is at Il discount, but tea is drunk
with evident relish. DR.. Almgirst has
examined the eyes of n great number of
natives, and has found that color-blind
ness is nearly unknown. At first the ma
tives refused to submit to the eXamina-
ton, but We're finally induced to do so,
tempted by a glass of brandy containing
1 1-2 cubic inches, and this small guam
THY was in several cases sufficient to
produce anincipient state of intoxication,
in which condition the natives were good |
natured and not at all quarrelsome. |
Not few had round their necks |
amulets, which they would not part with |
ut any price, and one, who probably had
been baptized, wore Il Greek cross. His |
religion, however, was in any case only |
skin deep, us he crossed himself with |
great reverence for the sun in our pres |
ence otherwise we have been unable to |
discover any kind of religion or religious
ceremonies The clothes of the men are |
made of the skin of the reindeer, or in a |
few eases of bear-skins, with the hair |
turned outward; on the feet moccasins |
H.. 4 81