Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1879-11-13
THE TSCHUKTSCIII.
A Race of People Encountered by Norden-
skiold in the Arctic Seas.

III tho tiO'iS oc'n'
Toxic Cor, Nsw York Herald.
These are known as the Tschuktschi Il
give Nordenskiold's literation.) The ship
was constant rendezvous for them. The
professor speaks of them as sayages, mas
much as their civilization is not very far
but he is enthusiastic in his
testimony to their excellent qualities, social
domestic and national. They do quite an
extensive trade between Siberia and Amer.
lea, being locally within easy reach of
many points In Alaskan territory, which
is accessible to them both in winter and
summer; in the former seasons by solid
bridge of ice, in the latter by the open
sea. They employ slGdges drawn by dogs,
of which animals the explorers do not
speak very highly. This season, perhaps,
may have been an exceptionally severe one
for both man and beast in the particular
portion of Northern Siberia where the
party wintered. Nordenskjold says that
dogs were plentiful, but they were mostly
weak and ailing from hunger, their mas
tiers often being unable TO supply them
with sufficient food. In this connection
it is worth while to record that so high an
authority as the great navigator does not
think the service of dogs in Arctic explo'
ration very valuable. They are apt to be
sick and feeble and their nourishmcnt is
always matter OF some dilhcnlty. Dur.
ing the warm months the Tschuktschi
made their trips to and from the Amerl'
can shore in skin boats, which, from the
description given Of them, | Judge mlst
have stnEing resemblance to the old
Celtic corraclc or curragn. The more ge.
NAL period and the water route are most
favored by these Siberian pcddlers for
their excursions. When they travel over
the ice, parties of four, FIVE or SIX traders
will use one sledgc Which has twenty Or
thirty dogs to drag it. Their commerce
consists of the furs which they bring from
America to the other continent, where
they barter them with the Russians for
simple commodities. Reindeer skins are
also an article OF their exchange.
have alluded to the probability Of the
year having been an exceptionally bad
one. There certainly appears to have
been a kind Of famine, last winter, among
these generous people. Many OF them
passed the ship on their travels, or simply
came to see her out Of curiosity. In every
case they went on board to eat, as Of
right. The Swedish commander distrib-
utcd as much as 5000 pounds Of bread
among these guests, who evinced heart
felt gratitude for the bounty. They are
described as distinctly differing from the
Esquimaux tribes; and, though it Is not
yet decided to whatrace they belong. they
are thought to be related to the kam-
schatkadales and KOriaks.
Some very interesting and valuable de-
tails have been collected by Nordcnks-
iold and his staff as to their ethnography
and history. About 250 years ago they
were distinguished and gallant warriors.
rHgu rs have gathered valuable
assor.mC the arms and armOr Of that
period. . y of these implements are
preserve. 5ng the families, whose haO.
It's are pg niger aggressive. Very no.
3mulg ave their cutlasses carefully
SOUGHT g of mammoth ivory, and
sMmel s., h a remarkable resemblance
nt., ,b man panoply. Their spears
..4 uoW- au made OF whalcbone, spliced
Dl J.lai With the sinews OF the reindeer,
u showing an advanced perception of
i'd, d, uunuentatiOn on the part of the
..pa. One hundred and fifty years ago
., 'rr Russian, Colonel PaulOyiski
nutya an expedition sent against
% from siberian settlements. In his
.. engagement with them he was badly
up.tei. u subsequently defeated them,
.. with lavy loss to his own troops,
nt has sg,1 1rded much such tribute to
yajJr Pyrrhus bestowed upon the
.on 'aEOns which he Overthrew. A
a ,nu Of disease is averred by the ma
.r ly hgy been left behind by his SOL
rly m7 be still in existence.
htaraou the Tschuktschi are held 10
NV Ig N..ll small tribute, which is
.J1r .eJ ID the form Of triaing dues for
.e.rH. .r to trade in the marts of
n- msk and Anadyr. In spite
fa.. . yer, they admit no allegiance
.uu rg- vu If those intenogated appear
"a H. have my knowledge Of the exist
rn.. 5l .2ar at st. Petersburg. Strange
,.rga.sh. LEY have no government, no
... auI most no religion, if any. A
u,.iN ,rwos is their nominal ruler, but
tna. nutu'r authority nor influence. In
PACT th.e seems to be no necessity for the
ietcisc .. ne or the other, for his sub
ay.s are ry lently an exceptionally excel
nat and sch disposed people. The tor
IgnerH Ware on terms OF intimacy with
ltuyu-luds Of them, and never saw or
heard single case of quarrelllng among
lhcu. 'cr',Ct harmony prevailed in the
villages and families. Women have
ID. "A. ,,l irnntnI thnt1
equals aaa ith much politeness and def
nrenGe Tie language spoken by this
! tribe Is .ncH lar, and, as far as has been
vet lc.rru ed, showsno affinity to others.
| Oa tao7 n' ,ct, however, it is yet too ear
IIvio speak with certainty. Lieutenant
I iNy3-l.st, of the Russian Imperial
Guards, ont of the specialists OF the ex-
pedition, has formed a very large Collec.
ton of their vocabulary and idioms, and
when his work has been examined by
philologists it is certain much interesting
light has been thrown upon this branch
Of the subject, and will help to determine
to what section Of the human family the
people belong. Probably they will be
found to pertain to some special Polar
Mongolian or Polar.Caucasian race.
The features are less Mongolian in type
than are those of the Esquimaux or the
other indigenous tribes OF Siberia. The
hair is generally, but not invariably,
black, and the complexion is decidedly
light. Young women are often very fair,
handsome and Of perfect symmetry and
| fine proportions. The men aretall, above
the average height of mans growth, some
of them attaining to very little short oi
the splendid stature of the best specimens
of humanity in Northern Europe, One
woman is mentioned to me as being o.
gigantic size, SO large, in fact, that sht
might well be shown for money. One o.
Nordenskjold's attaches has note-l re
, gret at this moment inaccessible to me-
, Of her height and bulk, the former being
over seven feet.
tits matter of considerable difficulty
to estimate their ages with any approach
to accuracy, as their idea of numbers II
very vague, apparently not extending be
| yond eight or ten numerals. Thus It they
wish to express FIVE they hold up one hand
, with the fingers spread out; ten they rep
resent by two hands, twenty with th'
hands and feet, and il their calculation
goes beyond that a second individual II
called to aid in the demonstration OF mum
{ bers between twenty and forty. 1t WI
ha ,p,,arant from this that the ace OF IN