The New York herald., 1879-10-16

been exceptionally bad one. There certainly ap-
pears 10 have boen kind of famine Last winter
among these generous people. Many of them passed
the ship their travels. simply came to see her
out of curiosity. In every they went on board
to eat as of right. The Swedish commander dstriD-
uted much three thousand pounds OF bread
among these guests. who evinced heartfelt grati-
tude for the bounty. They described as dis-
tinctly differing from the Esquimau tribes; anu
though is yet decided to what race they belong
they thought to be related to the kamscha'A"
dales and Koriaks.
NATION THE WAR BUSINESS.
Some very interesting and valuable details have oee
collected by Nordenskiold and his staff as to the'r
ethnography and history. About two hunarea anu
Atty years ago they distinguished ana gaiiant
warriors The disco verers have gathered vaiuaoie
assortment of tho arms and armor of that PERIOD
Many of these implements preserved among the
families whose habits longer aggressive very
noticeable their curasses carefully wrought OUT
of mammoth ivory, and fashioned with u remarkable
resemblance to the old Roman panoply. Their
spears and bows made of whalebone. WOOD ana
ivory spliced and bound with the sinews OF tho
reindeer, and showing an advanced perception or
artistic ornamentaton on the part OF the makers.
One hundred and fifty years ago the famous Russian
Colonel Paulovski. commanded an expedition sent
against them from siberian settlements In his rst
engagement with them he was badly worsted. He
subsequently defeated Them but with heavy loss to
his own troops, and has recorded much such
tribute to their vaor Pyrrhus bestowed upon tho
Italian egions which he overthrow. mild form Of
disease avcrred by the natives havo been loft
behind by his sodiery and be still In existence
GOVERNMENT AND NONE WANTED.
At present the Tschuktschi are held to pay to Rus
sa small tribute. which is collected in tho form OF
trng dues for permission to trade in the marts Of
Nischni- ko-lymsk and Anadyr. In spite of this
however. they admit no allegiance. and not one
of those interrogated appeared to have any
knowledge OF the existence of Gear at st. Peters
burg. Strangely enough they have no government
no laws and almost no religion. il any. Russian
starost is their nominal ruler. but has neither
thorty nor influence. In fact. there seems to be no
necessity for the exercise of either the or the
other. for his subjects evidently exceptionally
excellent aud well disposed people, The foreigners
on terms Of intimacy with thousands OF them
and never saw or heard of single case Of quarrel
ling among them. Perfect harmony prevailed In the
villages and families. Women have great influence
and treated by the mon in all respects as their
equals and with much politeness and Difference. The
language spoken by this tribe is peculiar, and as
far as has been yet determined shows no affinity to
Others On this subject. however. it is yet too eary
the Russian Imperial Guards OF the specialists
of the expedition, has formed very large collec-
ton of their vocabulary and idioms. and when his
work has been examined by phloogists 1t is certain
much interesting light will be thrown upon this
branch of the subject. and will help TO determine to
what section of the human family the people be-
long. Probably they will be found to pertain to
some special Polar -Mongolian Polar-Caucasian
HANDSOME sAvAGEs.
Tho features less Mongolian in type than are
those OF the Esqumaux or the other Indigenous
tribes Siberia The hair is generally. but not in
vnrably black and the complexion is decidedly light.
Young women are often very fair. handsome and Of
perfect symmetry and fine proportions. The mon
tall, above the average height Of mans growth,
some of them attaining to very little short of the
splendid stature OF the best specimens OF humanity
in Northern Europe. One woman Is mentioned to
being of gigantic size 80 large. in fact. that
she might well be shown for money. One Of
Nordenskj0ld's attaches has Q MOTEL regret ct
this moment inaccessible to me-of her height and
bulk. the former being over seven feet.
~ DIETARY.
K1ellman the able botanst and old companion OF
the commander of tho party in former Arctic travels
conducted the necessary researches into the dietary
as well of all the fora Of tho district. and has
compiled matter enough to form q very valuable and
elaborate treatise his return to Europe. He finds
that the Tschutktschi are omniverous. They subsst
upon the meat Of reindeer, bears and seals. ard fish
and vegetables. fact the more important to be
noted. they have hitherto been cited as
one of tho few that exclusively
animal caters. During their brief summer they
collect quantity of vegetable food and store it for
winter dainty with them is the stomach Of
reindeer. killed when the beast has fod to repe-
ton. The belly and the herbage it contains
cooked together and eaten with great relish. sim
liar custom to this prevails among the Esquimaux.
whom Nordenskjold's friends do not much resemble
in face feature. Nevertheless there striking
points of likeness in the dress. boats. arms and
utensils of the two peoples. During the Vegas
long stay deaths and only two three births
occurred among the Tschuktschi.
HOW THEY COUNT
1t is matter Of considerable difficulty to esti-
mate their ages with any approach to accuracy. as
their idea OF numbers is very vague. apparently not
extending beyond eight or ten numerals. Thus il
they wish to express i've they hold up one hand,
with the fingers spread out; ten they represent by
two hands, twenty with the hands and feet. and II
their calculation goes beyond that second ndivid-
ual is called to aid in the demonstration of
numbers between twenty and forty, 1t will be
apparent from this that the age Of individ-
uals is not carefully recorded or remembered.
but some of the people had evidently attained
extreme age. Little more. far. remains to say
about them their mode Of life. except that they
possess a few guns among them. familiar with
gunpowder and have in some American axes.
knives and pots. Very little foreign clothing is
ployed by them. their vestments being almost OK.
cusively of skin. The ration probably numbers ton
thousand souls. of whom one half inhabit the lit
toral between Tschaun Bay and Behrng Strait and
the other half dwell in the interior Of the country
ARcADIANs.
Although tho deck of the Vega contained numbers
of them. from eight O'Clock IN the morning till six
at night daily during her stay. nothing was stolen
When desired to leave the visitors departed. On the
whole it Is impossible to imagine q more Arcadian
race though philosopher has yet expected to dis