The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-09-25
Inhabitants OF Northern Siberia

|, The Pail Mall Gazette's correspondent
at Copenhagen, in his summary OF the
reports received from Professor Nordcn-
skiold, says: At Cape Schelosskoy the
Vega was much hampered by ice, and it
was determined to try to proceed
through the more open sound along the
coast. Here Ike steamer w@s met by
several boats manned hy natives, the
first which were met with since leaving
Chalarava and Judo Solar. The boats
closely resembled those used by the Is
Quimaux in Greenland The Veg. was
stopped to allow the natives to get on
board. They were kindly received, but
it was discovered that they did not
understand Russian or any other civil
lied language A boy, however, was
able to count up to ten in English,
which showed that the natives had more
intercourse with the American whalers
than with the Russian merchants, Pro
fesSor Nordenskjold states that he brings
home with him q collection Of nipple
ments-mostly of stone or bone-as
well as Of dresses of the people, who are
a curious mixture of the Asiatic- Mongol
race and Of the American Indians.
During the 9th and eth OF September
the Vega steamed along the coast, but
on the Sth she was obliged to an
chor, and on the morning Of the 9th,
the natives having by signs in
vitod Professor N.rdensk.jold to come ON
shore he landed with most OF his COM
panions and visited Tschuk tschers tents
which We're generally covered inside
with the skins of the reindeer, and lit
and warmed by lamps burning train-oil.
The travellers were most kindly received
and treated hospitality, the provisions of
the natives at the moment being plenti-
full. In one tent reindeer flesh was be-
ing boiled in a large iron pot; in another
the natives were occupied in dressing
two newly shot reindeer. In a third
one an old woman was busy preserving
the contents of the reindeer's stomachs,
a greenish, spinach-like looking sub
stance, in bag made of sealskin, evil
IDENTIFY as a delicacy for the Winter; the
half-digested vegetables being looked
upon by. the natives as great delicacy.
They are mixed with the green buds of
trees, allowed TO ferment and then to
freeze, and in the Winter are stewei
and eaten with meat or boiled into
kind of vegetable soup. Others of the
natives We're occupied in filling sealskin
bottles with train oil. Children swarmed
everywhere; they are 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
kin cover around the waist-probablv Il
Renaissance Of the habit which pre-
vailed when they inhabited q warmer
climate. 1t is remarkable how closely
the implements usel by the natives re
semble, even TO the most minute de
tails, those employed by the Esquimaux,
which viii be shown by comparison
when the professor returns. VI. Nor
denskiold writes: CAS- in 1875 and
1876, could not make any use OF The
different articles which 1 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 4 note Of -
roubles is thought less of here than a Gilt
shee, Of paper covering q piece Of soap;
and gold or silver coin is Of less value
than gilt button, and 70 be OF any use
for bartering must first be perforated so
us to lie able 70 serve rs an earring.
Tobacco is here generally used by the
men, and by women also when they have
q chance. It is usually smoked in short,
curionsly-constructed pipes, which every
adult male carries about with him.
Usually the tobacco serves for chewing
purposes; il is afterwards placed behind
the ear 70 dry. and IS then in fine con
dit.on for smoking in pipe. Not few
had round their nccls amulets, which
they would not part with at any price,
and one, who probably had been baptised,
wore q Greek cross. His religion, how
ever, was IN any case only skin deep, as
be crossed himself with great reverence
for the sun in our presence; otherwise
we have been unable to discover any
kind Of religion or religious ceremonies.
The clothes Of the men are made OF the
reindeer, or, in few cases, Of bearskins,
with the hair TUNED outward; on the