Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-05-17
THE NORTHERN SIBERIANS.

the s0utnren part OF DenrlEg sUralG are
called Tchuktchis. Their number is es-
timated to be about 5000, including a
nomadic tribe called the Rein-Tchukt-
CHS, who subsist by keeping reindeer
herds. These form link between their
brethren on the coast and the inland
tribes of Siberia, to the latter of whom
they dispose of their goods, consisting
of seal and walrus hides, walrus teeth,
ETC., which they receive from the coun-
try population in exchange for reindeer
hides. The coast population live in
villages numbering from 3 to 20 tents.
spread along the coast as near as possi-
BILE, and at few miles distance from
each other.
The tent of the coast Tchuktchis con-
sists of peculiar and cleverly construct
ed frame of wood, the material for which
is obtained from drift-logs, with which
the shore is plentifully strewed. This
is covered with number of seal and
walrus hides carefully sewn together
Inside the tent, and right before the
entrance, is a smaller cubiform tent,
made of reindeer skins, and used as the
sleeping chamber. During the cold
season it is heated by blubber-lamps.
Even during severe cold the atmosphere
within this tent is so heated that the
natives. who occupy it, without distinc-
tion of sex or age, lie almost nude. The
dimensions of the tent depend upon the
number of the family. In each tent
generally dwells only one family, in
which are included the sisters and broth
ers of the married couple before they
settle for themselves.
The Tchuktchls, the children of ma
ture in the Arctic regions, fostered among
ice, snow and cold, familiarized with
bloody scenes in the seal, whale and
walrus hunt, without any of the in
huences of civilization, are, notwith
standing, a good-natured, friendly, hos
pltable and honest people. Although
the Vega during the long winter was
daily visited by at least 20 natives, it
was only on two or three occasions that
they were found guilty of dishonesty
apporpriating anything, and these thefts
were of the most trifing description.
The Tchuktchis are people of small
stature, although among them may be
found perfect giants; as, for instance,
woman whom we saw 6 feet inches
tall. Their complexion is sallow, the
mems being usually darker than that
of the women. Occasionally, however
one may see, especially among the wom-
en-, complexion as fair and clear as
that of the Inhabitants of northern
Europe. The eyes are black, and often
set oblique like the Chinese. The hair,
which is coal black, is worn by the men
cut quite short, while the women allow
it to grow freely, part it in the middle
of the brow and wear it in plaits of II
to Is inches long, which hangs down at
each ear They also wear lock comb
ed down ard cut across which covers
half of the forehead. The men also use
similar lock. and sometimes long
tuft at the crown of the head. This
tuft is worn. so far as | could learn,
only by the chiefs.
Their clothing is made principally OF
reindeer skin, and consists of a pesk OF
blouse reaching to the knees, with an
opening at the top just sufficient for the
head to pass through. In addition, the
men have tight-ftting trousers of rein
deer skin, which are tucked down int
boots of the same material, the latter
with soles of walrus hide. The womer
also wear trousers, but those are wide
ending Immediately below the knee
where they are similarly tucked into tht
boots
In the outer clothing the hairy sid
of the skin is always to the exterior
but, on the contrary, the hairy side o
those articles worn next the body dur
ing the cold season is turned inward
A close-6tting hood of reindeer-skin AM
mittens of the same material complet
their dress. In this costume the def
any kind of weather. Often SO clad
night after night, even in the most Sc
we're cold, they pursue their seal-fshiD
miles away from the shore without an
other protection from the icy winds.
The weapons of the Tchuktchis cor
slst OF bow and arrows, spear
which, like the arrows. has point c
iron or of bone-a knife, and kind {
sling, used for catching birds. Th
iron for the arrow and spear-heads
obtained from the Americans and Rus
slams in their bartering transactions
!, They themselves have no iron at thei
command, nor any knowledge of it
working. TO their hunting implement
belong the sealing net, made of finely
cut strips of seal hide, netted with
{ three-inch mesh. With these the youn
r seals, which form their principal fooC
f are caught The net is extended b.
: tween two blocks of ice, and the sea