Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-24
An Interesting Account Of Perils,
Adventure and Triumph in
the Arctic Seas.
The Long-Sought Passage is
Traversed by the Great
Explorer.
A Recital of His Perilous Voyage in
the Frozen Regions - Some Ac-
count of the People of the
Arctic Zone
Translated especially for the REcoRD-UNIoN from
Swedish Journalist

Translated especially for the RECORD UNION from
Swedish Journalist
The first written communications from Professor
Nordensk iold after the successful accomplishment
of his object have been eagerly awaited, not only
throughout Scandinavia, but in al countries where
the gallant explorers expedition has been watched
with so much interest. The first detailed account
has at length reached Sweden by the last mail from
japan in the form of very long letter from the
Professor to Doctor Oscar Dickson, the chief pro-
Inoter OF the enterprise It contains highly interest
ing particulars relating to the climate botany and
inhabitants OF Eastern Siberia. 1t will be remem-
bered that the exporin, steamer Vega, after pro
ceeding from Gothenburg all round the north coast
of Siberia got frozen up on the 18th of September
last year, when within a very short distance OF Beh-
rnss straits and did not get released until the 18th
of july She then, previously announced by tele-
graph, proceeded for Japan, and after visiting sew
eral places in Behring's straits and the neighbor-
hood, finally reached Yokohama on the I'd OF Sep
TENDER Professor Nordenskjold gives the following
account OF the events OF the winter
WINTER QUARTERS.
Our winter quarters situated in latitude 67 Z
north longitude 173' go west of Greenwich, on the
Asatie side of the most northerly portion OF
Behring's straits On arrival the ground here
was frozen and covered with hon FROST but free of
snow so that botansts could form an idea of the
hitherto unknown fora of this region. Near the
shore we found thick carpet of elymus, interviewer
with halianthus peploides, which was succeeded
further inland by barren, gravely plain, only COW
cred by back lichen-gyrophola proboscidea-
and few flowers, among which armenia siberica
was the most common. To the southwark sfound a
tract occupied by lagoons aud small lakes the shores
of which were covered with carpet of luxuriant veg
citation, composed of grasses and sedges, On the
higher land around, the decomposng granite and
dolerite afford richer soil, and the vegetation
sumes more varied character; among it were to
be seen extensive patches OF crake-berry Empetrum
Ngrum), OF andromeda tetragma, and large
clumps OF a sort OF artemlsia. DR.. Kjeman also
got together varied collection of plants, some OF
them well known at home {. g., red bilberry,
cloudberry and daEdelon, with others peculiar to
countries IN the far north.
On the sandy spit which separates the lagoons
from the sea there were two Tschuktschi villages.
OF these, the one nearest to the Vegas winter qua
tiers is called Piebaj. 1t consisted at first of seven
tents but the inhabitants had gradually to leave it
for want OF food, so that in February the last OF
them had gone in search OF better fishing grounds.
THE SECOND ENCAMPMENT,
Jiuretlen, lay near the point, towards Kolutschin
bay. This also comprised seven tents and the
pants being better furnished with provisions nearly
all remained throughout the winter. The following
encampments lay somewhat further off but yet near
enough for 10 receive frequent visits from their
inhabitants Pidlin, four tents Koljutschin (on the
island of that name), twenty-five tents; Ryratinop,
three tents; Irgunnuk which at first had ten tents
but in February all but four had gone away. The
number of persons in each tent difficult to esti
mate as the natives continually visiting one an
other to chat and tell stories. On average it
might perhaps be reckoned at five or SIX. Including
those on koljutschin Island there thus about
200 natives in our neighborhood. AS soon as the
natives saw US there great excitement. Men,
women children and dogs were seen running about
in eager confusion on the beach. There was evil
IDENTIFY fear of losing such excellent chance of
purchasing spirits and tobacco Many vain attempts
were made to get boat out till at length they man.
70 dIgS shlil uode W d Cutliiei III JHe
ice leading toward the ship. This boat was then
rowed up the vessel, loaded to the gunwale with
men and women, without any regard to the danger
of rowing a heaviy-laden skin-boat between sharp,
newly -formed ice.
The first meeting was very cordial on both Sides
and formed the commencement of very good rea-
tons between the natives and ourselves, which con-
tinued throughout the whole of our sojourn. The
report of the distinguished foreigners arrival must
have spread very quickly. We soon received visits
even from distant villages, and at length the Vega
got to be a resting place where every passer by
stopped with his of dogs for several hours to
satisfy his curiosity and to give good words,
thing more substantial for the sake OF getting lit
tie warm food or bit Of tobacco, or sometimes,
when the weather very bad, "ram" Ohe
Tschuktschi name for dram). All were free to
come and go without hndrance over our deck, which
was incumbered with all sorts of things, yet we did
not have to complain of the loss of even the most
trifing article. Honesty seems natural to them.
On the other hand it evidently no part of their
moral code to let the Europeans get the best of a
bargain, and they soon became troublesome through
their unrestrained habits of begging. They also
would often sell the same thing twice over, and
were always prodigal OF promises which they had no
intention to fulfill. Small receptions were es-
teemed, not crime, but as duty, and they
often gave fraudulent descriptions of hat they Of
fered for sale Thus dead foxes were passed off
skinned, with their heads and legs cut of-as hares,
and it was l1ughable to observe the natives con-
sternation when We discovered the deception.
NO LOVE FOR MONEY.
The Tschuktschis' total ignorance of money, and
the small supply we had of articles of barter suited
TO their TASTE obliged also to enhance the value
of portion of our wares to a high price To the
great surprise of the natives the usual articles of
barter in Arctic countries, viz, skins and bubber,
were not dealt with on board the Vega. On the
other hand, collected by barter complete assert
ment of weapons, dresses and household articles.
When the Tschuktschis began to get liking for
our food, they brought, especially during the time
when their hunting failed every day driftwood and
whalebone on board They exchanged them for
bread. They generally got paid for load of five
logs about four or five inches thick and six feet long,
with two or three ships biscuits. BY and by, few
Young natives got into the habit of coming on board
daily to work The cook was their master, az they
received from him broken vctuals as compensation.
Partly in this way and parity by gifts such consld-
cradle quantity of food given out in the course
of the winter that materially contributed to a,
the famine which threatened to spread among the
population in midwinter. None of the natives in
the neighborhood Of the Vega a Chris iau
None of them understood any European language
although one or two could speak few words of
English, or say a sautaton in Russian. This was
vexatious circumstance which caused us much in
convenience However, Lieutenant Nordquist began
to study their language with so much zeal and sue
cess that in the OF few weeks he could make
himself understood pretty well. As fruit of his
studies, hope the Lieutenant Nordquist will be
able or his return to publish comprehensive
cahulary OF this little known language, together
with sketch Of its grammatical construction.
ICE MEASUREMENTS.
The thickness of the new ice was measured by