Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-20
NoRDENKsJOLD,
And the Strange People He Dis
covered in the Frozen
Lands.
Enthusiastic Italian Reception OF the
Returned Explorers.

the hour are the Swedish explorers,
who have just returned from the
North Pole, and who have discovered
a new country, a new people, etc.
Perhaps these celebrated adventurers
might not have been received with SO
much enthusiasm as they have ex-
perienced had it not been the fact
that precisely the one who discovered
the new Arctic territories happens to
be an Italian. bis name is Bove, and
he is a lieutenant in the Italian navy.
He is barely thirty years Of age, and is
as fair in complexion as the Swedes
with whom he travels. II so hap
pened that Bove was a little distant
from the rest Of his companiocs when
he discovered the land Of the Ciukici,
and he Immediately ehristened the
town that thus sprang into view with
the name of "UmbertO.
The people, however, who were
found there were not precisely sava-
ges-they were clothed roughly, per
haps) but they were clothed in skins
of reindeer and seal. Their costume
might not, perhaps, suit Partisan taste,
but it was adaptable to their cline.
1t is composed Of re%indeer-skin stock
ings lined with elder down, reindeer
or sealskin boots reaching tothe knees,
and under these, again, reindeer or
seaIskin trowsers. over which are worn
in extra cold weather other trowsers
lined with fur. And then a tunic,
coat or blouse of the same materials
reaches to the knees, and, according to.
the weather, several of these are worn
one over the other. For the head
they wear cap to match the rest Of
this charming costume, and this cap is
tied under the chin, like a baby's cap.
Finally, they wear over their chests a
kind of bib Of sealskin, which bib
they draw over their faces when the
air threatens to bite their noses.
The very fashionable people of the
country fasten tails of animals to the
edges Of their coats. This is to show
you that they are rich, as their riches
consist in reindeer, some families pos
sessing as many as 100000 of these
animals. The ladies wear the same
costume as the gentlemen, which
gives them a strange and awkward
walk. However, as a little distinc-
tion, they wear their hair in two long
plaits at the side Of each cheek, and
their neck and back are bare. 1t
seems that the cold has Jess effect on
them than on their lords. II is true
that when they have young children
they carry them on their backs, and
that shelters them. Both men and
women are short of stature, but stout
and wonderfully strong, as they can
walk for miles with burdens on their
backs which we Europeans could not
even lift. Their faces are larg' and
broad and they have no foreheads.
In this the women would be quite the
fashion in Europe, where the ladies
do all they can to conceal their fore
heads.
The men cut their hair close totheir
heads, like French soldiers, but the
ladies let their hair grow as long as
possible, their beauty being judged by
the length of their hair, which, strange
to say, is quite black. Their teeth, it
seems are so sharp that they need no
other instruments for any work that
they may do. Their hands and feet
are very small, however. Their hands
especially are so small that they can
not hold more than one thing at a time
in them. They are, Lieutenant Bove
tells us, a jolly set Of people, always
laughing, even in the midst Of ice and
hunger. Their houses are made of
wood and whalebone, and are rooted
with deer and sealskin. They are
warmed and heated with burning fat,
set in rough kinds of lamps. The
stencil of these is saidto be unbearable
10 those not born to it.
Their cooking is as unbearable as
their firing and lighting system, and
the only thing hal was stolen from
the Vega (the ship Of our explorers
was a ham. Some one who had tasted
Of one evidently desired another taste
but upon being caught in the act, be
quietly restored it to the ships cook.
They know nothing Of mechanics
still they can draw quite well, both
from figure and landscape. On the
whole, they are described as being re.
markably intelligent. 1t is a pity the
Vega did not bring a specimen OF the
people Of Ciukici with it. But, as il
is, the explorers are being received
like so many modern Columbuses
/. Over three thousand people were a
the station to meet them. and tn,
whole town is beAagged. Cheers an,
music follow them wherever they 90
and their days are passed
dinners and suppers, which are beinI
. offered to them by the court
S the embassies and the scientif
: institutions. The geographical societ
Y has already presented the directo
| (Mr. Nordenskjold) with a gol
r medal, and the little ceremony wa
t quite interesting. Carroll and othe
q members OF the government were pres
e ent. There was ncs much speedily
d ing, for Mr.. Nordenskjold does nc
speak Italian, and but very littI
: French. He speaks English, O
the contrary, like a native Of Grei
b Britain.
Yesterday evening they went to th
d theater. They would have gone
" the Apollo but, as usual, our fir
4 theater was closed, and so they wei