The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-05-07

of the lake, and IL probably the remains OF
some ancient Onkilon dwelling. The pres
emit residents, swo aged men and an old wo-
man, had fitted up their habitation In tue
following manner: In the middle OF cylin-
drical trench, 8 feet deep and IL to 10 wide,
n post was driven. Against the upper end
of this rested obliquely number OF poles
running from the upper edge OF the trench
whereupou were stretched number OF
hides. The enclosure peculiar for Tsch
tent for dormitory was not wanting here;
otherwise the dwelling bore evidence OF
tho utmost poverty aud disorder. That
fishing was their livelihood was demon
strated, besides by the fish that was served
US, by the nets which were spread about
outside. A few tattered garments, an iron
pot, brace Of wooden vessels, etc., were
all the household furniture that could be
disoerned In the tent. We continued our
journey the following morning, and ooserv-
ed on the opposite border OF the lake two
habitatlons that consisted Of overturned
boats with only few hides for roofs. We
passed also the village of .itschkaj aud
through Irgannuk where We were received
with every token Of friendship. At 94 p.
NJ. we were again on board the Vega.
ENDURANCE OF TscH DOGS AND MEN.
From It. Horgaurd's report, which treats
chiefly of the Typographical relations In the
neiphborhood, the following In regard to
the tireless endurance Of the Tsch dogs will
be interesting: During the forward jour
ney, Journey out), which lasted 81 t hours,
Menka's serf ran continually in advance OF
the sleighs, and even when We stopped to
rest he was still astir, searching for the trail
or taking care Of the dogs, etc.; nor did he
sleep while We were in camp over night,yet
his cheerfulness and activity did not abate
during our joarney the following day. ln
the meantime, in obedience TO Menka's ex-
press prohibition, be tasted no ardent sPir-
it's. Menka explained that otherwise it
would be impossible to endure the fatiguing
run. On the other hand he chewed an
amazing lot of tobacco. As to the dogs,
during the whole journey they were not de-
taclied from the sleighs moment, and the
next morning they were found sound asleep
before the sleighs, the whole pack covered
with snow. We never saw them feed on the
journey, and the only food they got was
some frozen excrementa OF foxes and other
animals which they snapped up in passing.
Notwithstanding this their draft capacity
did not perceptibly diminish to the::last day
OF the journey"
NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF
LETTERS.
Tie 18th OF October. when We believed
Menka ought to be IN Markova, we had
apain visit from him and his son.in-law.
| He com planned he had no fire-water for the
Prasnik and came now to bargain for seine
| with three reindeer carcasses. His omis.
sion to carry our messages, aud my disin-
clination to this sort Of payment. ut was In
vain offered him half imperials and silver
roubles in lieu Of whisky, made our inter
course this time less cordia! and copse quent-
! ly he soon took his leave. 1t was not be-
fore the 9th Of February, 1879, we again
had news from Menka. His serf presented
hi mself on board the Vega and reported
that he had travelled all the way from Mar
kova hither IN 10 days. This amounts tn
90 kilometres (about SO milcs) for days
| travel According to his report, Menka had
gone to irkutsk with the letters-intelli-
pence hailed with great Satisfaction; for we
| had up to this considered IL almost certain
that our messages through Menka had mis-
carried, and rssorted to every power OF
persu aston which the ships collected treas
ure OF guns, powder. ball, victuals, orna-
mental shirts, and even whisky, might eI-
ert to prevail on some Of the natives to
drive Lieutensnts Nordquist and Bove to
Markovs, or NIschni Kolymsk. The uego-
tiatlons seemed at first to prosper; advan-
COS were demanded and granted, but inva
riably ON the eve Of departure they declined
to start, under some prete1t or other. Now
1t was too cold, now too dark, now they
had no feed for their dogs, and the neRo
tiations proved Of no further consequence
but to give us knowledge Of the less pleas
ant phases Of their disposition than those
we had before known among the Tsch, TO-
wit: the absolute unreliability of these 9th
erwise excellent aborigines (savages) in re
spect TO their engagements, and their Tai
lsyrandian apprehension touching the fac
ulty OF speech. For the rest, these nego
tiations presented occasion for 1t. Nord.
auist to undertake an excursion with dof
equipment for the purpose Of taking
task one Of the natives who had received
advance payment to drive him TO Markov'
but failed to keep the engagement Upor
this journey Lieutenant Nordquist reports
as follows:
December 9th at $50 q. m. started will
dog equipment TO the village Of Pidlin, o,
Koljutschin Bay, In order to ascertain iron
q Tsch named Tschepscho. whom hat
engaged to drive me to Auadyrsk, when b.
would be ready to start. Ny driver va
Anango, from the village Of Irgannuk. IL
had small, light sleigh provided with run
ners Of whalebons and drawn by Q dogs, o
. which the leader was attached ahead sin
: gle, ths other five abreast, each by q seps
rate strap (trace.) Tho dogs were poe
from want of care. estimated thsir rat
Of run about . TO 8 English miles per hou1
! and our. forward and return journey too
!, about 8 to Q hours--the distance betwse
. Pitlkaj and Pidlin Ii probably about Q,
miles.
: Here follows some passages which
omit a. they are Of no interest, II ma
D anticipate the readers taste. -7rdnsldtor
!. TscH ENTERTAINMENT.
Pidlin and the island Of Koljutschin al
Q the only places on the route that ara inha'
( tied. When I arrived at Pid.in was =
= osiyed In front OF the tents Of the villaa
D and conducted to Tschepscho's tent, and
+ promised to 60 with me 10 Ansdyrsk
4 February. Ny host bad wife and thr'
y children. The children we're fully undres
, q for bed. The adults had on short tro'
d sers made OF tanned skin and Of "stun
o for the women. rvvr @-
= "a ~~~.~~ a. ~o,lN ~ dtffcnlt In alaen