The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-12-22

kSindeer Farming I'm the Arctic Re.
giOns.
John Muir. the geologist, who 40
companied the Corwin exploring expe-
dition, writes to the San Francisco
Bulletin:
ION tho terminal mcraine of the an
Gent glacier that formed the first main
tributary of the Plover Bay GLACIER,
some four miles from the extreme head
of the bay, we noticed two small skin
covered huts, which guides informed
us belonged to the reindeer people we
were seeking. As we approached the
shore, hundred yards or SO from the
huts. young man came running to
meet us. He was presently joined by
three others, who gazed and smiled
curiously at the steam-launch and at
our party, wondering suspiciously,
when the interpreter had told our OBJ
ject, why we should come so far and
seem SO eager to see their deer, Our
guides, who of course understood their
prejudices and superstit:ons, told them
that we wanted big, fat deer to eat,
and that we would pay them well for
it-tobacco, lead, powder, caps, shot.
calico. knives. ETC., told off in tempting
order; but they said they had none to
sell. and it required half an hour of
cautious negotiation to get them over
their suspicious and alarms and consent
to sell the carcass of one provided we
would leave the skin, which they said
they wanted to keep for winter gar
ments. Then two young men. fine,
Swapping, elastic fellows. threw OF
their upper parkas, tied their hand
somely-embroidered moccasins firmly
across the instep and around the ankle,
poised their long Russian spears, which
they said they always carried in case
they should meet bear or wolf, and
away they sped after the flock up q
long. wide glacier valley along the bank
of q stream.
In the meantime we ate luncheon
and strofled about the neighborhood
looking at the plants, the views down
the bay, and at the interior of the huts,
ETC., and chatted with the Tschuck CHS
about their flock, the wild sheep on the
mountains, the wild reindeer, bears and
wolves, etc. We found the family to
consist of father. mother, q grown
daughter and the boys that were after
the deer. The old folks we're evidently
contented and happy in their safe re-
treat among the hills, with sure sup
port from their precious flock. And
they were proud of their red-cheeked
girl and two strapping boys, as we'll
they might be; for they seemed as
healthy and rosy and robust a group OF
children as ever gladdened the heart of
Tschuckchi parents.
1.-THE Tschuckchis seem to be q good
natured, lively. chatty, brave and po-
lite people, fond of joke and, as far as
have seen, fair in their dealing as any
people, savage or civilized. They are
not savage, however, by any means,
but steady, industrious workers, look
ing we'll ahead, providing for the flu
ture, and consequently seldom in want,
save when at long intervals disease or
other calamit:es overtake their fiocks,
or exceptionally severe seasons prevent
their obtaining the ordinary supplies of
seals, fish, whales, walruses, bears, ETC.,
on which the sedentary Tschuckchis
chiefly depend. The sedentary and
reindeer Tschuckchis are the same peo-
pie, and are said to differ in . marked
degree both as to physical characteris-
tics and language from the neighboring
tribes, as they certainly do from the
Esquimaux. Many of them have light
compilations, hooked or aquiline noses,
tall, sinewy, wellknit frames, small
feet and hands, and are not, especially
the men, SO thick-set. short-necked or
fat-faced as the Esquimaux.
"After watching impatiently for some
time the reindeer came in sight, about
hundred and fifty of them, driven
gently without any of that noisy shout
ing and worrying that is heard in driv-
ing the domestic animals in civilized
countries. We left the huts and went
to meet them up the stream bank about
hree-quarters of q mile, led by the
owner and his wife and daughter, who
carried knife and tin cup and vessels
to save the blood and the entrails.
which stirred train of grim associa-
tioDs that greatly marred the beauty of
the picture.
II was afraid, from what knew of
the habits of sheep, and cattle and
horses, that the sight of strangers would
stampede the flock when we met, but
of this, as il proved, there was not the
slightest danger; for of all the familiar,
tame animals man has gathered about
him, the reindeer is the tamest. They
can hardly be said to be domesticated,
since they are not siut in around the
huts, nor put under shelter winter or
summer. On they came, while we
gazed eagerly at the novel sight-a
thicket of antlers, big and little, old
and young, led by the strongest, hold
ing their heads low most of the time,
as if conscious of the fact that they
were carrying very big, branching
horns; a straggler falling behind now
and then to Gull choice mouthful of
willow or dainty, gray lichen, then
making haste to join the flock again.
They waded across the creek, and
came straight toward US up the sloping
bank where we were waiting, nearer.
nearer, until we could see their eyes,
their smooth, round limbs, the velvet
on their horns, until within five or six
yards of us, the drivers saying scarce a
word, and the owner in front looking
1T In0Iu ~ tu0y CisIuo up WAtuOut HIM"
ing any call or movement to attract
them. After giving us the benefit OF
their magnificent eyes and sweet
breath they began to feed of--back up
the valley-when the boys who had
been lettering on the stream-side to
catch salmon trout or two went
round them and drove them back to
us. Then they stopped feeding. and
began to chew the cud and lie down,
with eyes partly closed and dreamy
looking, as if profoundly comfortable,
we strangers causing them not the
slightest alarm while standing nearly
within touching distance Of them.
Cows in BARNARD, MIXED and petted
every day. are not SO gentle. Yet
these beautiful animals are allowed to
feed ut will without herdinD To anY