The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-11-26
descriptive Artltles.
Reindeer Farming in the Arctic.

Re1nQeSr fdrIn1nS III tnS A1SI1S'
John Muir, the geologist, who accom-
panied the Corwin exploring expedition,
writes to the San Francisco BNtietm
On the terminal moraine of the ancient
glacier that formed the first main tributary
of the Plover Bay glacier, some four miles
from the extreme head of the bay, We no
tieed two small skin-covered huts, which
our 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 run
ming to meet US. He was presently joined
by three others, who gazed and smiled Gu
riously at the steam launch and at ont party,
wondering suspieiously, when the interpre-
ter had told oar object, why We should
come so far and seem So eager to see their
deer. Our guides, who of course under
stood their prejudiees and superstitions,
told them that we wanted big fat deer to
eat. and that We would pay them well for
tobacco, lead, powder, caps shot, calico
knives, etc, told off in tempting order, but
they said they had none 70 selE, aud il re-
.,st;;sx.l half an isour Of courteous negotiation
to get them over their suspicious and alarms
and consent to sell the carcass of one pro
vided we would leave the skin. which they
wanted to keep for winter garments. Then
two young men, fine, strapping elastic fel-
lows. threw off their upper parkas. tied
their handsomely embroidered mocoasins
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 long wide
glacier valley, along the bank of stream.
In the meantime we ate luncheon and
strolled about the neighbOrhood looking at
the plants. the views down the BAY. and at
the interior of the huts, etc, and chattered
with the Tschuckchis about their flock, the
wild sheep on the mountains, the wild rein
deer. bears and wolves. etc We found the
family TO consist Of father, mother, grown
daughter. and the boys that were after the
deer. The old folks were evidently con
tented and happy in their safe retreat among
the hills and a sure support from their pre-
eious flock And they were proud Of their
red-oheeked girl and two strapping boys. a.
well they might be. for they seemed A.
healthy and rosy and robust group Of
children a. ever gladdened the hearts of
Tschuckchi parents.
The Tschukchis seem to be good-na-
tured, lively. eha;ty, brave and petite Peo-
pie. fond Of joke. and, a. far ss ! have
seen. fair in their dealings a. any people
savage or civilized They are not savage.
however BY any means, but steady. indus
,rious workers. looking vel ahead, provi-
ding for the future, and consequently sci
dom in want, save when at long intervals
disease or other cslsmities overiake their
focks. OF exceptionally severe seasons pre-
vent their obtaining the ordinary suppliez
Of seals. fish, whales. walruses. bears etc.
on which the sedeniaTy Tsohackchis chiefly
depend. The sedentary aud reindeer
Tsehuokehi arc the same people, aud are
said 70 differ in a marked dcgTee both as to
physical characteristics and language frum
the neighh0ring tribes. rs shey certainly do
from the Esquimaux Many q them have
light compilations hooked or aIniline noses,
tail. sineEy, weIljknit frames ssnAll fses and
hands, and are hot, especially the men, 80
thiek-set. short -necked or aSt-faccd ~ the
Esquimaux
After watching impaiien,ly for some
time the reindeer came in sight, about a
hundred and Fifty &C them, driven gently
without any Of that noisy shouting and
Worrying that j. heard in driving the do
nestle animals ia ciyiliEed countries We
left the huis and won't g. meet them up the
stream bank about fhrce-quaTters Of a mile-
led by the owner and his wife and daugh-
ter. who carried knife and tin cup and
vessels 10 save she blood and the cn,EAils,
which stirred a train of grim associations
that greatly marred the beauty of the pic-
ture
was afraid FROM what knew of the
habits # sheet, and cattle and horses that
the sight of strangers would stampede the
aoek when We met, but Of this, ~ !, prov
I'd. there wa not the slightes, danger for
Of all the familiar. tame animals man has
gathered about him. the reindeer y the
tamest They can hardly be said 10 be
domesticaied. since they are not shut IN
around the huts or put under shelter either
winter or summer. On they came, while
We gazed eagerly al the novel sight, thieket
of antlers. big and little. old and young,
led BY the strongcst, holding their heats low
most Of the time, as ii conscious of the fact
that they were carrying very big. branch
ing horns a straggler falling behind now
and then TO eull choice mouthfhf Of vii
low or dainty, gray hehen. then making
haste to Join the Hoek again They waded
across the creek and came straight toward
US up the sloping bank where we we're
waiting nearer, nearer, until We could see
their eyes, their smooth round limbs, the
velvet on their horns, until within five OF
six yards Of us. the drivers SAYING scarce
IA word and the owner in front looking Al
them as they came mp without making any
call or movement 10 attract them. After
giving Us the benefit Of their magnificent
eyes and sweet breath they began to feed
off-baek up the valley-when the boys
who had been lettering on the stream-sidt
10 catch salmon trout or two went round
them and drove them back 10 US Then
they stopped feeding aud began 10 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. Cow,
in barnyard, MIXED and petted every
day. are not 50 gentle Yet these beauti
full animals are allowesl to feed at will
without herding to any great extent. They
seem as smooth and clean and glossy as i
they were wild Tanning does not seem Il
have injured them in any way. saw nC
mark of man upon them.
After walking through the midst of the
I flock, the boys selected rather small spe
( eimen to be killed One caught it by tn,
hind leg, just as sheep are caught, anC
dragged it backward out of the flock ther
/ the other boy took it by the horns and lee
/ it away a few yards from the flock n,
notice being taken of its struggles by III
companions, nor was any tendency to taxi
/ fright observed, as would, under the cir
eumstanees, have been shown by any o
/ the common domestic animals The mothei
alone looked after it eagerly, and furthel
manifested her concern and affection BY
trying to follow it and uttering low
I ,o,,p1