Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-11-15
SIBERIAN GLUTTONS.
Graphic Description of Bear Feast in Yakuts-
khan VIiage-Stawart Stomachs.

GrNphic EeSCrfpIioH OF a pear = edSk IN a EdkutS-
khan ViIage-StaIwart Stomachs.
(Corres. Boston Conn., Bulletin.J
The feasting, which is deemed neces-
sary to properly celebrate one OF these
occasions, 1.-THE killing of bear, is a
great event Ia the lives of these natives.
[ remember to have been present at one
time In a small Yakutskian village when
such feast was going on. A mighty
hunter of the village had killed bear
and all his neighbors had been invited
In to join with him in the celebration.
Gvosdikoff and I happened to be IN the
place, having gone out for hunt from
Yakutsk and been overtaken by night.
We thought thai it would be no greater
hardship to pass the night here than We
had already experienced In our travels,
and the opportunity to witness the native
festivities was too good to be lost.
On an iron crane overhaneing the fire
was suspended an enormous caldron,
capable, should think, of holding sew
eral hundred pounds of anything that
might be put into it to be cooked. Up
on the platform before the fireplace was
stretched the bloody carcass of the bear,
his skin having already been removed
and hung upon the wall. The host was
experimenting the work of cutting up
and was assisted by number of willing
hands. The meat was cut up in great
iunks of fifty or sixty pounds each, and
without washing or any attempt at clean
ing were thrown into the caldron, where
the water had already reached boiling
point. While this lot was cooking, the
work Of cutting up went steadily on, and
the great pieces of bloody, dirty meat
and broken bones were piled up on the
edges of the hearth awaiting their turn,
Even the entrails and all the internal
organs of the beast were not thrown
away, but were added to the heap.
Before the meat was half-cooked it
was removed and another lot thrown
into the 5arae water boiling In the cal
dron, for the guests were too hungry to
wait longer than was absolutely neces-
sary. The junks of meat were thrown
out upon the table, and the expectant
guests crowded around, seated on the
benches or standing up. Then the work
of final destruction was commenced.
Each man, woman and child out with his
knife and attacked the smoking mass.
Every one cut off piece as large as
he or she could manage to get, always
several pounds, as though afraid that
the supply would be exhausted before
the appetite should be appeased. Hay-
ing got big piece each one would re-
tire to his seat on the bench, his stand
ing place IN the corner, or to seat on
the floor ready to enjoy his feast. The
method of feeding was unique. One
end of the lump of meat would be
switched into the mouth it having been
cut IN strips as far as possible evidently
for this very purpose. Then the indi-
vldual with his mouth full would draw
his knife, and with quick movem eat
shave off the mass close to his mouth,
and would repeat this process as long as
the supply of meat held out Even the
women and children feed themselves in
this way, and all manifested the greatest
dexterity IN the act. / confess that it
startled nae not little to see the keen
knives flashing back and forth in such
close proximity to the faces and have
expected to see some one shave off
nose or lip, or a slice of cheek or chin
instead of the intended meat. No such
accident happened and the company con
tlnued to feed as complacently in this
manner as more civilized people do with
knives and forks.
It soon became evident to me that the
feast was oaly another name for a glut-
tonous gorge. The company disposed
of the first lot of meat before the sec
Ond was done, and successfully got
away with the second, third and fourth
caldron full. Along with it they had
heaps of sek0rie or dried bread, hot
tea, bsiled fish, soup, which was cook
ing In separate kettle, and brandy and
alcohol. I thought there was enough
food for an army, but after haitian
hours watch aud study of the scene be-
fore nae, and of the movements of the
people, carae to the conclusion that
some of them would be in danger of go
ing away hungry at the conclusion of
the festivities.
The smoky atmosphere and the dis
gustiag sight and smell in the room soon
drove us out into the open air for relief,
after we had promised to return later In
the night. When we came around two