The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-02-18
WINTER SIGHTS ON THE NEVA.
The Samoieds from the Icy Zone-Tha
Swift-Footed Siberian Reindeer.

The samoieds from the Icy Zone-Tha
Swift-Footed Siberian Reindeer.
Every year, at the beginning of Jan.
uary, a number of Samoied familes-
tribes inhabiting the shores Of the Arctic
ccean-make their appearance In St. Pc
tersburg, bringing some thirty or forty
reindeers and dozen roughly-con-
structed sleighs. They erect tent
upon the banks of the frozen Neva, and
near it corral their reindeers with SIM
pie rope guard. Their object is to fur
nish sleighing parties with the rare sport
of riding after the wing-footed Siberian
deer. Their costume is well adapted to
their home in the icy zone. Over COM
mon shirt is worn suit of reindeer
skins. consisting of baggy pair of pant
aloons and jacket, the hairy side of the
skin being outside. The jacket, which
reaches nearly to the knee, is buttoned
up behind. The cap of deer skin is well
wadded and ornamented with long fur
ear-laps. The high and roughly-con-
structed boots, also of deer skin, reach to
the knee, and have thick soles. The ef-
feet of this picturesque garb is
DESTROYED by covering it with
a long, common cotton print gown, well
well wadded and quilted, with sleeves so
1 wide that no movement of the arm is
dlscernible. ...-..- - - 4
Their sleighs consist of q box, about
three feet wide and seven long, resting
upon pegs about three feet high, fitting
into wooden runners, which turn up in
front to the height of four or five feet
and end in sharp points. A light stick
serves as the whiffletree, which Is fas-
tened to the runners. Reindeer skins
cover the board seats, and reindeer skins
cover the patronizing public: During
the time not engaged the deer stand upon
the ice, warm and painting, with their
tongues hanging from their mouths, in
dicating that even St. Petersburg win
ter is tropical to them. Their harness is
also composed Of the skins of the rein
deer, and remind the spectator Of mule
harness in old plantation days, with the
exception that strips of hide take the
place of cornstalks. No traces are used,
but a strong strap attached to ring in
/ the collar and brought between the legs
of the deer is fastened to the whiffletree.
I 4 Russian agent is employed as inter-
prefer, and standing at the side of the,
/ Arctic vehicleh invites the curious pub
tlic to take ride on the Neva, for a
small consideration-which is not so
fsmall after all. When a number Of
patrons are secured the sleigh is brought
up, a Sanoied seats himself on the
right side, takes his long line in one
hand, willow rod on the other, and
signifies his rsadinessto start One such
! ride generally satisfies the seeker after
fun, as the slippery seats covered with
the hairy skins are hard to retain under
| him, and he is in continual fear Of slid
| ing off. The speed of these deer is good,
but not SO great as we have been led to
suppose, they being generally, beaten by
the little horses of Finland, Curiosity
seekers are prohibited from approaching
too near the corraled deer, rs vicious
animal is capable Of inficting great in
| Jury upon the visitor with his long horns,
the Samoicds being held responsible by
tho police for any harm done to sight
seerS.
The tent erected to accommodate their
families has much the resemblance Of an
Indian hut of the American frontier, of
the same shape, and covered with deer
SKINS The interior is made comfortable
with felt and fur mats. The fire IS al
ways placed in the middle of these tents.
From high pole hangs chain attached
| to a kettle in which provisions are
cooked. During heavy storms the OPEN
ing at the top of the tent for the escape
of the smoke must be closed, so that the
female and juvenile portion of the col
ony are not very prepossessing in out
ward appearance, their gaudy dress,
brass chains, brass buttons, brass arm
and ear rings notwithstanding.
In the latter part of February they be-
| taku themselves back to their Arctic
abodes keeping only enough reindeer to
transport them thither. The others are
slaughtered, and the meat preserved for
| LIle uO1uc"dlu JouAliey' -ho oooiA 90
killed, the women and children fall upon
the bones, split them and voraciously
suck the marrow from them while the
animal is still warm. The brain is also
eaten with great gusto. The eyes of the
deer are then taken h. the women and
buried, where it will not happen that a
married woman or full-grown girl walks
over them, as such an occurrence might
bring great fatality to the whole samoied
tribe. The st.. Petersburg curiosity-seek.
ers often buy whole new suits Of these
frigid zoners for purposes of masquerad:
ing, while their boots and shoes sell
readily ON account of their impervlous
ness to wet snow. Many of these SAM
oieds who have thus exhibited them.
selves, and through their reindeer: sleigh
ing on the Neva, have. accumulated small
fortunes.