The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-11-30

small clearing. Round about IL stood
a score OF well.conditioned deer that
gazed at us in a curious fashion with
their large. tender, brown eyes. Inside
the yourtc, as the tents are called, the
Tonguse family we're all gathered, the
men smoking and looking after the fire,
the women engaged in feeding their
children. The head OF the family
promised to have the deer sent to Detygl,
that was the name Of the next station,
in good time, aud we proceeded on With
our horses to the end of tho station. IL
was mistake, however, that we did NOT
annex the deer there aud then, for the
remaining thirty vcrsts were much worse
than anything we had before expert.
enced. Finally, about three in the
afternoon, the CossaclS guide, mounted
on the leading team, declared himself
unable to find the way further.
For over nm hour VIC waited while III,
Yakuts searched in vain for road and
began TO make up my mind for a night
IN the forest, when, to our Joy, we din.
cerDed a long string Of deer coming
toward us through the deep snow. II
was strange procession when IL came
up. There were about twenty animals,
divided into three groups, one following
in the others tracks. On the leading
deer rode little Tonguesc boy Of ten OF
twelve. clad in deerskiu;, his little fur
cap hiding all but his eyes. The five
following deer bore little pack saddles,
on which were fastened the goods and
utensils OF a Yakut household. Then
came the next group. Of six animals,
similarly laden, but from one OF the bur.
dens of a quiet-going animal l heard
cries that could not be mistaken.
The double.pacK saddle arrangements
were fashioned like very large pair oi
canvas.covercd pistol hostlers, aud the
cries issuing from them indicated that
these arrangements held the Yakut baby
and the next youngest member of the
family, the former, doubtless, carefully
packed in his cradle and KEEP. warm with
hay and deerskins or furs. The remain.
ing animals of the group bore each a
small burden OF household furniture.
Then followed the third group. On the
leader rode the 1onguse mother, clad in
deerskin trousers and coat and fur cap,
her limbs dangling down on either side
Of the animals neck, while she kept her
equilibrium skiliully on the little saddle
placed on the shoulders OF the deer.
The rear was brought up by the Ton
eusc father aud owner OF the family and
deer train.
But some rude treatment fell to the
lot OF the poor fellow which ], unfortu.
nately, could not prevent. My Cossack
demanded that he should leave his fam
lily, and return with us and show us the
way to Betygl. This he refused at first
to do, whereupon the Cossack compelled
, him to turn, and, mounted on his deer,
to lead US on our way. Having been
placed In the care Of the Cossack, who
understood his business we'll, thought
it best to let things go on as he arranged,
and think that in the end both ] and
the Tongusc father were thankful. We
had still fifteen versts of forest and deep
snow to get through, and under our new
guide this was accomplished in splendid
style.
The old man took his compulsor,
journey in good temper, his deer trotted
in aud out aud among the trees at a
capital rate, leading us over road,
however, that defes description for is
hummocks and hills and hollows and
dangerous places. The old man kept
always ahead, but locked back constantly
to see how we were getting on. He
seemed for all the world like gnome
leading us a will-o'-thc. wisp procession
among the weird realms OF snow and ice
and forest and mountain.
At last Betygl was reached and the
old man received his reward in good
feed which he said he had lacked for
the last three days, and for which reason
he was removing his family to better
hunting grounds aud plenty of tea and
tobacco. He first ate three pounds OF
black bread; this was followed by q
good pound OF rancid butter, and finally
by the meatless knuckle bone OF leg
Of mutton. I don't know how hard
knuckle bone is to eat, but the old mans
teeth were put bravely to work and
every particle was crunched up aud con.
sumed. His teeth were superbly strong,
and yet they had munched and crunchet
at least sixty long winters and short
summers aud then could attack and de-
molish kuuckle joint bone with case.
This was my frs. meeting with ST.
berian reindeer and one of their quaint
ronguse owners.