The record-union., 1895-02-04
SIBERIA AND KAMTCHAHKAN LIFE.
George kennan Describes 1t in a
Lecture.
q Vivid Description of His Experience
in the Land of the Wandering
KorGSs.

George Kennan, the widely known
lecturer and author, spoke on Saturday
night to crowded audience at the Con-
gregationaI Church, standing-room being
at premium.
lie was introduced by II. Weinstock,
who said he was not stranger, as he
used to worship in the church thirty
years ago, and had not been afraid since
then to raise his voice against wickedness
in high places.
Mr. hennan said there were few parts
OF the globe and few races of men less
known to the civilized world than the
northeast part of Siberia. Its extent was
equal to that Of the United States east of
the Mississippi River, but its population
was no greater now than 1t was in the
time of Peter the Great. and the Cossacks
and other Inhabitants do not add much
TO our store OF information about it.
In 1864 the Western Union Telegraph
Company projected line through Alaska
ana through Siberia. But little was
known, even to geographers, about the
country. The project was looked upon
much like one for double-track railroad
TO the moon, and some of the newspapers
went so far as to say that the will of COD
was against its accomplishment.
The following June the speaker left the
ONCE IN this city, IN which he had been
employed as an operator, and went with
an exploring party, landing Oh August
10Th at Petropauloyski, and entering
upon his trst experience of Asiatic life.
His hearers could imagine the interest he
felt at the sight of the little houses with
their nsh-skln windows, the priests with
their long hair hanging down their
DackS nd
many other singular features OF the coun-
try and its customs.
ii o described PetropauloVski, with the
snowy cone OF a volcano Tor back
ground and surrounded by green fields
covered with flowers. 1t was not what
he had anticipated, but more like the
temperate zone.
What the Russians had done to be
aIlllcted with such a mixed up language
he did not know, unless their ancestors
TOOK part IN the building of the Tower of
babel. Ihe hrst thing he thought neces-
sary 10 learn was TO ask for something to
eat. lie asked the Interpreter what to
say and was told something that had
about dozen words OF seventeen sylla-
bles each. The inhabitants say their lam
guage was spoken by Adam and Eve in
the Garden OF Eden. Ifso, he did not WON
der that Adam ate the apple when Eve
gave IL to hlm-lt was far easier to do SO
than to tell her he did not want it. Some
ci the verbs are declined in twenty-nine
different ways; Tor himself, he declined
them Ouce-he declined to have anything
to do with them. Politeness IN Russian
was simply suicide; it took a great ex-
penditure of breath TO say 'thank you.D
After living at PetrOpaulovski eigh-
teen months the party separated and he
went north with a companion through
hamtchatka on horseback. He found
lovely vegetation and the mountain
scenery OF switzerland, and rode through
beautiful valleys clothed in flowers, with
herds of reindeer feeding, and among
the rocky hills were mountain sheep and
an occasional bear. The unbroken will
deTneSs showed no traces of the hand OF
man.
1t is cold enough, however, in winter.
and as they proceeded the skies grew
leaden and the moaning winds colder
Ihey tried to reach a settlement at the
head of the Okotsk Sea, but the storm
bI0ckaded them and drove them back.
In November there was snow enough to
make good Shedding, and procuring 300
dogs and sleds he started for the country
OF the wandering horaks, q powerful
tribe with thousands OF reindeer who are
always on the move because their deer
browse over a square mile q day and
would starve unless they moved on. He
found them a most kind and hospitable
people.
Mf. hennan gave most interesting
account OF the Horaks, with when he
lived Tor several months, their habits, re-
uglon and various ceremonies. After
some time, hearing continual rumors of a
party Of white men 800 miles to the east,
who were living in a snow nut with a
black tube sticking out through the snow,
which he knew must be a stoveplpe. he
started to md them.
lie gave most graphic account of the
suHerlngs of himself and his companions
on the journey. with the thermometer at
from 4U7 to TO- below zero, and how they
discovered the party just as his compan-
Ion could nave gone no further. He gave
vivid description Of an aurora borealis
they saw one night. After all the Driva-
tions endured by them, and an explOra-
ton OF several hundred miles and the
cutting Of $4,000 telegraph poles, thew
were recalled, the successful laying OF
the second Atlantic cable having rem
dered Improbable the construction Of
the Siberian line.
Mr.. kennan is a pleasing speaker and
his witty and fanciful descriptions often
moved his audience to laughter, while
his description OF the perIlous trip in
search the party Of white men and his
vivid painting of the auroral display held
his audience entranced. He is sure to be
welcome visitor whenever he lectures
IN Sacramento.