Washington sentinel., 1899-10-21
IT. ~, SENTINEL
Nova ZembIa Under Russia.
UfFdsOy- Nara zine.

nova LGuDla-lAldL LOuS lSldhN
divided by the three narrow straits,
the Yongoiski, the Kara Gates,
and the Matostchin Shar (or
straits), from Waigatz Island and
the mainland of Russia, stretching
from 70 deg. to u deg. n. latitude
off the coast Of Siberia in Europe,
and lying right between those
two vast, dreary, da gerous, ice
choked seas, the BaTents and the
Kara (this latter well-called by
DIR. Nansen the ice-celler Of the
world)-this land, to m ost persons,
conjures up visions of men in fur,
Arctic expeditions, sledges, ships
crushed, and a thousand horrors,
not, as my trip was, a summer
picnic in fine mail OF $500
tons, with a French cook and a
well-stocked cellar, and a band to
play at dinner. But this was the
experience Of the author, when IN
1896, he visited the island on board
the Russian mail steamer Lomono.
sof, chartered by the Governor Of
Archangel-"the Father Of Nova
Zembla," as he is called by the
Samoyads, Alexander Platono
witch Englehardt" (the beloved),
as he is called by all. Up to 1872
Nova Zembla was No Mans Land,
or was only the land OF the bear,
reindeer, and walrus, and an oc-
casional band OF extra bold Wal
gatz or Harberona SamoYads, who
visited its shores to hunt, or, rarer
still, a scientific expedition. But
in 1873 it was taken by Russia and
placed under the Humane Society,
who butt three huts at cost OF
64oo, and put six months food
there, in case OF requirement by
the Russian or Norwegian walrus
hunters, who annually visited its
shores, and who might be, as they
often are, shipwrecked and bound
to winter in this desolate land,
where it is perpetual darkness from
November I3 to February I, anc
perpetual day from May as to july
I8, when the sun never sinks. Il!
climate is one long winter, anC
some Of the bays and inlets neve
thaw, and on the land lies lin spit,
OF its southerly deg-ee) eterna
snow; its summer temperature Il
deg. to 3 deg. r., and lis winter
temperature--6o deg. R., and in
autumn rain deluges every valley,
and foods are the order Of the day.
But in November, 1902, Nova Zem-
bla was put under official Russian
rule. e. under the protectorate
OF the Government OF Archangel
and at first all expenses were paid
by the State. Now 1t pays itSel
we'll, for on that date the Govern
ment shipped three families ot
Samoyads from the Petchora tc
Nova Zembla, numbering eighty
eight souls; in 1903 there were I7o
one Russian priest, and an unqual
flied peasant doctor (called a fel
cherl. There are now two settle
ments, the largest, Karmenkula
consisting of three big woodei
houses, a church, a wooden par
sonage, a store, a bath, and six t
twelve chooms, or native skin wig
wam-like huts. The other settle
ment, purely a native one, consist
Of chooms only, eight in number
It is a few miles from the entranc
Of the Matoatcbin Shar that curl
Gus natural canal or strait dividing
the island into two great halves
This canal is deep and navigabl
(when not blocked with ice) ant
two miles wide at parts.
Now a vessel visits this islam,
twice a year--in July and Septem
ber--and stays a day or two a
cash settlement. Barring thai
and between those times, there
no communication whatever wit
the mainland, for no one is allowe
to land without special permit
This is to discourage what use
to happen in the old days when
foreign fishing boat would lanC
and after dosing the Samoyad
with brandy, would induce ther
to part With all their years cate
for few more bottles of "Vodka" {
continue their bust" on; so nov
the Governor, when he cannot &
himself, sends his Secretary to ne
gotiate with them. The produc
OF each mans hunting is taken {
Archangel and an account in hi
name is kept at the bank. If he
poor or unlucky the Governo
helps him, If not he gets his none
and can, through the Secretary
order what he wants up to his ba
ance, the goods being brought
him next voyage. To show the
income. for example, one-one tn
champion hunter-on my visit ha
100 roubles (S7o) as the result {
his years work, and the least pro:
perous--a lazy man-had SO kc
pecks (Is.) Each, after the sale {
his skins, was told his balance an
allowed to buy. 1t was most il
teresting to sit next to the Secre
tary, good natured and patient, an
hear him explain and minister I
the wants Of these children of ma
ture. GunpowdeT. lead, tea, cloth
sugar, -four, china cups "a grea
delicacy). knives, salt. needles
dogs, snuff, tobacco, were the chic
OF the orders given. heard on
added wife, and his order, whic
was serious, was booked by th
Secretary, and next voYaPe tn
Governor sent him one girl frol
the Samoyad settlement on th
Petitioya. He was very pleased
but next time the boat called 9TH