Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-08
THE STRANGEST RACE.
Siberia Furnishes the Lowest Form
Of Humanity.
THE GILYAKS WHO KNOW MOTH
ING OF WATER AND LITTLE OF
FIRE.

| This is n story of a marvellous peo-
pie recently visited by well-known
Russian, explorer, ]. p Miroljubon.
He declares that these Gilyaks are
among the most primitive savages OF
| the world. They do not drink water nor
use it for cleansing purposes. Fire mas
been used by them for only twenty-five
years. They have no ideas of figures.
legends. no history. They recognize
only two colors. They eat their gods,
and the men secure their brides while
the latter are still babies. Some 1000
that is, One-fifth part of the aboriglnes
of the Island of Saghalin-are called
Gilyaks, and they are the most primi-
tive of all savage races.
They have known the uses of fire for
only the last % years. Firearms. too,
were introduced shortly after the be-
ginning of the Russian occupation. but
to this day water is almost an I'M
known element with them.
They neither drink water nor use II
for cleansing purposes in any manner,
shape or form. To their mind it is
alone good for breeding FISH and carry
ing canoes.
None but those who have lived
among the Gilyaks, or, rather. in their
country-for it is impossible for civ
ilized person to breathe where they are
have the faintest idea of the amount
of dirt the human animal can stand,
if he has a mind to. AS animated, the
Gilyaks never wash their hands. face
nor the rest of their bodies, nor their
clothes, nor their beds. nor their kit
chen utensils, plates, drinking cups or
anything they use. They live in the
| holows of trees, in caves, or in nuts
made of uncured skins, and In these
places of abode their abominable
nastiness is carried to the extreme
| Dirt is allowed to accumulate until IL
| takes up too much room. whereupon
| such portions as incommode the noble
| C;iIyak are cast out: but in mind, II IS
not done for reimbursement OF ell
| bow room alone induces this savage
| to regard the filth heaped around him
| as undesirable.
They make bowls, plates and spoons
| out of wood, drinking cups out of ami
| mails heads and bones. iron and TIN
| kettles they get from the Russians. but
| these utensils never come in contact
| with water; they are never wiped OF
| brushed, or scooped out. If the CRIME is
| so thick on them as to interfere with
| their usefulness. the vessel is thrown
| away and another substituted.
| The GilkayS dress in the uncured
| skins of roe deer bear and minor wild
| animals, and the durability of this
material for clothing kept me at dis
| lance from them for a considera bic
| time when | first came to Saghalin. IL
| is not pleasant to talk to a person who
| has worked Travelled and slept in one
| and the same suit for ten or fifteen
| wears without change. without per-
| hitting it to be brushed, and without
attending to his own skin all that
| time. | had to train my nose two
| months before my finer sensibillties
| permitted me to approach n Giiyak
| without having a violent attack OF
| seasickness.
That they despise water for outward
use is bad enough. but they will not
drink it, either. Codliver oil and melted
fat is the national beverage, and the
more rancid the tipple the better II Is
liked The Gilyaka value their fat or
oil according to age.
AS a matter of fact, they neither eat
nor drink anything lest it be absolutely
and revoltingly tainted. ANY amman
they eat but the carcass must nave
undergone decomposition before IL Is
deemed proper food. AS putrid meat
or fish is not always to be had in a
cold country like Saghaln, the carcass
is taken to the cabin, cave or nut ana
deposited near the fire, and not until
the whole family has slept on top of it
for several weeks is it considered a
delicacy.
| But as | had set out to observe their
habits and their mode of life and
thought in the interest of science. that
knows little or nothing about this re-
mote branch of the human family, |
had to associate with this people who
probably stand on the lowest rung OF
the ladder leading from the animal
state to that of civilization.
If YOU ask me what habits, If any,
they have in common with civilized
nations, l answer one, and that hardly
to their credit. The Gilyaks smoke
continuously; sleep alone interrupts
their passionate use of the weed. II
they are out of tobacco they stuff their
Mines with the marrow or soft parts OF
different plants and woods, or with
hair, rags or anything that Will burn
and give off smoke. Men, women and
children are alike addicted to the
habit. AS soon as the boys or girls
are able to hold a pipe-stem between
their teeth, they are taught the noble
art and take to it as to mothers milk.
In outward appearance the Gilyaks
resemble the Esquimo, having red
dish brown skin; their eyes and hair
are either of the same hue or black.
, Nothing in the dress or features of the
women distinguishes them from males.
and both sexes are alike in repulsive-
ness. The average height is about 8
feet 6 inches in both sexes. OF the 1000
souls now left of the tribe. 80 per cent
are males.
In vain have l bent my best energies
upon ascertaining the early history OF
this people. The oldest and richest
/ Gilyak knows as little of his tribe s
past as the youngest and least import
ant. from the economic standpoint, for
possession counts in their eyes, though
they know neither chiefs nor priests.
nor elders. nor medicine men. Family
ties are recognized, yet apparently to
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