The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-10

OOOh WHICH, 10 " COItdlA LnS
results of his Investigations. M. Bogoras
is Russian scientist and novelist. He
made thorough study Of Siberian ethno-
logy during the ten years which he spent
in the remotest districts of Asiatic Russia,
and two years ago, when the museum of
natural history in this city applied for
two men who would be competent to lead
the Siberian end of the expedition, he was.
one of the explorers named
The object of the expedition which
started from New York in March 1890,
and has spent about two years among the
most primitive tribes of northeastern ST.
IBERIA, has been ''to build an chronological
bridge across the Behring sea-" Besides
the two Russian scientists, who were ac-
ocmpanied throughout their journeys by
their wives, the expedition included Nor
man Buxton, an American zoologist, and
a young Swiss named Alexander AXelrod.
The party met at Vladivostock, and, after
travelin gfor two months by steamboat
in a northern direction, they parted into
two sections, NJ. Gogoras and his COM
panions going to the Anadyr river as far
as Markova, the most northern fort in
Russia The district is inhabited by
Chukehce tribes, those living north of
the village being considere unvanquished
and free from Russian rule.
M Bogoras put in the long arctic winter
(from October to June) travelling on dog
sleds among Chukchee and Kamtcha-
dale settlements. Altogether, he covered
during these eigth months 5000 miles,
taking in the northern coast of KANT
chatka and some points which had never
been visited by white men before Among
the tribes whose acquaintance he made
in these regions were the Kereks a mari
time people, which is rapidly dying out
from famine They live on walrus, and
time was when they were among the
most prosperous tribes in the district. OF
late years, however, this animal has been
emigrating to other parts, it's old home
having become unsafe through the fire.
quent appearance of American whalers;
SO the walrus hunters often die by the
hundred from sheer lack of food.
Speaking of these whaiers, M. Bogoras
usually dwells on three Eskimo tribes who
are completely under American influence,
although their home is on the Russian
side of the Bering sea. American whal-
ers call at these points quite often.
There are fourteen American storehouses
there, and while none Of the natives I'M
lerstand a word of Russian, most of their
boys can speak English quite fuently.
M. Bogoras found American monographs
among them, which they handle like one
I1r11aT1 hon q q
plorer took some photographic records ola
their songs and specimens of their folk
lore they insisted upon adding one record
Of their own taking to his collection. They
are also skillful in the use of the COM
pass.
Among the things which the people of
these places sell to the American govern
ment are deer, of which hundreds are
shipped yearly to Alaska for the benefit
Of American Eslzimos. OF late, however,
the matter has been under discussion by
Russian authorities, and the governor of
has even signified his inten-
ton to put a stop to the expectation IF
deer. When M. Bogoras visited the CAPT
tai of that province he was consulted on
the subject. He strongly advised the gov :
ernor not to interfere.
NJ Bogoras declines to be interviewed
on the subject of his Investigations refer
ring every inquirer to Prof. Boas, the
head of the chronological department of
the museum, but he talks freely on the
spread OF the American spirit in the re-
gion in question. One Of his favorite
topics is a sermon which DR.. Lerrigo, an
American missionary on the st. Laurence
island, delivered to an Eskimo audience.
HE is charming man." he said. "a
greater enthusiast and one more deeply
absorbed in his work I never saw.~At the
time ] heard him deliver that interest
ing sermon he was still quite new in the
place, and a stranger to the language of
the people he was trying to convert So
I had to act as his interpreter, or, rather,
as one of the interpreters, between him
and his prospective flock You see,
speak the language Of the Chukchee, one
OF the dominant tribes in northeastern
Siberia, but I don't speak Eskimo. But
then had with me several Chukchee fell
lows as well as two Russian Eskinos.
Now, Chukchee Is the French language
of the district referred to. Koryak or Es-
kimo,, every one who has seen the world,
will speak Chukchee almost as readily as
he does his own tongue. So DR.. Lerrigo