The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-02-01
IN SIBERIAN WASTES
DESoLATE AND BLEAK COUNTRY
OF THE NORTH.
Valuable Ivory Stlli Yielded From AMI
mas That Lived Centuries Ago
Reindeer and Dogs Used a.
Beasts of Burden.

II is not generally known that ST.
IBERIA furnishes large quantity Of
ivory to the markets of the world
but the production OF Il belongs to an
other age and to species OF animals
that does not now exist
The ivory il cut from the tusks OF
mammoths whose skeletons are found
frozen In masses OF ice or buried in
mud OF Arctic rivers and swamps
Even to wild animals these boys
are forbidden ground The nimbIe
reindeer can sometimes cross them
safely in the summer. but most other
large animals would be eneulfed With
the summer thaw that penetrates
more deeply than usual into the
ground some OF these antediluyian
monsters are always exposed
IL is to recover these valuable fos.
sill tusks. also to hunt and trap the
fur.bearing animals and transport the
peits OF the sable. ermine and sea OF.
ter back TO civilization that forms =
chief occupation Of many of the Siper-
a
road Mans Magazine. they make the
most pesilous freighting Journeys in
the world, beset by all sorts CT hard,
ships.
The people are divided into two
classes. the reindeer breeder and tho.
dog breeding tribes. The former live
entirely on the products OF their rein
deer herds. Some OF the reindeer
tribes use their animals for riding
and sledge driving only and not for
food purpose. The Yakuts. one OF tho
largest and most progressive tribes,
use their deer entirely for transporta.
ton purposes.
Two large animals are always used
to a freight sledge These carry mer
chandise. mail and furs all over the
northern part OF the province of va
kutsk. Their reindeer are OF great
size, larger than those possessed by
the other reindeer people
II well pastured and not overwork-
ed a trained pair ~ harnessed rein
deer can make 50 to Is miles a day
provided that the snow is thin and
hard on the tundra When tired tho
deer must be Immediately rested ~
compelled TO travel further they be-
come exhausted and often drop dead,
The team eogs serve till 10 or ~
years old After the sixth or seventh
year they begin to decline. The dogs
GRO harneuSad "a, ,,airS Ia a Stropg ca.i
thong, which serves the place Of a
wiJietree \ full team consists of six
or seven pairs.
The course is directed by special
call words These are uaderstood by
the leading dog. which Is trained es
TeciaIly for that purpose. The har-
ness consists OF hreastniece and
two or three bands across the back.
The dogs pull on the traces somewhat
obliguely so as TO leave SUFFICIENT
room between them To avoid iosting.
Even when youns or badly trained
dog is matched to an old one the elder
will actually prevent its companion
from causing trouble, biting It severe
ly every time 1t tries to leap across
the strap.
Shy or disobedient dogs are placed
nearer to the sledge, where they can
be reached by the whip, Al the rear
more exertion IL required since the
sledge. on every mdulation OF the
ground. pulls backward. Strong ami
mails somewhat slow from age or from
lack OF mettle are usually placed Mt
the rear and those that are more brisk
IN the front.
With light sledge and gooa dogs 40
miles can be travelled In "a hours Two
miles have been mace In two
days The dogs are fed once q day
usually in the evening A piece Of
bubber about two inches square and
seine shreds OF walrus meat. dried or
frozen fish, form the daily rstirn Of
every dog.
rood team OF " dogs car haul
from 400 to GOO pounds One Of the
tong sledge journeys made BY the in
land reindeer people Is over 200 miles.
In March and April when they make
up trading caravan OF reindeer skins
for boots and clothing. etc, which
they take to East Cape on the Pacific
to barter to Americans and whalers.