Charlevoix county herald., 1921-01-28
KAMC tsATKA: ALASKA'S
POOR RELATION.

The Kamchatkan peninsula and the
Siberian country between IL and the
Arctic ocean have attracted interna-
tiOnal attention since the report of Its
lease TO a syndicate Of Americans for
the development of Its natural re-
sources. This region is sort Of half
sister to Alaska, which was also once
Russian territory.
Alaska, the more comely sister,
Jared forth, SO TO speak, was sold into
the family of the wealthy Uncle Sam.
and has had life rich In excitement
and adventure. Kamchatka. the more
homely sister, remained under the Rus
sian rooftree on the west side OF
Boring sea, and has lived In seclusion.
Kamchatka and the country north
to Boring strait contain a large area
of tundra or Arctic plains; soft, spongy
morasses during the few months Of
summer; frozen, snow-covered wastes
In winter. In the higher land impene-
trable underbrush springs up In sum-
mer. What little travel is possible at
this season is done on the backs OF
sturdy ponies who must wade up the
shallow streams or plod through the
sticky swamps. In winter travel Is
easy. Teams OF dogs and reindeer
whisk laden sledges over the frozen
surface Of the streams and across the
snow of the tundra at a rate, under
favorable circumstances, of rs miles
nj T,-otl L. ha ytr
ally highways are beaten down by the
teams of the natives bringing their
furs-the chief present resources of
the country-to the trading posts.
In the summer the curse of the
moist regions Of the north strikes the
Kamchatkan country; swarms Of
mosquitoes and flies thicken the air
and make life miserable for all liv-
ing things. The nomadfc natives flee
with their herds Of reindeer to the sea-
coast, where the breezes give some re-
lief
Though the climate of Kamchatka is
rigorous, Westerner is likely to con.
slider the food Of the country more so.
Bowls of boiled fishes eyes are the
most popular delicacy In the lower
peninsula where the silver hordes Of
salmon run up most of the streams.
To the north reindeer meat in some
form is the universal piece de resist
ance, the tongues and marrow bones
~being priced in particular.
Gold storage" eggs contribute to
Kapchatka's tables. The eggs are
obtained from the nests Of gulls and
other wild fowls and are buried in
pits on the frosty north side of hill
until needed Frozen berries also exc
out the winter fare.
"Soup balls" carried by winter trav-
elers. are likely to prove compensa-
ton to western palates. They are
small balls Of reindeer sausage" sur
rounded by crust Of dough, the whole
about the size of an English walnut.
These balls freeze and are carried I'm
bags like marbles. A handful dropped
into kettle of boiling water produces
within few minutes a delectable and
sustaining dish.
The Kamchatkan peninsula proper
Is about 750 miles In length, and the
distance from It's roots to Bering
strait is an equal distance. KAN
chatka lies in the same latitude as the
British isles, while the country north
to the Arctic ocean Is In the latitude
Of Norway. The Kamchatka region Is
bathed by cold arctic currents instead
Of the warm Gulf stream, and It's eli
mate is therefore much colder than
that Of Britain and Scandinavia.