Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05

lance on tramps of exploration.
All that we could see on these hikes
of ours confirmed the peSsimistic re-
ports of the native hunters, who assured
us there was no possible chance of the
schooner being able to break through
the ice farther west.
The settlement at Cape Nord was
composed mainly OF natives and half
breeds, though we met a few Russians
engaged In trading, most OF whom APP
peared % be located there permanently.
We found the natives along this part
Of the coast an interesting change after
our too-perSiStent hordes of visiting
Chukchis. After leaving Kaluchin, one
meets fewer and fewer of the latter, and
the farther west one goes, the deeper
one penetrates into the country of the
Deermen These reindeer herders were
a quite different and. it seemed to us. a
much higher type than either Chukchi
or Eskimo. They we're taller and more
Shrewd traders, too, though spoiled
somewhat by unfair dealing, making
them suspicious and inclined to be
graSping.
They spoke a dialect different from
Chukchi. and there was a slight differ
ence in their methods of igloo constr7lc-
ton. Unlike the Chukchi, they were,
for the most part, content with one
wife.
Whether this moderation was an eco
nomic measure, or tribal custom, was
unable to learn.
When use the word tribal" in con-
nection either with the Chukchis or
Deermen, It is. strickly speaking. incor-
rect. These natives do not band them
selves together in tribes. as our North
American Indians do; but live in scat
tered settlements, or villages, having
friendly and trading relations between
communities, but no common chief or
government. Yet the racial differences
are distinct between the various types
Of natives.
THE Deermen hunt and trap, as do
the Chukchis, but their main re-
lance for food, clothing and barter
is on their immense reindeer herds,
which are not the property Of indi-
viduals, but a sort OF community pos
session. These are tended by the chill
dren Of the village Sometimes, we
the hills for weeks, alone with their
placid, browsing charges.
But we saw, too. that there was al
ways an igloo or two in the settlement
from which with an antiQuated ships
spyglaSS, acquired in the way Of trade),
some old woman, mother or grand
mother of one of the little herders, was
able to keep a watchful eye on the
movements of the herd and report that
all was well with the youngsters on
guard up there.
Many time have come on a wrin-
killed., toothless native woman, spyglass
pNwme@A% A1reA - hAn nfA
standing patiently for half-hours at a
time by her igloo doorway, assuring
herself that no trouble had come to the
youngster several miles away. On at
least one occasion I was able to watch
the preparations Of one Of these little
sturdy, resourceful native boys, to face
sudden snowstorm, by making clever
use of the only available shelter at
hand-the hairy bodies Of the reindeer
themselves.
The little chaps head might be no
higher than the reindeer's neck, yet he
would fearlessly kick and tug two of
the animals into the position he want
ed them to assume against the storm !;
force them with another savage kick to
| lie down side by side and then, himself,
! slip softly in between the two big warm
bodies and lie there snug and sheltered
| until the blizzard had blown itself out.
! I suppose 1t is splendid training for
} the boys in self-reliance, makes them
: hardy in body, and instills habit of
: resourcefulness and courage early in
, life, which is vital factor in native
, existence. However, to our Anglo-Saxon
, trained minds, it seemed bit Spartan,
! for many of the children were very
! young.
! Now we had been fast in the ice
/ pack IL miles TO the eastward OF Cape
| Nord for IL days 1t was trying tina
! for every one on board, as we had no
assurance we should not be there all
| Winter. The weather, too, was dampen-
| ing to the spirits. It alternately hailed
and showed for practically the entire
period. Toward the end Of the time
| the snow increased To blizzard violence