﻿876 TCHUKCHE. 



to escape, and enclose several apartments named 

 pologSj or square closets of skins, stretched over 

 laths, and so low that the inmates must remain 

 in a crouching position. The polog is heated by a 

 lamp, and its temperature is so high, and the air so 

 close, as to be scarcely endurable by a person un- 

 accustomed to breathe so impure an atmosphere. 



Dr. Latham considers the Tchukche as the 

 northern branch of the Koriaks, the southern 

 branch being named Kora^Jci, Avhich is said to be an 

 indigenous appellation*; and he reckons the Koriaks 

 as a division of the Peninsular Mono;olid£e. It is 

 probable that on further investigation the Rein-deer 

 Tchukche "will be found to be the connecting link 

 between the Asiatic and American Mongolidas. In 

 their attachment to commercial pursuits, fondness 

 for beads, and in their bold independent character, 

 they have a resemblance to the Kutchm, described 

 in the following chapter. The similarity of the ap- 

 pellation Tchukche, derived from Tchekto, " people," 

 to Tchutski or Ta-kutski, "water-people," tribes of 

 the Kutchin, is, however, in Dr. Latham's opinion, 

 merely an indirect glossarial affinity. The great 

 variety of dialects which prevail in the Aleutian 

 Archipelago and neighbourhood of Beering's Straits 

 is most probably the result of the active commerce 

 there carried on, having brought several nations 

 into contact with each other. 



* Korciy " a rein-deer." 



