﻿410 KUTCHIN. 



on the surface are awake, and wakes when they 

 sleep. 



One other way, among several, in which a poor 

 Kenaiyer endeavours to improve his condition is, 

 to invite his rich friends of another family to a 

 festival. Melted snow only is set before them, and 

 the relatives, watching for any sneering expressions 

 respecting this Barmecide feast, report them to the 

 host. He then rushes out with angry gestures, 

 and challenges his mockers, wounding himself at 

 the same time with an arrow, to signify that he 

 prefers death to degradation. This scene was ex- 

 pected, and the mockers, having their presents pre- 

 pared, declare their readiness to make reparation. 



The winter huts of the Northern Kolushes are 

 high, large, and roomy, built of wood, with the 

 hearth in the middle, and the sides divided into as 

 many compartments as there are families living 

 under the roof ; the number varying from two to 

 six. Two or three bath rooms are constructed at 

 the end, and in them much of the winter is spent. 

 These vapour baths resemble the den of a bear, 

 and open into the hut by a small aperture through 

 which a man can creep with difficulty. They are 

 covered on the outside with earth, and heated 

 within with hot stones. 



Baron Wrangell, from whom most of the pre- 

 ceding details have been translated^ is of opinion 



