CHUKCHE MEDICINE-MEN. 



421 



between the tents is partitioned off by curtains. The en- 

 trance is a hole, with a skin hung before it for a door. 



Inside the dwelling are stored all the effects of the one or 

 more families who occupy it. Dogs are admitted to the 

 outer space, and puppies are often received inside. Food is 

 cooked in a pot suspended over a fire, and the smoke, or 

 part of it, escapes through a hole in the roof. 



The Coast Chukches are not only heathens, but appear 

 also to have no conception of a Supreme Being. They are, 

 however, superstitious, and have medicine-men, termed 

 " ianglans," who exert much influence over them. Some of 

 the exploits of these medicine-men are described by Messrs, 

 Grace and Bruch, of the Rodgers crew, as follows :- 



INTERIOR OP CHUKCHE TENT. 



"A hunting party previous to setting out from the 

 village sends for the ianglan. He brings with him a drum 

 made of seal-gut, stretched on wood or bone hoops for heads, 

 the body or sides being thick walrus hide. Upon entering 

 the interior of the hut all lights are extinguished, and si- 

 lence reigns for a brief space. Suddenly the stillness is 

 broken by the ianglan breaking into a low, monotonous 

 wail, which gradually rises into a loud, prolonged screech, 

 the drum being beaten all the time, until the cunning knave, 

 completely exhausted, falls to the ground, and pretends to 

 go into a kind of trance. During such condition he is sup- 

 posed to be in close communion with the spirits. Recover- 



