CHAPTER XXIX. 



IN WINTER QUARTERS. 



The Ostiaks of the Yenesei — An Ostiak Baby — A new Bird — Visit from 

 the Blagachina and the Postmaster — Blackcocks in the Forest — The 

 Capercailzie — Wary Crows — Stacks of Firewood — Result of a Week's 

 Shooting. 



Whilst we were waiting patiently for summer to return 

 I was much interested in observing the natives of these 

 northern climes. Every day our house was visited by 

 'Ostiaks, who came with squirrel, ermine, and fox skins, 

 to barter for meal or black bread from the Russian 

 peasant merchant. These Ostiaks must not be con- 

 founded with the Ostiaks of the Ob. The latter are a 

 Finnish race allied to the Voguls of the Urals, the 

 Zyriani of the Izhma, and the Kvains of Lapland. 

 The Ostiaks of the Yenesei, on the other hand, are allied 

 to the Samoyedes ; at least this was the opinion I 

 formed as the result of my inquiries into their language. 

 There were several Ostiak chooms at a short distance 

 from our winter quarters. These chooms, or tents, were 

 exactly like the summer tents of the Petchora Samoyedes, 



