THE OSTIAKS 313 



Before this was accomplished the youngest child, certainly 

 not more than five years old, having either heard or smelt 

 what was going on, came running out of the choom with 

 scarcely a rag of clothes on, and howled and screamed 

 until its share of the spoil was thrown to it. 



The Ostiaks are a very different-looking race from 

 the Tungusks. They might be mistaken for a mixed 

 breed between the Russians and Tungusks. The 

 Ostiaks are of sallow complexion, have high cheek-bones 

 and flattish noses, but the Tungusks are copper-coloured, 

 have still higher cheek-bones, and sometimes scarcely 

 any bridge at all to the nose. One also occasionally sees 

 brown hair amongst the Ostiaks, but this may, of course, 

 indicate the presence of Russian blood. 



Although I did not turn out on my snow-shoes that 

 day, I nevertheless added a new bird to my list. This 

 was a handsome snowy owl, almost white. It was 

 sent me in the flesh by Mr. Nummelin, the mate of 

 Schwanenberg s schooner, who had left us a day or two 

 previously to sledge down to the islands where she lay 

 moored. In a note which accompanied it he told me 

 that he had picked it up a few stations north of our 

 quarters. It had been caught in a fox-trap. I found on 

 dissecting the black-grouse and hazel-grouse that they had 

 been feeding on the buds of the birch and alder. 



On the 9th of May we had the first attempt at rain 

 since our arrival in the Arctic Circle. The wind continued 

 south-west and the snow began to thaw fast. The mate 

 also saw a goose fly over the ship, and our hopes of the 

 arrival of summer began to rise. I also watched a rough- 

 legged buzzard majestically sailing in wide circles near 

 us, but it took care never to come within shot. The rain 

 continued all the following day, and became very heavy 

 at night. A flock of six geese flew over, and we rejoiced 



