233 



SIBERIA. NO IV. 



An important inquiry here presents itself: What induced man to es- 

 tablish himself in this dismal region? The animals either visit or in- 

 habit these icy wastes in obedience to the laws of unerring instinct. 

 Wandering tribes, visiting more fruitful lands and genial climates, are in- 

 duced to forget their former homes and form new settlements. But 

 what inducements are here to attract or secure the affections of rational 

 beings ? Here life is a ceaseless conflict for existence with the terrors 

 of cold and hunger. Here is the grave of nature, with the melancholy 

 remains of a former world. Little can be gathered from the natives, 

 and the question will probably remain unanswered. Without attempting 

 a reply, I pass on to a few reflections concerning the natives. 



Before the conquest of Siberia by the Russians, the population was 

 every where greater than at present. Some numerous tribes have left 

 only their names behind, and yet there remain, on a comparatively 

 small surface, eight or ten distinct races ; some consisting only of a few 

 families, but all distinguishable from each other by language, customs, 

 and features. They appear to be fragments of more numerous tribes, 

 some of them having come perhaps from a great distance. The most 

 important of these tribes are the Jakuti, Tschuwanzi, Tungusi, Omoki, 

 and Tschuktschi. Some of these tribes are divided, one part nomadic 

 in their habits and employing the tame rein-deer as a beast of burden, 

 and the otiier fixed employing the dog. The former were invariably- 

 found to be larger and more vigorous. The Omoki, who were settled 

 fishermen, and the Schelagi, who were nomadic, have so wholly disap- 

 peared from wars with intruders, and from devastating sickness, that 

 their names are now scarcely remembered. The Jakuti alone have not 

 only maintained their numbers, but liave advanced very considerably in 

 population, and in the cultivation of the soil. This of course refers to 

 the Southern part of Siberia. They have the merit of introducing the 

 rearing of cattle and horses and other branches of industry, where the 

 soil, and still more the climate seemed to forbid all such attempts. Their 

 countenance, tradition, and mode of living, all indicate their Tartar ori- 

 gin. They eat horse-flesh and drink kumys, (a beverage prepared from 

 mare's milk,) and migrate in the spring to leave the pastures near their 

 winter dwellings undisturbed. Tliey are exceeding litigious and unso- 

 cial in their dispositions, and so vindictive that feuds unsettled by the 

 faliier are handed down to the son. 



They were heathens and idolaters in religion, but, through the labors 

 of priests of the Greek Church, have received that form of Christianity 

 which is established in the Russian empire. lu connexion with other 

 2d 



