328 



THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 



[chap. 



into a sealskin bag, evidently to be preserved for green food 

 during winter. The hand was used in this case as a scoop, and 

 the naked arms were coloured high up with the certainly un- 

 appetising spinage, which hoAvever, according to the statements 

 of Danish colonists in Greenland, has no unpleasant taste. Other 

 skin sacks filled with train-oil stood in rows along the walls of 

 the tent. 



The Chukches offered train-oil for sale, and appeared to be 

 surjOTsed that we would not purchase any. In all the tents 

 were found seals cut in pieces, a proof that the catch of seals had 

 recently been abundant. At one tent lay two fresh walrus heads 

 with large beautiful tusks. I tried without success to purchase 

 these heads, but next day the tusks were offered to vis. The 



CHURCH TENT. 



(After a photograph by L. Palander.) 



Chukches appear to have a prejudice against disposing of 

 the heads of slain animals. According to older travellers they 

 even pay the walrus-head a sort of worship. 



Children were met with in great numbers, healthy and 

 thriving. In the inner tent the older children went nearly 

 naked, and I saw them go out from it without shoes or other 

 covering and run between the tents on the hoarfrost-covered 

 ground. The younger were carried on the shoulders both of 

 men and women, and were then so wrapped up that they 

 resembled balls of skin. The children were treated with marked 

 friendliness, and the older ones were never heard to utter an 

 angry word. I purchased here a large number of household 

 articles and dresses, which I shall describe further on. 



