406 THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap. 



normal price-list, mutually agreed upon by the Russian mer 

 chants and the oldest of the Chukches. The market is in- 

 augurated on the part of the Russians by a mass performed by 

 the priest/ who always accompanies the Russian crown com- 

 missioner, and in the Chukches' camp with buffoonery by one of 

 the Chukch Shamans. At such a market there is said to be 

 considerable confusion, to judge by the spirited description which 

 Wrangel gives of it (Reise, i. p. 269). We ought, however, to 

 remember that this description refers to the customs that pre- 

 vailed sixty years ago. Now, perhaps, there is a great change 

 there. In the commercial relations in north-eastern Asia in the 

 beginning of this century, we have probably a faithful picture 

 of the commerce of the Beormas in former days in north- 

 eastern Europe. Even the goods were probably of the same 

 sort at both places, perhaps, also, the stand-points of the culture 

 of the two races. 



Besides the traders, a large number of Chukches from Kol- 

 yutschin Island and other villages to the west, travelled past us 

 with empty sledges, to which were harnessed only a few dogs. 

 They returned in the course of a few days with their sledges 

 fully laden with fish which they said they had caught in a 

 lagoon situated to the eastward. They also sometimes sold a 

 delicious variety of the Coregonus taken in a lake in the 

 interior some distance from the coast. 



Further on in winter a number of excursions were under- 

 taken in different directions, partly to find out these fishing 

 places, partly to get an idea of the mode of life of the reindeer 

 Chukches. I, however, never ventured to give permission for 

 any long absence from the vessel, because I was quite convinced 

 that the sea round the Vega after a few days' constant southerly 

 storm might become open under circumstances which would not 



^ During the market the Russian priest endeavours to make proselytes ; 

 he succeeds, too, by distributing tobacco to induce one or two to subject 

 themselves to tlie ceremony of baptism. No true conversion, liowever, 

 can scarcely come in question on account of the difference of language. 

 As an example of how this goes on, the following story of Wrangel's may 

 be quoted. At the market a young Chukch had been prevailed upon, by a 

 gift of some pounds of tobacco, to allow himself to be baptised. The cere- 

 mony began in presence of a number of spectators. The new convert 

 stood quiet and pretty decent in his place till he should step down into the 

 baptismal font, a large wooden tub filled with ice-cold water. In this, 

 according to the baptismal ritual, he ought to dip three times. But to 

 this he would consent on no condition. He shook his head constantly, and 

 brought forward a large number of reasons against it, which none under- 

 stood. After long exhortations by the interpreter, in which promises of 

 tobacco probably again played the principal part, he finally gave way and 

 sprang courageously down into the ice-cold water, but immediately jumped 

 up again trembling with cold, crying, " My tobacco! my tobacco!" All 

 attempts to induce him to renew the bath were fruitless, the ceremony 

 was incomplete, and the Chukch only half baptised. 



