416 THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap 



• 



the water 3' 2 metres deep, and the thickness of snow on the 

 ice 0"3 metre. 



" The day after our arrival at Najtskaj we visited the village 

 Tjapka, which lies at a distance of six kilometres. This village 

 contains thirteen tents, some of which are more roomy and 

 better built than any Chukch tent I have previously seen. 

 We lodged in a tent which belonged to Erere, a friendly man 

 with a face that was always cheerful. His sleeping-chamber 

 was so large that it could hold more than one family. We 

 found the inmates there completely naked, Erere's wife, 

 Kedlanga, not excepted. Kedlanga was well formed, her 

 bosom full, her stomach somewhat projecting, the thighs poor, 

 the legs slender, the feet small. The men appeared to have 



THE COAST BETWEEN PADLJONNA AND ENJl'RMI. 



To tlie west Idlidlja Island, in the background the \'il]age Tjapka, to the right the great lagoou. 

 (After a drawing by O. Nordquist.) 



a greater disposition to stoutness than the women. Some of the 

 children had disprojDortionately large stomachs. Both men and 

 women wore copper rings on the legs, the wrists, and the upper 

 arms. On festivals they decorate themselves with iron rings, 

 with which some reminiscence appears to be connected, to judge 

 by the fact that they will not part with them. 



" Erere's family was very numerous, according to the prevailing 

 state of matters here. He had five children, whose names, 

 according to their age, were, Hatanga, Etughi, Vedlat, Uai, and 

 Umonga. In all the tents which I visited I have inquired 

 the number of children. Only two or three wives had more 

 than three ; the average may be estimated at two. 



" The children are from their tenderest years set apart for 



