XI.] LIFE IN A REINDEER CHUKCH TENT. 417 



each other ; thus Etughi, Erere's second son, who was httle 

 more than eight, was set apart for Keipteka, a girl of six or 

 seven. Etughi and Keipteka slept under the same roof, though 

 apart. " When they grow bigger," said Erere to me, " their 

 sleeping-places will be put alongside each other." At what 

 age this takes place I have not ascertained, but I suppose that 

 it is very early, as is common with all Oriental races. 



" Right opposite Tjapka lies a small island, by the natives 

 called Idlidlja, which is about 800 metres in circumference. Its 

 shores rise perpendicularly on all sides except that which is 

 opposite Tjapka, in which direction it sinks with a steep slope. 

 On the north end of it we found three or four whales' bones 

 and some pieces of driftwood, but nothing to indicate that 

 there had been any Onkilon dwellings there. The island 

 swarmed with hares, which the inhabitants of Tjapka hunt with 

 the bow. For this hunting they are accustomed to build 

 circular walls of snow, pierced with loopholes, through which 

 they shoot the unsuspecting animals. 



" Regarding^ life in the tent I have still the following notes : 

 The most troublesome work is given to the older women. They 

 rise early to light and attend to 

 the lamps, yoke the dogs, and go 

 fishing. The young women, on 

 the other hand, sleep far into 

 the day. The housewives return 

 at noon ; their work is then bracelet of copper. 



finished, if we do not consider as Half the natural size. 



work the constant motion of the 



tongue in talk and gossip. The younger people have it 

 assigned to them to sew clothes, arrange the fishing-lines and 

 nets, prepare skins, &c. Sewing-thread is made from the back 

 sinews of the reindeer, which they procure by barter from the 

 reindeer-Chukches, giving for them fish and seal-blubber. 



" One cannot, without having seen it, form any idea of the 

 large quantity of food they can consume. One evening I saw 

 eight persons, including one child, eat about 30 lbs. of food. 

 The bill of fare was : 1, raw fish ; 2, soup ; 3, boiled fish ; 

 4, seal-blubber ; 5, seal-flesh. The raw fish commonly consists 

 of frozen cod. The soup is made partly of vegetables, partly of 

 seal-blood ; I saw both kinds. Vegetable soup was prepared by 

 boiling equal quantities of water and vegetables, till the mixture 

 formed a thick pap. The blood soup is cooked by boiling the 

 blood together with water, fish, and fat. They are very fond of 

 this soup. The seal-blubber they eat by stuffing into the mouth 

 the piece which has been served to them, and then cutting a 

 suitable mouthful with the knife, which they bring close to the 

 lips. In the same way they do with the flesh. 



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