470 



THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 



[chap. Xll. 



but at the same time are generally swollen or sore from frost- 

 bite. On the whole, the disposition of the Chukches to clean- 

 liness is slight, and above all, their ideas of what is clean or 

 unclean differs considerably from ours. Thus the women use 

 urine as a wash for the face. At a common meal the hand is 

 often used as a spoon, and after it is finished, a bowl filled wath 

 newly-passed urine instead of water is handed round the 

 company for w^ashing the hands. Change of clothes takes place 

 seldom, and even when the outer dress is clean, new and well 

 cut, of carefully-chosen beautiful skins, the under-dress is very 

 dirty, and vermin numerous enough, though 

 less so than might have been expected. 

 Food is often eaten in a way which we 

 consider disgusting, a titbit, for instance, is 

 passed from mouth to mouth. The vessels 

 in which food is served are used in many 

 ways and seldom cleaned. On the other 

 hand it may be stated that, in order not to 

 make a stay in the confined tent-chamber 

 too uncomfortable, certain rules are strictly 

 observed. Thus, for instance, it is not per- 

 mitted in the interior of the tent to spit on 

 the floor, but this must be done into a vessel 

 which in case of necessity is used as a night- 

 utensil. In every outer tent there lies a 

 specially carveil reindeer horn, with which 

 snow is removed from the clothes ; the outer 

 pcsk is usually put off before one goes into 

 the inner tent and the shoes are carefully 

 freed from snow. The carpet of walrus- 

 skin, which covers the floor of the inner 

 tent, is accordingly dry and clean. Even 

 the outer tent is swept clean and free from 

 loose snow, and the snow is daily shovelled 

 away from the tent doors with a spade 

 of whalebone. Every article both in 

 the outer and inner tent is laid in its 

 proper place, and so on. 



As ornaments glass beads are principally used, some of them 

 being suspended from the neck and ears, others sewed upon 

 the hood and other articles of dress, or plaited into the hair. 

 Embroidery of very pleasing patterns is also employed. In 

 order to embellish the pesks strips of skin or marmots' and 

 squirrels' tails, &c., are sewed upon them. Often a variega- 

 ted artificial tail of different skins is fixed to the hood be- 

 hind, or the skin of the hood is so chosen that the ears of 

 the animal project on both sides of the head. Along with 



a. HONTiNG CUP (sucl^ino; 

 tube). (One-fourth of 

 the natural size.) 



b. SNOW-SCRAPER. (Oue- 



eighth of the natural 

 size.) 



