121 



Of the Samoiedes. 



They inhabit the borders of the frozen ocean from the 

 Mezeu in Europe, to the Lena in Asia. They have no chiefs 

 or government of any kind. They abhor homicide, and 

 commit no crimes. 



Their food consists of the animals whom they hunt, and eat 

 raw, and sometimes a dead whale : some have herds of Rhen- 

 deer. They procure intoxication of late by smoaking tobacco, 

 and sometimes by whiskey they procure from the Russians. 



Their raiment — the skins of Rhen-deer or foxes. 



Their habitation — huts half sunk in the ground, over which 

 some posts are placed covered with the skins of Rhen-deer, 

 M'ith an aperture to admit light and let out the smoak. Their 

 summer habitation is laid on the surface of the earth, and si- 

 milarly constructed. 



Their females are treated with the most unaccountable 

 cruelty and contempt. They are considered as polluted, and 

 are not suffered to approach the fire, which is regarded as 

 sacred. They are not allowed in travelling to tread in the 

 track of their tyrants, nor even of his Rhen-deer; any thing 

 they touch must be purified; 3'et they are bought by their 

 ijusbands, who even affect to be jealous of them : and what 



VOL. XI. R is 



