176 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. V. 



eyes, and both sexes are great lovers of brandy." Referring to his 

 guides, he says : • " I took leave of my Tungoose and their reindeer, and 

 declare that I did so with regret ; for I was now an adept in riding, and 

 found them more easy and agreeable than horses ; but, above all, I was 

 enchanted with the manly activity of my guides, their independence and 

 contentment. Satisfied with the limited productions of nature, where 

 nature itself seems to forbid the approach of mankind, their astonishing 

 fortitude, keeping in full force every lively sensation of the mind, and 

 surmounting all difficulties, until they obtain the interesting object of 

 their pursuit, inspired me with an ardent desire to participate in their 

 dangers and delights." Elsewhere, he writes, " They are religious 

 observers of their word, punctual and exact in traffic." 



Martin Sauer goes on to say : " They seldom reside more than six 

 days in one place, but remove their tents though it be to the small 

 distance of twenty fathoms, and this only in the fishing season, and during 

 the time of collecting berries in such solitary places as are far distant 

 from the habitation of Cossacs. Here they leave their supplies of dried 

 fish and berries in large boxes built on trees or poles, for the benefit of 

 themselves and their tribes in travelling during the winter. Berries they 

 dry by mixing them with the undigested food (lichen) out of the stomach 

 of the reindeer, making thin cakes, which they spread on the bark of trees 

 and dry upon their huts in the sun or wind." In a footnote Sauer 

 remarks regarding their frequent removals : " They say that their tents 

 contract a disagreeable smell from remaining long in one place." " They 

 seem callous to the effects of heat or cold." " They allow polygamy ; 

 but the first wife is the chief and is attended by the rest. The ceremony 

 of marriage is a simple purchase of a girl from her father ; from twenty 

 to one hundred deer are given,or the bridegroom works a stated time for 

 the benefit of the bride's father. The unmarried are not remarkable for 

 chastity. A man will give his daughter for a time to any friend or 

 traveller that he takes a liking to ; if he has no daughter he will give his 

 servant, but not his wives." 



Abernethy supplements Sauer's statement regarding marriage : " In 

 the marriage of the Tungusi many ceremonies are used, but the principal 

 and indispensable one is, the offering a plate of corn or some game to 

 the bride by her intended husband. Among several tribes of the Tungusi, 

 marriage is attended with dancing, music and a variety of games and 

 sports, which sometimes continue for several days. There are others 

 who do not exhibit any mark of rejoicing on these occasions. Their 

 courtship is generally of a very short duration. Among some the 

 contract is conducted by their parents, while others allow the lovers to 



