CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 63 



place at some time in the past, but a careful search failed to show anything additional. It is 

 probable that this piece was brought by the natives from some other part of the coast on account 

 of the iron bolts which it contained. I regretted very much not having an interpreter at this 

 time, as I feel confident we could have gained much interesting information. 



Like all true Tchuktchis, these people are in every way superior to the Iunuits; they appeared 

 to be honorable among themselves, and we saw no attempt made by them to pilfer while on board 

 our vessel. They are quiet and good-natured, and apparently happy and contented, and it seems 

 ilillicult to realize that they are descendants of the warlike Tchuktchis who gave the Russians 

 and other early travelers in Siberia so much trouble. 



Near the extremity of the cape we found the ruins of houses similar to those now in use by 

 the Iunuits, half under ground, with frames of the bones of whales. Probably they were former 

 dwellings of Innuits, who for some reason crossed the straits and attempted to establish themselves 

 on the Siberian side. These houses have been found by different travelers at many places along 

 this coast, and various causes assigned for the abandonment of the attempt to settle here by the 

 Innuits. Some believe they were driven back or entirely exterminated by the more warlike 

 Tchuktchis; others think it is because the whales are now seldom seen in this vicinity, which 

 formerly came in great numbers. It is not unlikely that these causes united have discouraged the 

 Innuits from making any further attempts. In order to gain the entire good will of this people, 

 that they might hold back nothing which would furnish light on the subject we were investigating, 

 I made it a point to give them presents of tobacco, calico, drilling, thread, needles, and whatever 

 articles they most desired whenever they came on board or I visited the shore, and 1 was partic- 

 ' ularly struck with the evidence of gratitude displayed in each case. One old woman, partly blind, 

 with gray hair and bent shoulders, was offered drilling, thread, and needles to make a "parkie" 

 to wear over all in the winter to keep the snow from her fur garments. At first she declined 

 to take them, saying to a young man who stood near, "What does he want for them?" Upou 

 being told that nothing was asked in return, she took the prize in her arms and felt of it as if to 

 assure herself that it was real, stood still for a moment, while the tears filled her eyes, then turned 

 away unable to utter a word. I have never witnessed an exhibition of more genuine gratitude. 

 People who are capable of such feeling cannot be such bloodthirsty wretches as the Tchuktchis 

 have sometimes been represented. But that they have courage and will fight in defense of their 

 rights there can be no doubt. 



In order to gain a knowledge of the language of these, as with any other people who have no 

 written language, a long residence among them is absolutely necessary ; and although a vocabu- 

 lary made up in a few weeks or even months may assist to a certain extent in communicating with 

 them, it is quite sure to be made up of Tchuktchis, Inuuit, Kanaka, and sailor English, and can 

 have but small philological value. The same is true of their traditions, religion, &c, for a native 

 gifted with a vivid imagination, and such are by no means rare, will at short notice furnish any 

 number of traditions of the most blood-curdling character, and do it with such an air of apparent 

 sincerity as not to arouse the suspicions of the most careful observer, especially if the native sees 

 a prospect of reward. But they are exceedingly reticent in regard to their real traditions, and 

 seldom speak of them even among themselves. 



August 8 we got under way and proceeded northwest along the coast through large fields of 

 heavy drift-ice. At meridian we anchored among grounded ice in 5 fathoms of water, and 

 observed the latitude on shore with the artificial horizon to be 68° 05' 52" north ; longitude, 

 brought forward to meridian from morning observations, 176° 30' west. While at anchor the 

 inhabitants of a small reindeer Tchuktchi settlement came dowu to meet us. We could see their 

 houses with our glasses* a few miles back from the coast, and were very anxious to see their herds 

 while they seemed equally anxious that we should not see them, and assured us by signs that there 

 were "several sleeps" back in the mountains. Although satisfied that they were not stating the 

 truth in regard to the distance we did not persist in going to the herds, knowing their superstitious 

 dread of having white men look at their deer. They were very much afraid of the box containing 

 the photographic apparatus, which Mr. Nelson always took along in his trips among the natives, 

 and they insisted upon being shown its contents. We gave them presents of needles, thread, 

 tobacco, and hard bread, and by constantly repeating the Tchuktchi word " mesehinka" (good), 



