S4G THE POLAR WORLD. 



flesh the sorcerer and tlie rehitions regale themselves, -while the spirits to 

 whom the animal is snjtposed to be offered are obliged to content themselves 

 ^vith the smell of the burnt fat. As among the Samoiedes or the Ostiaks, 

 Avoman is a marketable ware among the Tungusi. The father gives his daugh- 

 ter in marriage for twenty or a hundred reindeer, or the bridegroom is obliged 

 to earn her hand by a long period of service. 



In East Siberia the Tungusi divide with the Jakuts the task of conveying 

 goods or travellers through the forests, and aftbrd the stranger frequent op- 

 portunities for admiring their agility and good-humor. On halting after a 

 day's journey, the reindeer are unpacked in an instant, the saddles and the 

 goods ranged orderly on the ground, and the bridles collected and hung on 

 branches of trees. The hungry animals soon disappear in the thicket, where 

 they are left to provide for themselves. The men, who meanwhile have been 

 busy Avith their axes, drag a larch-tree or two to the place of encampment. 

 The smaller branches are lopi)ed off and collected to serve as beds or scats 

 upon the snow, while the resinous wood of the larger trunks is soon kindled 

 into a lively fire. The kettle, filled with snoAV, is suspended from a strong 

 forked branch placed obliquely in the ground over the fire, and in a i'ew min- 

 utes the tea is ready — for the Tungusi proceed every evening according to the 

 same mothod, and are consequently as expert as long and invariable practice 

 can make them. Comfortably seated on his reindeer saddle, the traveller may 

 now amuse himself with the dances, which the Tungusi accompany Avith an 

 agreeable song; or if he choose to witness their agility in athletic exercises, it 

 only costs him a Avord of encouragement, and a small donation of brandy. Two 

 of the Tungusi hold a rope, and swing it Avith all their might, so that it does 

 not touch the ground. McauAvhile a third Tunguse skips over the rope, picks 

 up a boAvand arrow spans the bow and shoots the arrow, Avithout once touch- 

 ing the rope. Some particularly bold and expert Tungusi Avill dance over a 

 sword Avhich a person lying on his back on the ground is SAvinging about 

 Avith the greatest rapidity. Should our traveller be a friend of chess, the Tun- 

 gusi are equally at his service, as they are ijassionately fond of this noblest of 

 games, especially in the Kolymsk district. Like all other Siberian nomads, 

 they visit at least once a year the various fairs Avhich are held in the small 

 towns scattered here and there over their immense territory — such as Kirensk, 

 Olekminsk, Bargusin, Tschita, and Ochotsk, AA'hich, before the opening of the 

 Amoor to trade, Avas the chief port of East Siberia. 



Ochotsk IS one of the dreariest places imaginable; at least no traveller Avho 

 over visited it has a Avord to say in its favor. Not a single tree grows for 

 miles and miles around, and the Avretched huts of AA'hich the tOAvn is composed 

 lie in the midst of a swanii), Avhich in summer is a fruitful source of malaria 

 and i)estilence. The IJiver Ochota, at Avhose mouth Ochotsk is situated, does 

 not break up before the end of May, and the ice-masses continue to pass the 

 town till the 15th or 20th of June. Soon after begins the most unpleasant time 

 of all the year, or " buss " of the Siberians, characterized by thick fog and a per- 

 petual drizzling rain. The Aveather clears up in July, but as early as August 

 the night-frosts cover the earth with rime. Salmon, of which no less than 



