228 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



But before we returned there was a little ceremony 

 whose quaintness struck me much. Five men came up 

 to me one behind the other, with old Yelisei at their head. 

 In each hand they carried four brent geese. Old Yelisei 

 laid four down on the right of me, four on the left, 

 saying solemnly in Russian this, ' Yelisei's gift to Ahnglia. 

 Little goose, very good, very good.' 



So I shook him by the hand. ' Thank you, Yelisei — 

 very kind,' I said. 



And the next man came with ' Yuoora's gift to Ahng-lia. 

 Little goose, very good, very good,' and Yugora retired. 

 After him came the rest in order, each with the same 

 formula as he delivered over his load. It was quaint to 

 see and quaint to hear. No doubt they had agreed 

 beforehand what they would say — and it was quite a big 

 speech for them. 



So I now had forty geese. But I was struck by the 

 fact that old Marrk had not come. 



Then we left and had great fun Q-oino- home. For the 

 women said they would be home before us, so that the 

 fire should be ready. With that they left and started 

 racing, the children urging on their four reindeer to their 

 utmost speed ; and as they were the lightest they dis- 

 tanced the women altogether as far as we could see. 



When they were out of sight Mekolka, son of Uano, 

 beckoned tome. 'Come,' he said, ' Mekolka's reindeer 

 very quick.' So we jumped on our sleighs and went off 

 first at a trot. No sooner, however, had we risen the 



