232 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



I made them explain it in Russian as well as they 

 could, and got at the sense very fairly. 1 Only they 

 would all talk at once, and squabbled about the proper 

 equivalents for their words. 



I think it might be rendered like this : — 



MEIN NEYDOO 



Where is the boy's small sleigh? He is off — 



Gallop and speed, gallop and speed — ■ 



Gone with the wind by the hunting-pass, 



Gone with the wind to the icy sea. 



He that can bend his father's bow 



Leaves to the women the reindeer call — 



Killoo, killoo, killoo, killoo ! 



Leaves to the women the fire and pot. 



His are the best of the four-year bucks, 



His is the fastest team of five. 



Soon he will come with hunter's gains, 



The water-bear and the walrus dead, 



For the winter bed and the lamp of oil. 



Show me the peer of Mein Neydbo. 

 See, he can drive in the path of the night 

 Straight to the choom from the island's rim, 

 Straight in the night with the team of five. 2 

 All that his father knew he knows ; 

 Knows where the swan JwreJi will nest, 

 And where wierrah, the small black goose. 

 Yes, he can set the trap with skill, 

 Fashion the arrow, frame the sleigh, 

 Can Mcin Neydbo. Is he wise? 



He is wise. 



1 They are capital actors, and emphasize each song with such expressive panto- 

 mime that after hearing it two or three times it is no more difficult to follow than 

 L" 1 Enfant prodigue. In the last act the reciter throws himself down flat on his back. 



2 The Samoyeds are very proud of their power of taking a bee-line for home in the 

 dark. 



