x CONTENTS. 



river — The Pizhma — The roads — Piottuch's accident — The Via 

 diabolica — Bolshanivagorskia — Break-up of the road — Polish prejudices 

 — The villages — Curiosity of the peasants — Greek crosses — Love of 

 ornament — Employment and amusements — Samoyedes — Birds — 

 Umskia — First view of the Petchora — Arrival at Ust-Zylma. Page 23 



CHAPTER V. 



Ust-Zylma — Its streets — Its houses — Its manure — Its population — Its 

 farms — Its churches — Our quarters — The banks of the river — The Old 

 Believers — Their superstitions — Their crosses — Hospitality of the 

 officials — Shooting-parties — Captain Arendt and Captain Engel — Snow- 

 shoes — Scarcity of birds — The snow-bunting — Mealy redpole — Winter 



40 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Samoyedes — Reindeer — The tundra — Nomad life — Diseases of rein- 

 deer — Samoyede national character — Trip to Umskia — Bad roads — 

 Birds — Easter Eve — Drunkenness — Snow — Our first bird's-nest — 

 1 ". '< i atre cute — Birds .. .. .. .. .. .. 54 



CHAPTER VII. 



Trip to Ilabariki — Samoyedes — Lassoing reindeer — Dogs — Birds — Samoy- 

 ede sledges — Reindeer harness — The chooms — Samoyede hospitality 

 ■ — Marriage ceremonies — Funeral rites — Religion .. .. 63 



CHAPTER VIII. 



May-day — Snow-buntings — Jackdaws — Game — Birds of prey — Sunday at 

 I st-Zylma — A fire — Marriage ceremony- — Tenure of land — The com- 

 mune — Preparations, for summer .. .. .. .. 78 



CHAPTER IX. 



Mild weather — Bear tracks — Saddle of bear — First rain — Six new migra- 

 i iv birds -Magpie 1 Cessation of the winter frost — Return of 



winter — A wild goose chase — Cachets — Night on the banks of the 

 Petchora The silent forest — A new bird .. .. .. 88 



