7 6 



SIBERIA IN EUROPE. 



CHAP. VII. 



Since the adoption of the Russian faith by the Samoyedes 

 they bury their dead. Previous to their conversion, when 

 one among them died he was fully dressed and, in his best 

 malitza and soveek, he was laid flat on his back on the snow 

 or the tundra, according to the season of the year. His 

 favourite buck reindeer was killed and laid by his side, with 

 his best harness and his driving pole and bow.* The choom 

 is taken down at once, and the camp is broken up amidst 

 much weeping and lamentation. If possible the place is 

 never revisited. The Samoyedes believe that if the dead 

 man's property were not left with him his spirit would 

 follow them. 



The Samoyedes used to have wooden idols, to which they 

 sacrificed reindeer.f In order that the reindeer may reach 

 tin' unseen god, of whom the wooden idol is evidently con- 

 Bidered but the symbol, it must be killed in a peculiar 

 fashion. A running noose is made in the middle of a cord 

 and put round the horns of the deer; a Samoyede holds 

 tli<- two ends. Another noose is put round the animal's hind 

 feet, and while he is thus held at full stretch, he is stabbed in 

 both Bides with two pieces of wood (not with a knife); then 

 the spirit of the reindeer is supposed to be sent to the god. 



■ tptain Hall, in his ' Life with the 



.' mentions a similar custom 



among them. The Innaits seal 



up their dying in snow-huts, "r igl 



where tiny are allowed to die alone. The 



blabber lamp, the fishing ami hunting 



truments of thedead, are a 1 ways laid 



by his side, and tin- place i> abandoned 



t William Govedon, who wintered at 

 Pustozara, 1614-1615, tells us that the 

 Samoyedes had then "no true know- 

 ledge of God, but worship blocks and 

 images of the deuill, unto which they 

 Btrangle tai leei as his 



.' lib. iii. eh. 12. 



