238 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



subject of the song was that they would go with Keindeer, 

 choose the four fleetest Bulls, and lead the party, and go 

 and get vodky ; also that they would go and barter, and 

 hoped not to be cheated in their bargain. 



They have traditions, and can relate matters regarding 

 the possessor of any old choom. Parmi himself remem- 

 bered his grandfather on his mother's side. 



They have a chief residing in the Ural Mountains, but 

 Parmi has never seen him, and does not even know his 

 name. This chief is answerable to the Emperor for 

 tribute. If the chief's son is worthy he is elected to 

 succeed ; but if not, another is chosen by ballot, putting 

 chips of wood or any small article into a ' pimugh ' * (the 

 Samoyede box) or other receptacle. 



They have had many battles amongst themselves. 

 These were caused by want of food in hard seasons, 

 when, as far as we could gather, might becomes right. 

 Sometimes individuals * run amuck,' like Malays, and are 

 then said, or believed, to be possessed by a devil. 



As to illness, if it happens that God so smites them, it 

 is God's will, and no cure is applied. They have no 

 doctors, and use no medicinal plants, but they apply 

 goose or swan fat for frost-bites. Some Christianised 

 examples still cut themselves with knives, imagining that 

 they are possessed by devils. 



As to their idea of religion, if they make a promise to 

 one god, and then again to another, then neither god will 

 believe them. 



The twelve months of the year have each a separate 

 name, and they speak of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th quarter of 

 the month. 



They count up to a million. 'One' is 'opoi,' 100 is 

 'your.' After 100 they say 'one above 100,' thus: 

 'your vota opoi.' 1,000 is ' your-your.' 10 is 'you', 

 * Or pimi ? The ugh is guttural. 



