FETCH OR A 503 



About half-past three p.m. Captain Engel and the 

 Engineer accompanied us on a visit to some Samoyedes 

 who had erected their chooms about three and a 

 a half versts from Habarika. We arrived rather too late 

 to see the ' chooms,' as they had been taken up and 

 packed on sledges preparatory to making another camp 

 nearer to Habarika. 



We saw, however, all the deer, about five hundred head 

 a sight, indeed, alone worth our journey as they 

 galloped and plunged in a wide circle round the former 

 site of the encampment. It was in vain, however, that I 

 searched for fine antlers, as the herd principally con- 

 sisted of 'buck' (German pronunciation) or cut deer 

 and hinds, or nashinke, and the 'horre,' or entire 

 animals, had dropped their antlers. Some of the 

 hinds had also handsome antlers, but none fine enough 

 to tempt me to purchase a whole animal for their 

 sake, as the price asked at present, when they are with 

 young, is greater. 



We bought from the two brothers to whom the camp 

 belonged a number of articles cut in bone, which I will 

 mention again when I come to describe the chooms, 

 sledges, harness, etc. 



We then followed the migration part of the way to 

 the next encampment, and watched the agile brothers 

 lassoing some fifty reindeer which belonged to a Kussian, 

 and which were about to be removed elsewhere. 



The place chosen for the purpose, apparently with 

 some regard to its special suitability, was about half- 

 way between the site of their former camp and the site 

 of their new one, as we afterwards discovered. 



We got upon the rising ground, a ridge between two open 

 meadows of circular form, surrounded by willow bushes, 

 which latter also were scattered along below our point 

 of vantage, and we had a good view of the proceedings. 



VOL. II. 34 



