436 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



much of the flesh of the half -eaten animal as it will hold, and lights 

 the fire to prepare the evening meal. 



Meantime the herdsman has thrown off his upper garment and 

 looked through it hastily, yet not without result, and he has drawn 

 near the fire so that the flames may play with full effect on the 

 naked upper portion of his body. He feels comfortable, and begins 

 to think of another enjoyment. A wonderful man who is travelling 

 towards the mountains in his company, a German, perhaps even 

 a member of the Bremen exploring expedition to West Siberia, has 

 not only presented him with tobacco horrible stuff", it is true, yet 

 at any rate strong but he has also given him a great sheet of paper, 

 a whole Kolnische Zeitung. From this he carefully tears off 

 a small square piece, twists it to a pointed cornet, fills this with 

 tobacco, bends it in the middle, and the pipe is ready. A moment 

 later it is alight, and it smells so pleasant that the wife distends 

 her nostrils, and begs to share the enjoyment. Her wish is at once 

 granted, and the little pipe wanders round so that every member 

 of the family may enjoy it in turn. 



But the contents of the pot begin to bubble, the supper is ready, 

 and all "raise their hands to the daintily prepared meal". Then 

 the herdsman stands outside the door and utters a far-sounding call 

 of long-drawn notes, to collect the restless herd once more. This 

 done, he returns content into the tshum. Here his wife has spread 

 the mosquito tent and is still busy stuffing its lower edge under the 

 coverlets. While waiting for this work to be finished the man on 

 his couch amuses himself by seizing one of the dogs and nursing it 

 like a baby, the dog enduring it patiently in the consciousness that 

 it is a high honour. Then the man creeps half-naked under the 

 mosquito net, his fifteen-year-old son follows his example, the little 

 thirteen-year-old wife of the latter does the same, the anxious 

 mother sees to the safety of the little one in the cradle, the nursling 

 already mentioned, lays more decayed wood on the smoky fire at 

 the entrance to the tshum, shuts the door, and lies down like the 

 rest. A few minutes later loud snoring announces that all are 

 sleeping the sleep of the just. 



The next morning the same daily round begins again, and so it 



