238 A SUMMER ON THE YENESEl 



dark race to the east of the river to which it is most 

 commonly applied is distinct enough from the Yuraks, 

 from which it differs in dress and language. On the 

 western side of the river it is more difficult to discrimi- 

 nate, and it has been suggested that all the so-called 

 " Samoyedes " of the tundras west of the Yenesei are 

 really Yuraks. It must not be forgotten that in former 

 days the Yenesei must have been a much greater barrier 

 to intercourse between the different races than it is at 

 present — a barrier as wide as the Straits of Dover ; and 

 it would not be surprising to find two distinct, though 

 allied nations, sprung originally from a common stock, 

 living on either bank. All the native races are very 

 cautious in aiving their names to a member of another 

 orda, as they call a man of a different nationality, 

 probably because they suspect that the inquirer may be 

 an official on the search for information. Both Siberiaks 

 and aborigines are careful what they divulge, lest it 

 should be used against them later by the authorities, 

 and made a basis for further taxation or inquisition. 

 Even the most innocent questions about the fishing are 

 answered guardedly, and it is possible that Seebohm 

 was suspected of some ulterior motive for his inquiries : 

 hence his difficulty in obtaining information. 



That night at Och Marino was the most uncomfort- 

 able that we had ever spent, or hope ever to spend 

 again. Mr. Hall and Nill slept on the floor in one 

 corner of the kitchen, and the Hachenkoff family in the 

 other. My two companions and myself shared the 

 wooden settle with Madame Antonoff. Each hour, 

 Vassilli Vassillievitch called for tea and vodka to steady 



