THE NORTH-EAST PASSAGE. 35 



3d, In the year 1869, the barque ]S r avy anchored 

 at Koliutchin Island on the 8th of October, and 

 sailed from thence to Behring Strait on the 10th of 

 the same month. ISTo ice was then to be seen. 



4th, In 1867, the barque Mle, Captain Long, 

 reached lat. K". 70 41', long. E. 170 20', coming 

 from and returning to Behring Strait. 



5th, The same year the barque Monticello went 

 150' farther west. Annually many small American 

 coasting traders sail along the shores of Siberia even 

 farther Avest, and carry on a bartering trade with the 

 natives. We had evidence of this in the fact, that 

 among all the natives we have met, numbering more 

 than a thousand, we have not met one who did not 

 know a few English words. 



More than fifty large vessels engaged in sealing 

 and whaling north of Behring Strait swarm there- 

 about in all directions. 



The natives inhabiting the coast of Siberia between 

 Cape Shelagskoi and the southern part of Behring 

 Strait are called Tchuktchis, as already mentioned. 

 Their number is estimated to be about 3000, includ- 

 ing a nomadic tribe called the Rein-Tchuktchis, who 

 subsist by keeping reindeer herds. These form a 

 link between their brethren on the coast and the 

 inland tribes of Siberia, to the latter of whom they 

 dispose of their goods, consisting of seal and walrus 

 hides, walrus-teeth, &c., which they receive from the 

 country population in exchange for reindeer-hides. 



