SACRIFICE OF REINDEER 



67 



they sacrificed reindeer.* In order that the reindeer may- 

 reach the unseen god, of whom the wooden idol is 

 evidently considered but the symbol, it must be killed in 

 a peculiar fashion. A running noose is made in the 

 middle of a cord and put round the horns of the deer ; a 

 Samoyede holds the two ends. Another noose is put 

 round the animal's hind feet, and while he is thus held at 

 full stretch, he is. stabbed in both sides with two pieces 

 of wood (not with a knife) ; then the spirit of the reindeer 

 is supposed to be sent to the god. The greater number 

 of Samoyedes have adopted the Russian faith, and have 

 been baptized into the Greek Church, but many of these 

 still retain their ancient beliefs, and sacrifice to their 

 idols, while in the more easterly parts of the vast 

 region inhabited by this people, many have not yet 

 been " converted." 



* William Govedon, who wintered at Pustozara, 1614-15, tells us that the 

 Samoyedes had then " no true knowledge of God, but worship blocks and images 

 of the deuill, unto which they strangle tame deere." — Purchas his Pilgritms, lib. iii. 

 ch. 12. 



OLD RirsSIAN SILVER CROSS 



