Reindeer in Alaska 



*33 



berian coast before he found an owner 

 willing to barter his reindeer for Amer- 

 ican goods. None would sell the deer 

 for cash. Of recent years the Siberians 

 have been but little less reluctant to 

 part with their deer though they could 

 easily spare many thousands from their 

 vast herds without knowing it. 



The first deer brought over were 

 from the Chukches herds — a tough and 

 hardy breed. Two years ago Lieuten- 



Part Clarence. His experiences during 

 his remarkable journey were most inter- 

 esting, and are admirably described in 

 his report to Dr Sheldon Jackson, pub- 

 lished in 1902.* 



THE ESKIMO AS HERDERS 



With careful training the Eskimo 

 make excellent herders. They are by 

 nature good imitators, though not in- 

 ventive, and readily learn how to take 





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From a photograph by K. P. Bertholf 



Traveling; With Reindeer in Summer 



ant Bertholf was commissioned to go 

 to Siberia and try to purchase some of 

 the Tunguse stock, which are larger, 

 stronger and sturdier. Starting from 

 St Petersburg, after a long journej' 

 across Siberia, much of it by sled, he 

 succeeded in purchasing several hun- 

 dred Tunguse near Ola, hired a steamer, 

 embarked the reindeer at Ola with 2,500 

 bags of reindeer moss, and finally landed 

 200 of the animals in good condition at 



care of the reindeer, to throw the lasso, 

 to harness and drive the deer, and to 

 watch the fawns. Siberian herders were 

 at first imported to teach them, and later 

 the more intelligent and efficient Lap- 

 landers, who have learned by centuries 



* " Report on the Introduction of Domestic 

 Reindeer into Alaska." By Sheldon Jackson, 

 LL. D., 1901. Appendix, Expedition to Sibe- 

 ria, report of Lieutenant E. P. Bertholf, pp. 

 130-168. 



