224 General Notes. [ February, 
coast of Northeastern Asia, from the southern extremity of Nova 
Zembla to the mouth of the Ob-Irtisch river, principally through- 
out the Yalmal or Samoyed peninsula. The relatidns of this 
branch to their neighbors and to their environment are described, 
as well as their dress and dwellings, their customs and modes of 
burial, their status in culture compared with that of other boreal 
races, and their place in ethnography assigned (pp. 60-83). | 
The Chukches—In the whole stretch from Yugor Schar, south — 
of Nova Zembla to Cape Chiiagskoi the Vega party saw neither 
men nor human habitations. At the latter place (172° E.) they — 
came suddenly upon the Chukches. “Every man, with the ex 
ception of the cook, rushed on deck. Their boats were of skin 
built in the same way as the ‘ umiaks,’ or women’s boats of the 
Eskimo.” From this point to Konyam bay, south of Behring 
strait, they were constantly in the company of this race. On the 
28th September the Vega was caught in the ice at the mouth of 
the Kolyutschin bay, and remained there until the 18th July fok: 
lowing, when, decked with flags, she sailed again on the way to 
her destination. In this long and lonesome winter they had 
most abundant opportunities of getting acquainted with this race. 
The Chukches are divided sharply by their domestic animals it- 
to Dog-Chukches and Reindeer-Chukches. In point of rank i 
culture they stand between the Samoyeds and the Eskimo. Lieut 
Nordquist drew up an extensive vocabulary of the language and 
a sketch of the grammar, but they are only briefly mentioned M 
the preliminary volume. So far as observed there seemed to be é 
very little social organization beyond the family, no religious 
ceremony beside the customs in the presence 0 death, and 
fs ae ae a a a 
reindeers and whatever else is connected with the house an k 
the chase. In the minutest manner Professor Nordenskjöld 4 
