188 



THE POLAR WORLD. 



sometimes the fugitive exile. For, to prevent the escape of criminals sentenced 

 to banishment in Siberia, the Russian Government allows the Ostiaks to shoot 

 any unknown person, not belonging to their race, whom they may meet with on 

 their territory. Although well aware of this danger, several exiles have at- 

 tempted to escape to Archangel along the border of the Arctic sea ; but they 

 either died of hunger, or were devoured by wild beasts, or shot by the Ostiaks. 

 There is but one instance known of an exile who, after spending a whole year 

 on the journey, at length reached the abodes of civilized man, and he was par- 

 doned in consideration of the dreadful sufferings he had undergone. 



The Ostiaks are generally of a small stature, and most of them are dark-com- 

 plexioned, with raven-black hair like the Samoiedes ; some of them, however, 

 have a fairer skin and light-colored hair. They have neither the oblique eyes 

 nor the broad projecting cheek-bones of the Mongols and Tungus, but bear a 

 greater resemblance to the Finnish, Samoi'ede, and Turkish cast of countenance. 

 They are a good-natured, indolent, honest race ; and though they are extremely 

 dirty, yet their smoky huts are not more filthy than those of the Norwegian or 

 Icelandic fisherman. As among the Samoiedes, the w^omen are in a very de- 

 graded condition, the father always giving his daughter in marriage to the 

 highest bidder. The price is very different, and rises or falls according to the 

 circumstances of the parent ; for while the rich man asks fifty reindeer for his 

 child, the poor fisherman is glad to part with his daughter for a few squirrel- 

 skins and dried sturgeon. 



Before taking leave of the Ostiaks, we will still tarry a moment at the small 

 town of Obdorsk, which may be considered as the capital of their country, and 

 entirely owes its existence to the trade carried on between them and the Rus- 

 sians. Formerly the merchants from Beresow and Tobolsk used merely to visit 

 the spot, but the difficulties of the journey soon compelled them to establish 

 permanent dwellings in that dreary region. A certain number of exiles serves 

 to increase the scanty population, which consists of a strange medley of various 

 nations, among Avhom Castren found a Calmuck, a Kirghis, and a Polish cook, 



GROUP OF KIRGHIS. 



