266 



THE POLAR WORLD. 



train-oil lamp, the worthy family squatting on the floor in a state of almost 

 comj^lete nudity. Without being in the least embarrassed, Madame Letitt and 

 her daughter receive us in their primitive costume : but to show us that the 

 Tchuktchi know how to receive company, and to do honor to their guests, they 

 immediately insert strings of glass beads in their greasy hair. Their hospitali- 

 ty equals their politeness ; for, ii'istead of a cold reception, a hot dish of boiled 

 reindeer-flesh, copiously irrigated with rancid train-oil by the experienced hand 

 of the mistress of the household, is soon after smoking before us. Unfortunate- 

 ly our effeminate taste is not up to the haut goilt of her culinary art, and while 

 Mr. Letitt does ample justice to the artistic talent of his spouse, by rapidly bolt- 

 ing down pieces as large as a flst, we are hardly able to swallow a morsel." 



During his visit at Ostrownoje, Matiuschkin had a favorable opportunity of 

 becoming acquainted with the sports of the Tchuktchi, the chieftain, Makomol, 

 having set out prizes for a race. These consisted of a valuable silver fox, a 

 first-rate beaver skin, and two fine walrus-teeth. Nothing can be more ad- 

 mirable than the fleetness of the reindeer or the dexterity of their drivers ; 

 and the agility displayed in the foot-race by the Tchuktchi, running at full 

 speed, in their heavy winter dresses, over a distance of fifteen versts, gives a 

 high idea of their muscular powers. After the races, the spectators are treated 

 to a grand choregraphic display. The Arctic bayaderes, muffled from head 

 to foot in their stiff skin garments, form a narrow circle, slowly moving their 

 feet backward and forward, and fiercely gesticulating with their hands, whilst 

 their faces are distorted into a thousand horrible grimaces. The singing that 

 accompanies the ballet has no doubt its charm for native ears, but to strangers 

 it seems no better than a kind of grunt. The rej^resentation is closed by three 

 first-rate artistes executing a particularly favorite dance. The faces of their 

 countrymen express the same intense admiration with which a European dilet- 

 tante follows the graceful pirouettes of a Taglioni, while the Russian, guests 

 see only three greasy monsters alternately rushing towards each other and 

 starting back, until at length they stop from sheer exhaustion. As a token of 

 their satisfaction, the Russians regale the fair performers with a cup of brandy 

 and a roll of tobacco, and both parties take leave of each other with mutual 

 protestations of satisfaction and friendship. 



Though most of the Reindeer or nomadic Tchuktchi have been baptized, yet 

 Wrangell supposes the ceremony to have been a mere financial speculation on 

 their part, and is convinced that the power of the Shamans is still as great as 

 ever. An epidemic had carried off a great number of jDersons, and also whole 

 herds of reindeer. In vain the Shamans had recourse to their usual conjura- 

 tions, the plague continued. They consulted together, and directed that one of 

 their most respected chiefs, named Kotschen, must be sacrificed, to appease the 

 irritated spirits. Kotschen was willing to submit to the sentence, but none 

 could be found to execute it, until his own son, prevailed on by his father's ex- 

 hortations, and terrified by his threatened curse, plunged a knife into his heart, 

 and gave his body to the Shamans. 



Polygamy is general among the Tchuktchi, and they change their wives as 

 often as they please. Still, though the women are certainly slaves, they are al- 



