VISIT TO CHABAROVA IN 1875 
81 
IJ.] 
woodcut, were clad in long variegated blouses, or mekkor,” 
fastened at the waist with a belt. Notwithstanding the feigned 
indifference shown at first, which was evidently considered good 
manners, we were received in a friendly way. We were first 
invited to try our luck and skill in the game in turn with the 
rest, when it soon appeared, to the no small gratification of our 
hosts, that we were quite in¬ 
capable of entering into com¬ 
petition either with Russian or 
Samoyed. Thereupon one of 
the Russians invited us to enter 
his cabin, where we were enter¬ 
tained with tea, Russian wheaten 
cakes of unfermented dough, and 
brandy. Some small presents 
were given us with a naive notifi¬ 
cation of what would be welcome 
in their .stead, a notification 
which I with pleasure complied 
with as far as my resources per¬ 
mitted. A complete unanimity 
at first prevailed between our 
Russian and Samoyed hosts, but 
on the following day a sharp dis¬ 
pute was like to arise because the 
former invited one of us to drive 
with a reindeer team standing in 
the neighbourhood of a Russian 
SAMOYED woman’s HOOD. 
One-eighth of natural size. 
hut. The Samoyeds were much displeased on this account, but 
declared at the same time, as well as they could by signs, that 
they themselves were willing to drive us, if we so desired, and 
they showed that they were serious in their declaration by there 
and then breaking off the quarrel in order to take a short turn 
with their reindeer teams at a rapid rate among the tents. 
G 
