11.] 
SAMOYKD SACRIFICIAL PLACES. 
95 
wetted with brandy, and the former statement was confirmed by 
the large spots of blood which were found on most of the large 
idols below the holes intended to represent the mouth. 
After a drawing had been made of the mound, we robbed it 
discreetly, and put some of the idols and the bones of the animals 
offered in sacrifice into a bag which I ordered to be carried down 
to the boat. My guide now became evidently uncomfortable, 
and said that I ought to propitiate the wrath of the '‘bolvans ” 
by myself offering something. I immediately said that I was 
ready to do that, if he would only show me how to go to 
work. A little at a loss, and doubting whether he ought to 
be more afraid of the wrath of the ''bolvans'' or of the punish¬ 
ment which in another world would befal those who had 
sacrificed to false gods, he replied that it was only necessary 
to place some small coins among the stones. With a solemn 
countenance I now laid my gift upon the cairn. It was cer¬ 
tainly the most precious thing that had ever been offered 
there, consisting as it did of twm silver pieces. The Russian 
was now satisfied, but declared that I was too lavish, ‘'a 
couple of copper coins had been quite enough.” 
The followdng day the Samoyeds came to know that I had 
been shown their sacrificial mound. For their own part 
they appeared to attach little importance to this, but they 
declared that the guide would be punished by the offended 
“ bolvans.” He would perhaps come to repent of his deed 
by the followdng autumn, when his reindeer should return 
from Vaygats Island, wRere they for the present were tended 
by Samoyeds; indeed if punishment did not befall him now, 
it would reach him in the future and visit his children and 
grandchildren—certain it was that the gods would not leave him 
unpunished. In respect to God’s wrath their religious ideas 
were thus in full accordance wdth the teaching of the Old 
Testament. 
This place of sacrifice was besides not particularly old, for 
