96 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
there had been an older place situated 600 metres nearer the 
shore, beside a grotto which was regarded by the Samoyeds 
with superstitious veneration. A larger number of wooden 
idols had been set up there, but about thirty years ago a 
SACRTFICIAL CAVITY ON VAYGATS ISLAND. 
After a drawing by A. Hovgaard. 
zealous, newly-appointed, and therefore clean-sweeping archi¬ 
mandrite visited the place, set fire to the sacrificial mound, 
and in its place erected a cross, which is still standing. The 
Samoyeds had not sought to retaliate by destroying in their 
