X.] CHUKCH VILLAGES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 
485 
witli portions of the skeleton of the seal and walrus, with the 
excreta of men, dogs, birds, &c. The region was among the 
most disagreeable I have seen in any of the parts inhabited 
by fishing Lapps, Samoyeds, Chukches, or Eskimo. When 
the Vega was beset there were two Chukch villages on the 
neighbouring beach, of which the one that lay nearest our winter 
haven was called Pitlekaj. It consisted at first of seven tents, 
which in consequence of want of food their inhabitants removed 
gradually in the course of the winter to a region near Behring’s 
Straits, where fish were more abundant. At the removal only 
the most indispensable articles were taken along, because there 
was an intention of returning at that season of the year when 
the chase again became more productive. The other encamp¬ 
ment, Yinretlen, lay nearer the cape towards Kolyutschin Bay, 
and reckoned at the beginning of our wintering likewise seven 
tents, whose inhabitants appeared to be in better circumstances 
than those of Pitlekaj. They had during the autumn made a 
better catch and collected a greater stock. Only some of them 
accordingly removed during winter. 
The following encampments lay at a somewhat greater dis¬ 
tance from our winter quarters, but so near, however, that we 
were often visited by their inhabitants: 
Pidlin, on the eastern shore of Kolyutschin Bay, four tents. 
Kolyutschin, on the island of the same name, twenty-five tents. 
This village was not visited by any of the members of the Vega 
Expedition. 
Birajtinop, situated six kilometres east of Pitlekaj, three tents. 
Irgunnuk, seven kilometres east of Pitlekaj, ten tents, of 
which, however, in February only four remained. The in¬ 
habitants of the others had for the winter sought a better 
fishing place farther eastward. 
The number of the persons who belonged to each tent was 
difficult to make out, because the Chukches were constantly 
visiting each other for the purpose of gossip and talk. On an 
