488 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
the weather was very stormy, a little drop of spirits, by the 
Chukches called mm, a word whose origin is not to be sought 
for in the Swedish-Norwegian dram, but in the English word 
rum. 
All who came on board were allowed to go about without let 
or hindrance on our deck, which was encumbered with a great 
many things. We had not however to lament the loss of the 
merest trifle. Honesty was as much at home here as in the 
huts of the reindeer Lapps. On the other hand, they soon 
became very troublesome by their beggary, which was kept in 
bounds by no feeling of self-respect. Nor did they fail to take 
all possible advantage of what they doubtless considered the 
great inexperience of the Europeans. Small deceptions in this 
way were evidently not looked upon as blameworthy, but as 
meritorious. Sometimes, for instance, they sold us the same 
thing twice over, they were always liberal in promises which 
they never intended to keep, and often gave deceptive accounts 
of articles which were exposed for sale. Thus the carcases of 
foxes were offered, after having been flayed and the head and 
feet cut off, on several occasions as hares, and it was laughable 
to see their astonishment at our immediately discovering the 
fraud. The Chukches’ complete want of acquaintance with 
money and our small supply of articles for barter for which they 
had a liking besides compelled even me to hold at least a portion 
of our wares at a high price. Skins and blubber, the common 
products of the Polar lands, to the great surprise of the natives, 
were not purchased on the Vega. On the other hand a complete 
collection of weapons, dresses, and household articles was pro¬ 
cured by barter. All such purchases were made exclusively 
on account of the Expedition, and in general the collection of 
natural and ethnographical objects for private account was wholly 
forbidden, a regulation which ought to be in force in every 
scientific expedition to remote regions. 
As the Chukches began to acquire a taste for our food, they 
