14 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
Chukclies, or, as they ought to he called in correspondence with 
the former name, the dog Chnkches. As every one owns a 
reindeer herd, all must follow the nomad mode of livinof, but at 
the same time they carry on traffic between the savages in the 
northernmost parts of America and the Russian fur-dealers in 
Siberia, and many pass their whole lives in commercial journeys. 
The principal market is held annually during the month of 
March, on an island in the river Little Anjui, 250 versts from 
Nischni Kolymsk. The barter goes on in accordance with a 
normal price-list, mutually agreed upon by the Russian mer¬ 
chants and the oldest of the Chnkches. The market is in¬ 
augurated on the part of the Russians by a mass performed by 
the priest,^ who Always accompanies the Russian crown com¬ 
missioner, and in the Chnkches’ camp with buffoonery by one of 
the Chukch Shamans. At such a market there is said to be 
considerable confusion, to judge by the spirited description which 
Wrangel gives of it (Beise, i. p. 269). We ought, however, to 
remember that this description refers to the customs ' that pre¬ 
vailed sixty years ago. Now, perhaps, there is a great change 
1 During tlie market the Russian priest endeavours to make proselytes ; 
he succeeds, too, by distributing tobacco to induce one or two to subject 
themselves to the ceremony of baptism. No true conversion, however, 
can scarcely come in question on account of the difference of language. 
As an example of how this goes on, the following story of Wrangel’s may 
be quoted. At the market a young Chukch had been prevailed upon, by a 
gift of some pounds of tobacco, to allow himself to be baptised. The cere¬ 
mony began in presence of a number of spectators. The new convert 
s:ood quiet and pretty decent in his place till he should step down into the 
baptismal font, a large wooden tub filled with ice-cold water. In this, 
according to the baptismal ritual, he ought to dip three times. But to 
this he would consent on no condition. He shook his head constantly, and 
brought forward a large number of reasons against it, which none under¬ 
stood. After long exhortations by the interpreter, in which promises of 
tobacco probably again played the 2 :)rincipal part, he finally gave way and 
sprang courageously down into the ice-cold water, but immediately jumped 
up again trembling with cold, crying, “ My tobacco ! rny tobacco I ” All 
attempts to induce him to renew the bath were fruitless, the ceremony 
was incomplete, and the Chukch only half baptised. 
