236 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. X]V, 
The natives, after the first mistrust had disappeared, were 
friendly and accommodating, honourable in their dealings though 
given to begging and to much haggling in making a bargain. 
There appeared to be no chief among them; complete equality 
prevailed, and the position of the woman did not appear to be 
inferior to that of the man. The children were what we would 
call in Europe well brought up, though they got no bringing up 
at all. All were heathens. The liking for spirits appeared to 
be less strong than among the Chukches. We learn besides 
that all selling of spirits to savages is not only forbidden on 
the American side, but forbidden in such a way that the law 
is obeyed. 
During our stay among the Chukches my supply of articles 
for barter was very limited; for up to the hour of departure 
uncertainty prevailed as to the time at which we would get 
free, and I was therefore compelled to be sparing of the stores. 
I often found it difficult on that account to induce a Chukch to 
part with things which I wished to acquire. Here on the 
contrary I was a rich man, thanks to the large surplus that 
was over from our abundant winter equipment, which of 
course in warm regions would have been of no use to us. I 
turned my riches to account by making visits like a pedlar in the 
tent villages with sacks full of felt hats, thick clothes, stockings, 
ammunition, &c., for which goods I obtained a beautiful and 
choice collection of ethnographical articles. Among these may 
be mentioned beautiful bone etchings and carvings, and several 
arrow-points and other tools of a species of nephrite,^ which is 
1 Nephrite is a light green, sometimes grass-green, very hard and compact 
species of amphibolite, which occurs in High Asia, Mexico, and New Zealand. 
At all these places it has been employed for stone implements, vases, 
pipes, &c. The Chinese put an immensely high value upon it, and the 
wish to procure nephrite is said often to have determined their politics, 
to have caused wars, and impressed its stamp on treaties of peace con¬ 
cluded between millions. I also consider it probable that the precious 
Vasa Murrhina, which was brought to Rome after the campaign against 
