ACCOUNT OF THE JUKAGIRENS. 
27 
arising between the Jukagirens- and the Kosaks gradually assimi¬ 
lated the customs and dress of the former to those of the latter. 
But previously to this, their way of living entirely resembled 
that of the Tunguses ; having, like them, their reindeer and 
their jurts, with which they strolled from place to place. At 
present they live in hovels, and make use of dogs in lieu of 
reindeer, for their winter excursions. Their food consists of 
fish and the flesh of elks, which are very abundant in the islands 
and rivers ; particularly of the river Korkodon, which flows into 
the Kolyma 200 versts distant from the fortress. Thither the 
Jukagirens usually repair in April with their dog-sledges to hunt 
not only elks, but also sables, foxes, reindeers, and every spe¬ 
cies of animals which afford fur. They pursue the elks in 
snow-shoes, and run them down, until they are so perfectly 
enfeebled as to fall an easy prey to the huntsman. In this pursuit 
the latter have every advantage; for the immensely deep snows 
and the nasten so frequent in that season, which are no 
impediments to them or their dogs, continually stop the crea¬ 
tures in their career, and combine with their natural unwieldi¬ 
ness to prevent their escape. They cut the flesh into long thin 
slices, and dry them in the air. As soon as the river is free from 
ice they swim on floats to the fortress, where a festivity and ca¬ 
rousal commences among the Kosaks, with whom they barter 
—their spoil for the necessaries fetched from the town, but 
above all for tobacco, to which they are immoderately attached. 
This fair commonly lasts until the river, which has overflowed 
the country, returns to its bounds, when they separate and 
take various directions for the purpose of fishing. 
Since their connexion with the Kosaks, the Jukagirens have 
made a profession of Christanity, blended, indeed, with their 
own superstitions; particularly the incantations of the Schamans. 
In this particular the Kosaks, who cannot boast of a much brighter 
illumination, have but too faithfully adopted their errors. They 
ascribe every sickness to witchcraft, and even imagine themselves 
sometimes to be under the influence of some evil spirit. For 
which reason they have a peculiar dread of one female Jakut, 
named Agraphenna Schiganska, a xhaman of great influence, 
who died thirty years ago. They fancy that she visits the people 
in order to torment them, and must therefore receive their 
homage and sacrifices. Active as the government of Jakutsk 
has been in their endeavours to destroy this superstition, they 
* The hardened surface of the snow, occasioned only in spring by its 
thawing m the day and freezing again at night. 
D % 
