MIGRATION OF REINDEER. 
31 
In a summer residence on this river, we found Captain In- 
shiginsk Schmalew Satnik Kobolew, and the Tochukotish in¬ 
terpreter, Daurkin, waiting for us agreeable to appointment. 
They were to act as our interpreters with the savage people, 
called Tschukschens, whom we might chance to meet in the 
Frozen Ocean. Mr. Schmalew, who was destined for my vessel, 
was a man well qualified for this situation, having been some 
years commander of Inshiga, where, by his suavity and presents, 
he had gained the confidence and good will of the Tschukschens, 
who yearly resort thither for purposes of trade. 
After lying at anchor but three hours, we followed the course 
of the river and reached Nisma-kolymsk, situated on the left 
bank of the Kolyma, in 24 hours. The fortress includes within 
its wooden barricade, one church and 33 houses ; together with 
S3 Kosak inhabitants. Opposite to this fortress, the two large 
rivers, the Great Anal and the Dry Aniii , run, at an inconsider¬ 
able distance, into the Kolyma. The former of these extends 
809, and the latter 500 versts. The banks of both are inha¬ 
bited by Jukagirens. 
The swimming of the reindeer across the Omelon and the 
two Anuis aft'ords an extraordinary spectacle twice a year ; viz. 
at the close of May, when the wild reindeer abandon the woods 
in great herds, probably with a view of seeking shelter from 
the gnats within the neighbourhood of the sea, and afterwards 
in autumn, on their return ; in both which cases they are obliged 
to pass these rivers. The Kosak and Jukagiren inhabitants of 
these parts, who know the favourite haunts of these creatures, 
repair then in their canoes to the spot, and pierce them in the 
water with the greatest facility, sometimes to the number of 60 
in a day. They do not swim over all together in a body, but 
one after another; and as soon as their leader has reached the 
opposite shore, they are not to be diverted from following him 
by any prospect of danger : if he, however, be interrupted in 
his course, he instantly returns, and the w hole herd after him. 
The flesh of reindeer forms a principal article of diet for the 
people of this country. They cut it into thin slices, and dry it 
after the manner of their fish. The marrow and tongue are 
esteemed as delicacies. Another luxury which they have, is 
red bilberries mashed with dried fish, and the fat of fish, with 
which they make their most costly entertainments in the summer. 
In the winter they eat frozen and raw fish in its stead, particu¬ 
larly tschirens, which they mince very small, and then give the 
name of strogannoi. It is reputed to be very salutary against 
the scurvy, for which reason we adopted it as a regular remedy 
during our winter stay at Werchne-kolymsk. 
