DESCRIPTION OF A BAIDAR. 
49 
Like the Tunguses and Koraks, the Tschukschens are 
divided into Reindeer or nomadical Tschukschens and settlers. 
The former are the most numerous, and wander from place to 
place; but the latter, who are only few in number, are altogether 
poor people ; who having by some misfortune lost their reindeer* 
their only wealth, are compelled to fix their abode near the sea, 
and from thence to draw their subsistence. They live all the 
winter in mud-jurts, and the summer in huts of planks, and 
obtain an ample provision from the water. They prepare, not 
only for themselves, but for the Reindeer Tschukschens, the fat 
of fish and marine animals; sew summer shirts and covering for 
the feet out of reindeer’s entrials, for which they receive, from 
the latter, upper garments and winter covering for the feet; 
reindeer’s skins, and others, fetched from Ischiga ; also tobacco* 
and other Russian commodities. 
The Tschukschens, thus stationed, keep dogs for want of 
reindeer for their winter excursions, which they harness to sledges 
made of walrus teeth, similar to the Russian tschunkas, whichi 
are without any back or sides, and consist only of the sledge and 
some cross-beams nailed over. 
The dogs here resemble those of Ochotsk, but are rather 
smaller. Six or seven are harnessed abreast, and so close to 
the sledge, that they may be reached with a whip which the 
driver swings round either to the right or left, as he would have 
the dogs go. 
In the summer they paddle about the sea in large baidars, 
commonly from 20 to 25 feet long, 4 feet broad, and 2f deep. 
The hulk is made out of the floating wood from the sea, very 
nicely cut out and joined together with strips of whalebone; and 
the whole is covered with walrus hide, doubly or trebly split, in 
proportion to its thickness. A baidar, when quite ready, is so 
light, that two persons may carry it with convenience. The 
Tschukschens not only coast in them along the shore, but pass 
over to the neighbouring islands, or even through Behring’s 
strait to America. As it is very unsteady, it is mostly moved 
by oars rather than sails; and whenever the latter are used, 
extended bladders are tied on the sides to prevent it from over¬ 
setting The baidars which we saw at Cape Rodney resembled 
these in every respect. 
Both the wandering and stationary Tschukschens are divided 
into very small communities consisting only of families of one 
common origin. They have no civil authorities, or chiefs ; but 
in every such community the richest, or the father of a numerous 
family, is the most esteemed. They show him no other deference 
than to receive his good council, or be deterred from evil pro¬ 
ceedings by a warning; but he has no power to enforce his 
