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PLATE XLIII.
A SAMOYED.
1 HE most nortlicrn part of tlie Russian empirò, along the coast of the
Icy Sea, and which extends from the river Tetcliora to the river Lena,
is in tlie possession of the ditierent branches of this nation, inckiding
a space of about ten degrees of latitude and near seventy of longitude.
Their cliniate is extremely severe, and under the greater part of it vegetation
scarcely exists : the climate also seems to have some effect on
the growth of its inhabitants, who rarely exceed five feet in height:
their countenance is flat, their complexion yellow, their head is large
in proportion to the rest of their body, and their eyes small and black.
This nation leads a wandering life, and is perhaps the most luicivilized
of any under the Russian government ; but they are by no means a
ferocious people. They are ignorant of every species of literature, and
have no knowledge of chronology. All their employment consists in
hunting, in fishing, and the care of their rein-deer : from the two
first, in ^^-hich every man is busy, they derive their means of subsistence,
at least the greater part of it. The chief object of their pursuit
in the chase is the wild rein-deer, which is in considerable abundance,
particularly in Nova Zcmha, to which the Samoyeds resort in wintersolely
for the purpose of taking them, as they furnish food, clothing,
beds, and covering to their houses and huts. They make use of snarei
and traps, as well as the bow and arrow, pikes, and dogs, for the
purpose of taking the rein-deer. During their short summer, they are
equally assiduous in fishing, in which they are remarkably expert. The
Samoyeds are in general very poor ; their whole wealth consists in
their deer, of which some possess more than others ; these are employed
in drawing their sledges. They never kill them unless old and useless,
or when they have met with an accident, for the purpose of food;
but they frequently choose the finest of their herd to sacrifice and
propitiate their gods. They never milk them for the purpose of drink
or making cheese; and the consequence is, that their rein-deer are
much finer and stronger
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