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PLATE XLV.
A FEMALE SAMOYED,
IN HER SUMMER DRESS.
THE dress of tlic Samoyed in winter, as seen in Plate XLIII. is made
of the skin of the rein-deer, first tanned, and then coloured, and ornamented
with fur. They also use fox-skins, and the fur is generally
that of the white long-haired dog. Some of them make their dress
of the skins of aquatic birds, in a similar manner to the Yakouti, and
several other tribes: these are prepared with the feathers on. Their
stockings and shoes are in one; they eome up their thighs, and arefastened
by cords to their upper garments; they are made from the
rein-deer, and ornamented in stripes. Sometimes their trowsers and
stockings are all one, as in Plate XLIII. when they fiisten a band of
the skin of the fox, coloured red, round their knees. They wear no
linen. Their caps are made of fur, and come close round under their
chin, where they meet. The winter dress of the feuuJes does not
difler much from that of the men; nor can the sexes be always distinguished
by their dress, because there are many men, who have no
beard; the chief distinction is in the greater qviantity of work with
which that of the females is ornamented, and from their being in
general much cleaner. The distinction between the married and
unmarried women consists in braiding the hair; the former being done
in two braids falling upon their bosom, the latter having three, w-hich
hang over their shoulders behind. Plate XLIV. represents a female in
iier winter dress, and the present Plate a married woman in her
summer attire, with a child sitting on one side, and its cradle, in
which it is conveyed about, lying on the other. As the unmarried
women always make their own clothes, they are better dressed, and
wear more ornaments than the others. In summer they wear nothing,
upon their heads, but in winter thej- use a cap made of black fur,
which fastens under the chin. The Samo\-eds, \shose religion is
Schamanism, have as many wives as they please, and can afford to
purchase. Each woman sells for from ii^e to twentv rein-deer. The
most part are satislictl M'ith one wife; many have two, and some three ;
while those, who are poor, are obliged to go without any. Women are
alw ays treated with contempt among them, because they consider them
as impure; and their wives arc more exposed to their cruelties tlian
their dauirhters.
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