a f i i ' ^ f l f ; luHii k'' 1, : :
PLATE XLVI.
A TUNGOOSE.
1 HE Tungoosi (says Mr. Saner, in his Account of Commodore Billing's
Expedition) wander over an amazing extent of ground, from the moulh
of the Amour to the Baikal Lake, tiic rivers Angara or Tungooska,
Lena, Aldan, the sea-coast of Ochotsk, the coast of the Icy Sea, and
all tlie mountains of these parts, constantly on the look-out for animals
of the chase. Satisfied with the hmited productions of nature, where
Nature itself seems to forbid the aj)j)roach of mankind, tlieir astonishing
fortitude, keeping in full force every lively sensation of the mind,
and surmounting ail diiBculties, until they obtain the object of tlieir
pursuit, IS SLiificient to inspire any one with an ardent desire to participate
m their dangers and tlelights. They seem callous to the effects
of heat or cold; their tents are covered with the inner bark of the
birch, ,vhich they render as pliable as leather, by rolling it up and
keeping it for some time in the steam of boiling water and smoke.
I h e Tungoosi lead a ^^-andering life, and seldom remain exactly in
the same place for many days together. On asking why they had no
settled place of residence, tlieir answer .vas, that they knew no greater
cm-se than to live in one place, like the Russians or Yakouti, where
faith accumulates, and fills the habitation ^^-ith stench and disease,
i h e y v,-ander about the mountains, and seldom visit such plains as
are inhabited by the Yakouti; but they often resort to the sohtary
habitations ot the Cossacs, appointed to the different posts, as they
are there generally supplied ^vith brandj-, of M hich ther are very fond,
iieedlcs, tiircad, and such trifles as are serviceable to "themselves and
their women, who alw ays accompany them in their excursions. They
are rather below the middle size, but are extremely active; their
countenance is pleasing and smiling, and their eyes "are remarkably
small; their disposition is excellent. They are ignorant of falsehood,
treachery, and robbery of every description; while they possess a
gaiety ot temper and openness of heart to the greatest degree: they
will, wiUi pleasure, di\ide their last morsel with their almost unknown
guest. 'J hey iish and hunt « ith great skill, especially the latter • and
they chiefly kill their game ^^•ith the bo«- and arrow. Their dr^ss is
not very unlike that of the Yakouti, and both sexes wear nearly the
same. 1 hey use no linen, but put on the skin of the deer, sometimes
with the tur on, sometimes without. They embroider this in a very
neat manner. Tlu-y ^vear a piece of skin over their breast, which
ties round their necks an 1 reaches to tlieir thighs, being vo idest at the
bottom, embroidered and oruamentcd with hair.