obacco, and in their making the sign
of the cross with the thumb, the ring finger, and the
little finger, while the orthodox Russians, on the other
hand, make it with the thumb, the forefinger, and the
middle finger. All Samoyeds are baptised into the orthodox
faith, but they worship their old idols at the same time.
They travel over a thousand versts as pilgrims to their
sacrificial places. There are several such places on
Vaygats, where their idols are to be found. The Russians
call these idols 'bolvany.'[55] Both the Russians and
Samoyeds are very tolerant in regard to matters of faith.
The Russians, for instance, say that the Samoyeds
attribute to their 'bolvans' the same importance which
they themselves attach to their sacred pictures, and find
in this nothing objectionable. The Samoyeds have songs and
sagas, relating among other things to their migrations.

"The Samoyed has one or more wives; even sisters may marry
the same man. Marriage is entered upon without any
solemnity. The wives are considered by the men as having
equal rights with themselves, and are treated accordingly,
which is very remarkable, as the Russians, like other
Christian nations, consider the woman as in certain
respects inferior to the man."

I visited the place for the first time in the beginning of August,
1875. It was a Russian holiday, and, while still a long way off at
sea, we could see a large number of Russians and Samoyeds standing
in groups on the beach. Coming nearer we found them engaged in
playing various different games, and though it was the first time in
the memory of man that European gentlemen had visited their "town,"
they scarcely allowed themselves to be more disturbed in their
occupation than if some stranger Samoyeds had suddenly joined their
company. Some stood in a circle and by turns threw a piece of iron,
shaped somewhat like a marlinspike, to the ground; the art
consisting in getting the sharp end to strike it just in front of
rings placed on the ground, in such a way that the piece of iron
remained standing. Others were engaged in playing a game resembling
our nine-pins; others, again, in wrestling, &c. The Russians and
Samoyeds played with each other without distinction. The Samoyeds,
small of stature, dirty, with matted, unkempt hair, were clad in
dirty summer clothes of skin, sometimes with a showy-coloured cotton
shirt