Domestic Animals, Food, etc.—The chief domestic animals are dogs and reindeer (p1. 77, fig. I; /5/. 78, fig. I), which draw the sledges. The food is fish, game, the produce of the herds, and all kinds of berries. Tobacco is the indispensable stimulant, the vessels for its use being well made and handsome (p1. 70, p1. 76, fig. 8; p1. 77, figs. 7, 8). We cannot consider the Koryaks as destitute of skill and taste, as their hand somely woven baskets (p1. 76, figs. 6, 7), and particularly their artistic carving in such hard material as the tooth of the walrus, prove, the latter being often very beautiful (p1. 70, figs. 4, 5, 11-13).
Polygamy is practised. The women, whose status on the whole is not bad, are offered to honorable strangers, and this is expected by guests; but the nomadic Koryaks are said not to practise this habit, and to be very jealous. Their religion is entirely Mongolian and their shamans have great influence.
IVccOons.—Their weapons, bow and arrow, knives (p1. 77, fig. 5; pi. 78, figs. 2, 3), lances 76, figs. 4, 5; note the handsome sheaths), etc., are well made. But Russian influence has probably had an effect here.
4. The Kamchatkans.—There still remain for our consideration the Kamchatkans, who are settled between the Koryaks and the Ainos of this remarkable peninsula. They call themselves Itelimen (pronounced Pane men). They are not many in number, owing to the ravages of the small pox and to dissipation, and are fast disappearing, on account of the enmity of the Russians. They live in polygamy. They are small (p1. 79, figs.',
4, 5), dark in color, very dirty, and physically like the Mongolians. They most resemble the Koryaks. This is seen in their houses (p1. 79, fig. 2): their summer houses—tent-like huts on high piles (p1. 79, fig. 3)—remind us of the storehouses of the Koryaks.
Domestic Life.—They have many kinds of domestic utensils—troughs, pots, plates, etc.—made of birch-wood. Dogs serve as house animals and for drawing sledges. They steer their handsomely-ornamented sleds by means of curious long poles (p1. 78, figs. 6, 7); they make fire by rapidly twirling a stick in the hole of a board, into which they throw flour while the stick is turning, so that the fire is more easily obtained (pi. 7o, fig. 8).
Religion.—Their religion and their views of the state of the soul after death correspond entirely with the Mongolian. Old women perform the priestly duties, and the religious inspiration is often produced by the intoxicating drink prepared from red agaric. There are now many Christians among them—at least in name. While the Yukagirs and Tchuktchis are of an earnest, melancholy temperament, they possess a sort of child-like merriment. And yet suicide is not unfrequent among them.