written instead of _Samoyed_. For _Samoyed_ means "self eater," while
_Samodin_ denotes an "individual," "one who cannot be mistaken for
another," and, as the Samoyeds were never cannibals, Serebrenikoff gives a
preference to the latter name, which is used by the Russians at Chabarova,
and appears to be a literal translation of the name which the Samoyeds give
themselves. Nordenskiöld, however, considers it probable that the old
tradition of man-eaters (_androphagi_), living in the north, which
onginated with Herodotus, and was afterwards universally adopted in the
geographical literature of the Middle Ages, reappears in Russianised form
in the name _Samoyed_. With all due respect for Nordenskiöld, I am inclined
to agree with Serebrenikoff. In the account of the journey which the
Italian minorite, Joannes de Piano Carpini, undertook in High Asia in
1245-47, an extraordinary account of the Samoyeds and neighbouring tribes
is given. (See Vol. II. of these Collections, pp. 28 and 95).--I give a
very curious engraving of Samoyeds from Schleissing.--Nordenskiöld inserts,
in his _Voyage of the Vega_, the following interesting communication from
Professor Ahlquist, of Helsingfors:--.
"The Samoyeds are reckoned, along with the Tungoose, the Mongolian, the
Turkish and the Finnish-Ugrian races, to belong to the so-called Altaic or
Ural-Altaic stem. What is mainly characteristic of this stem, is that all
the languages occurring within it belong to the so-called agglutinating
type. For in these languages the relations of ideas are expressed
exclusively by terminations or suffixes--inflections, prefixes and
prepositions, as expressive of relations, being completely unknown to them.
Other peculiarities characteristic of the Altaic languages are the vocal
harmony occurring in many of them, the inability to have more than one
consonant in the beginning of a word, and the expression of the plural by a
peculiar affix, the case terminations being the same in the plural as in
the singular. The affinity between the different branches of the Altaic
stem is thus founded mainly on analogy or resemblance in the construction
of the languages, while the different tongues in the material of language
(both in the words themselves and in the expression of relations) show a
very limited affinity or none at all. The circumstance that the Samoyeds
for the present have as their nearest neighbours several Finnish-Ugrian
races (Lapps, Syrjaeni, Ostjaks, and Voguls), and that these to a great
extent carry on the same modes of life as themselves, has led some authors
to assume a close affinity between the Samoyeds and the Fins and the
Finnish races in general. The speech of the two neighbouring tribes,
however, affords no ground for such a supposition. Even the language of the
Ostjak, which is the most closely related to that of the Samoyeds, is
separated heaven-wide from it and has nothing in common with it, except a
small number of borrowed words (chiefly names of articles from the Polar
nomad's life), which the Ostjak has taken from the language of his northern
neighbour. With respect to their language, however, the Samoyeds are said
to stand at a like distance from the other branches of the stem in
question. To what extent craniology or modern anthropology can more
accurately determine the affinity-relationship of the Samoyed to other
tribes, is still a question of the future."
At the present day, the Samoyeds dwell in skin tents. They dress
principally in reindeer-skins, and the women's holiday-dress is
particularly showy. Their boots, also of reindeer-skin, are beautifully and
tastefully embroidered. In summer, the men go bare-headed: the women divide
their hair into tresses, and use artificial plaits, ornamented with pearls,
buttons, &c. Like the man, the woman is small, with coarse black hair, face
of a yellow colour, small and sunken eyes, a flat nose, broad cheek-bones,
slender legs, and small feet and hands. She competes with the man in dirt.
Nordenskiöld places the Samoyeds in the lowest rank of all the Polar races.
The women have perfectly equal rights with the men.]
Tuesday (4) we turned for the harborough where Loshaks barke lay, whereas
before we road vnder an Island. And there he came aboord of vs and said
vnto me: if God sende winde and weather to serue, I will goe to the Ob with
you, because the Morses were scant at these Islands of Vaigats, but if he
could not get to the riuer of Ob, then he sayd hee would goe to the riuer
of Naramzay, where the people were not altogether so sauage as the Samoyds
of the Ob are: hee shewed me that they will shoot at all men to the
vttermost of their power, that cannot speake their speech.
Wednesday (5) we saw a terrible heape of ice approach neere vnto vs, and
therefore wee thought good with al speed possible to depart from thence,
and so I returned to the Westwards againe, to the Island where we were the
31. of Iuly.
[Illustration: SAMOYED ARCHERS. After Unschoten.]
[Illustration: SAMOYEDS. From Schleissing's Nou-entdecktes Sieweria,
worinnen die Zobeln gefangen werden. Zittan 1693.]
Thursday (6) I went a shoare, and tooke the latitude, which was 70 degrees
25 minutes: and the variation of the compasse was 8 degrees from the North
to the West.
Loshak and the two small Lodias of Pechora departed from this Island, while
I was on shoare taking the latitude, and went to the Southwards: I
maruailed why he departed so suddenly, and went ouer the shoales amongst
the Islands where it was impossible for vs to follow them. But after I
perceiued them to be weatherwise.
Friday (7) we road still, the winde being at Northnortheast, with a cruel
storme. The ice came in so abundantly about vs at both ends of the Island
that, we rode vnder, that it was a fearefull sight to behold: the storme
continued with snow, raine, and hayle plenty.
Saturday (8) we rode still also, the storme being somewhat abated, but it
was altogether misty, that we were not able to see a cables length about
vs, the winde being at Northeast and by East.
Sunday (9) at foure of the clocke in the morning we departed from this
Island, the winde being at Southeast, and as we were cleere a sea boord the
small Islandes and shoales, it came so thick with mistes that we could not
see a base shotte from vs. Then we took in all our sailes to make little
way.
At a Southeast sunne it waxed cleere, and then we set our sayles, and lay
close by the wind to the Southwards alongst the Islands of Vaigats. At a
west sunne we tooke in our sayle againe because of the great mist and
raine. Wee sounded at this place, and had fiue and twenty fadomes water,
and soft black oze, being three leagues from the shoare, the winde being at
South and by East, but still misty.
Munday (10) at an East sunne we sounded, and had 40 fadomes, and oze, still
misty: at noone wee sounded againe, and had 36 fadome, still misty.
Tuesday (11) at an Eastnortheast sunne we let fall our anker in three and
twenty fadome, the mist still continuing.
Wednesday (12) at three of the clocke in the morning the mist brake vp, the
wind being at Northeast and by East, and then we saw part of the Islands of
Vaigats, which we bare withal, and went Eastsoutheast close by the winde:
at a West sunne we were at an anker vnder the Southwest part of the said
Vaigats, and then I sent our skiffe to shoare with three men in her, to see
if they might speake with any of the Samoeds, but could not: all that day
was rainie, but not windie.
Thursday (13) the wind came Westerly, so that we were faine to seeke vs
another place to ride in, because the wind came a seaboord land, and
although it were misty, yet wee followed the shoare by our lead: and as we
brought land in the wind of vs, we let fall our anker. At a West sunne the
mist brake up, so that we might see about vs, and then we might perceiue
that we were entred into a sound.
This aftemoone we tooke in two or three skiffes lading of stones to ballast
our shippe withall. It hyeth here four foot water, and floweth by fits,
vncertaine to be iudged.
Friday (14) we rode still in the sound, the wind at Southwest, with very
much raine, and at the end of the raine it waxed againe mistie.
Saturday (15) there was much wind at West, and much raine, and then againe
mistie.
Sunday (16) was very mistie and much winde.
Munday (17) very mistie, the winde at Westnorthwest.
Tuesday (18) was also mistie, except at noone: then the sunne brake out
through the mist, so that we had the latitude in 70 degrees 10 minutes: the
afternoone was misty againe, the wind being at Westnorthwest.
Wednesday (19) at three of the clocke afternoone the mist brake vp, and the
wind came at Eastnortheast, and then we weyed, and went South and by East,
vntil seuen of the clocke, eight leagues, thinking to haue had sight of the
sandie hilles that are to the Eastwards of the riuer Pechora. At a
Northwest sunne we took in our maine saile, because the wind increased, and
went with a foresaile Westnorthwest, the wind being at Eastnortheast: at
night there grewe so terrible a storme, that we saw not the like, although
we had indured many stormes since we came out of England. It was wonderfull
that our barke was able to brooke such monstrous and terrible seas, without
the great helpe of God, who neuer fayleth them at neede, that put their
sure trust in him.
Thursday (20) at a Southsouthwest sunne, thanks be to God, the storme was
at the highest, and then the winde began to slake, and came Northerly
withall, and then I reckoned the Westermost point of the riuer Pechora to
be South of vs 15 leagues. At a Westsouthwest sunne we set our maine sayle,
and lay close by the winde, the winde being at Northwest and by North,
making but little way, because the billow went so high: at midnight wee
cast about, and the shippe caped Northnortheast, making little way.
Friday (21) at noone we had the latitude in 70 degrees 8 minutes, and we
sounded, and had 29 fadomes sand, and in maner, stremy ground. At West
sunne we cast about to the Westwards, and a little after the wind came vp
at West.
Saturday (22) was calme: the latitude this day at noone was 70 degrees and
a terce, we sounded heere, and had nine and forty fadomes and oze, which
oze signified that we drew towards Noua Zembla.
And thus we being out of al hope to discouer any more to the Eastward this
yeere, wee thought it best to returne, and that for three causes.
The first, the continuall Northeast and Northerly winds, which haue more
power after a man is past to the eastwards of Caninoze, then in any place
that I doe know in these Northerly regions.
Second, because of great and terrible abundance of ice which we saw with
our eies, and we doubt greater store abideth in those parts: I aduentured
already somewhat too farre in it, but I thanke God for my safe deliuerance
from it.
Third, because the nights waxed darke, and the winter began to draw on with
his stormes: and therefore I resolued to take the first best wind that God
should send, and plie towards the bay of S. Nicholas, and to see if wee
might do any good there, if God would permitt it.
This present Saturday we saw very much ice, and were within two or three
leagues of it: it shewed vnto vs as though it had beene a firme land as
farre as we might see from Northwest off vs to the Eastwards: and this
afternoone the Lord sent vs a little gale of wind at South, so that we bare
cleere of the Westermost part of it, thanks be to God. And then against
night it waxed calme againe, and the winde was at Southwest: we made our
way vntill Sunday (23) noone Northwest and by West, and then we had the
latitude in 70 degrees and a halfe, the winde at Southwest: there was a
billow, so that we could not discerne to take the latitude exactly, but by
a reasonable gesse.
Munday (24) there was a pretie gale of wind at South, so that wee went West
and by South, the latitude this day at noone was 70 degrees 10 minutes: wee
had little winde all day: at a Westnorthwest sunne we sounded, and had 29
fadoms blacke sandie oze, and then we were Northeast 5 leagues from the
Northeast part of the Island Colgoieue.
Tuesday (25) the wind all Westerly we plyed to the windwards.
Wednesday (26) the wind was all Westerly, and calme: wee had the latitude
this day in 70 degrees 10 minutes, we being within three leagues of the
North part of the Island Colgoieue.
Thursday, (27) we went roome about the Westermost part of the Island,
seeking where we might finde a place to ride in for a Northwest wind, and
could not find none, and then we cast about againe to the seawards, and the
winde came at Westsouthwest, and this morning we had plenty of snow.
Friday, (28) the winde being at Southwest and by West, we plied to the
windewards.
Saturday (29) the winde being at South we plyed to the Westwards, and at
afternoone the mist brake vp, and then we might see the land seuen or eight
leagues to the Eastwards of Caninoz: we sounded a little before and had 35
fadoms and oze. And a while after wee sounded againe, and had 19. fadome
and sand: then we were within three leagues and a halfe of the shore, and
towards night there came downe so much winde, that we were faine to bring
our ship a trie, and laide her head to the Westwards.
Sunday, (30) the winde became more calme, and when it waxed verie mystie:
At noone wee cast about to the Eastwards, the winde beeing at South, and
ranne eight houres on that boorde, and then we cast about and caped West
southwest: we sounded and had 32 fathomes, and found oaze like clay.
Munday, (31) we doubled about Caninoze, and came at an anker there, to the
intent that we might kill some fish if God permit it, and there we gate a
great Nuse, which Nuses were there so plentie, that they would scarcely
suffer any other fish to come neere the hookes: the said Nuses caried away
sundrie of our hookes and leads.
A little after at a West Sunne, the winde began to blow stormie at West
southwest, so that we were faine to wey and forsake our fishing ground, and
went close by the winde Southwest, and Southwest and by West, making our
way South southwest.
September.
Tuesday (1) at a West Sunne we sounded and had 20. fathoms, and broken
Wilkeshels: I reckoned Caninoze to be 24 leagues Northnortheast from vs.
The eleuenth day we arriued at Colmogro, and there we wintered, expecting
the approch of the next Summer to proceede farther in our intended
discouerie for the Ob: which (by reason of our imploiments to Wardhouse the
next spring for the search of some English ships) [Footnote: The fate of
the three vessels that were employed on the first English Expedition to the
North-East (see p. 29) was equally unfortunate. The _Edward Bonaventure_,
commanded, as we have seen, by Chancellor, sailed in 1553 from England to
the White Sea, returned to England in 1554, and was on the way plundered by
the Dutch (Purchas, iii., p. 250); started again with Chancellor for the
Dwina in 1555, and returned the same year to England under John Buckland;
accompanied Burrough in 1556 to the Kola Peninsula: went thence to the
Dwina to convey to England Chancellor and a Russian Embassy, the vessel,
besides, carrying £20,000 worth of goods. It was wrecked in Aberdour Bay,
near Aberdeen, on the 20th (10th) November, and Chancellor, his wife, and
seven Russians were drowned.--The _Bona Esperanza_, commanded by Willoughby
in 1553, carried him and his crew to perish at the mouth of the Varzina.
The vessel was recovered, and was to have been used in 1556 to carry to
England the Embassy already mentioned. It reached a harbour near
Trondhjeim, but after leaving there, was never heard of again.--The _Bona
Confidenzia_ was also saved after the fatal wintering at the Varzina, and
was employed in escorting the Embassy in 1556, but stranded on the
Norwegian coast, every soul on board perishing. (See the account of the
Russian Embassy to England, pp. 142-3.)--The vessels alluded to by Burrough
are the _Edward Bonaventure_ and _Bona Confidenzia_.] was not accordingly
performed.
* * * * *
Certaine notes vnperfectly written by Richard Iohnson seruant to Master
Richard Chancelour, which was in the discouerie of Vaigatz and Noua
Zembla, with Steuen Burrowe in the Serchthrift 1556. and afterwarde among
the Samoedes, whose deuilish rites hee describeth.