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protect the peace of our dead one by such means, but we cer-
tainly could not abolish all the superstitions they had concern-
ing this matter in our short stay.

Having performed this duty, a barter trade began between
us and the inhabitants. We proposed to them various small
things, but they did not take them very willingly, not even
the axes and cast iron pots. These things were of less value
to them than ordinary leaves of tobacco. Knowing its name,
they were constantly shouting tabago, tabago, and for a leaf
of it gave away all they had: walrus teeth, their arms, con-
sisting of spears and bows with arrows, sleds, and even their
deer parkas. They do not smoke or snuff tobacco, but simply
eat it; chewing it up, they do not spit it out, but swallow.

In the meantime, the whole crowd that had gone to the
mountains, observing our peaceful conduct, returned to their
yurts. Wishing to see the inside of their dwellings, we com-
municated this to the chief, who immediately led us to his
winter abode, that is, into the earthen hut. It had about two
square sazhens of space inside, and the entrance was set
through the only opening at the very top, serving as a door,
a smoke hole, and window. One half of this yurt was covered
with the skins of polar bears; the other was behind a curtain
from the ceiling or, better to say, from the dome of the hut
to the floor. Behind this curtain, the whole family generally
sleeps, undressing to nakedness, and in winter spends all its
time. From the stifling air and the constantly burning walrus