Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - V. Over the Buriatic Steppe
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has been proofread at least once.
(diff)
(history)
Denna sida har korrekturlästs minst en gång.
(skillnad)
(historik)
the New Siberian Islands or not during 1897 or in the
spring of 1898, nor was any other information obtainable
which could justify a change in our plans. The prominent
firm of Gromoff, owners of the steamer Lena, which
accompanied the Vega on her memorable voyage round
northern Asia, accordingly kindly promised to transport our
expedition on this steamer from the city of Yakutsk to the
Lena delta, if we could reach Yakutsk in time. The
Lena was to start from Yakutsk about the middle of June.
The distance between Irkutsk and Yakutsk is about 2000
miles, of which 250 have to be made by road to the upper
Lena, and the remainder by lodka or steamer down the river.
On the 15th of May we left Irkutsk. The road runs
through a forest-clad country gently rising towards the
highland steppes which extend westward from Lake Baikal.
Having passed the forest-region, we enter the so-called
Buriatic Steppe. On each side of the road, scattered here
and there over the steppe, are seen the Buriatic ulus
or villages. An Ulu is, literally, a group of families (ail)
constituting a tribe or part of a tribe (aimak). The yurtas
or cabins of the families are not built in regular rows like
the houses of the Russian villages, but are scattered in
picturesque confusion and surrounded by a large common
enclosure. At a distance from the village are the so-called
“ugugi”—immense enclosures where the cattle graze in
winter and whence in summer-time the Buriats gather
splendid crops of hay. By the side of the houses are seen
high poles resembling maypoles. On these are hung
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
