Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XVIII. From the Anabar to the Katanga
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With the exception of the occasional visits—perhaps
once or twice a year—of merchants and officials, Mr.
Tschernjak had during all these years lived entirely
separated from all contact with civilisation, having adopted the
manners and language of the natives. In 1875 he had
met Dr. Nordenskjöld on the lower Yenisei and was very
eager to learn the details about the voyage of the Vega
around Asia in 1878—80, of which he had received very
imperfect information. Talking with me, he spoke classical
Russian, using turns of expression and phrases current
only in high society, thus betraying the education and
refinement which lay beneath the “barbarised” surface.
He had become reconciled to his hard fate and wished to
end his days on the distant tundra, which for so many
years had been his home, and which at least had offered
him the joys of liberty.
Mr. Tschernjak gave me a great deal of information
about the manner of life among the natives, and the way
in which they are being reduced to starvation by the
merchants. He also told us that it would be very difficult
for us at this time of the year to find these nomads, who
were now scattered far and wide on the tundras. We soon
had plenty of occasion to verify his statement, finding it
most difficult to obtain reindeer from the poor natives on
the lower Katanga, in addition to which the animals were
very feeble from overwork.
A short distance south of Rybnoie, we came upon not
the least interesting feature of this part of our journey—
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