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A NEW ACCOUNT OF SAMOIEDIA; AND THE SAMOIEDES. 529
always a boiler containing meat on the fire, which they keep in the middle of their tents,
in order that any of them who compofe the family may eat whenever he pleafes.
With refpect to the name of Samoiede, there is fome difpute on its etymology. Some
imagine the name fynonymous with anthropophage, anciently given to thefe people, on
account of their having been feen to eat raw flefh, which was taken for human; whence
it was inferred that they devoured the dead bodies of their neighbours, as well as of
their enemies, after the fafhion of the cannibals. But they have been freed from any
fuch conception with refpect to them for fome time; it is even known from the tradi-
tions of thefe people, that no fuch barbarous cuftom ever exifted among them.
Others pretend the word Samoye fignifies, in the language of thefe people, an
inhabitant of the country, and that their denomination is deduced therefrom. This origin
would appear fufficiently natural, if the fuppolition which is the bafe of it was not defti-
tute of proof. But as in their language there is no word to be found refembling Sa-
moye ; and as in their dialeét they give themfelves the names of Minez and Chafowo, it
is clear this latter etymology is purely chimerical, like many other derivations adopted
without difcuffion.
It will therefore be proper to feek for a word in the language of the neighbouring na-
tions which may have affinity thereto. Now as it is well known that the Fins formerly
inhabited the greater part of the countries of the north; the word Sooma, which figni-
fies in the Finnifh language a marfh, may very well have ferved as an origin for the
name Samoiede: it is allo very likely the root of the name Samalant/ch, which the
Laplanders give themfelves in their own tongue, and that of Somaemayes, which the
Carelians call themfelves by.
In the Ruffian chancellary the Samoiedes are defignated by the title of Sirognefxt,
eat. s of raw meat. ‘This is all I have been able to obtain of leaft uncertain refpecting
thefe people.
As to what regards the period of the Samoiedes paffing under the Ruffian dominion,
almoft all hiftorians agree in fixing the period in the reign of the Czar Feodor Iwan-
owitz. It isin this reign that the relations made by a perfon of the name of Onecko,
who carried on a very lucrative trade in this country, as it is faid, gave birth to the de-
fign of fubjugating it. It is added, the conqueft of the country was not completed
until under the reign of his fucceflor, the Czar Boris, and that it was effected by the
building of forts, and even fome towns. However I am induced to think there is fome
error in this ; for I have feen the ordonnances publifhed in the firft years of the Emperor
Peter I., concerning the means to be taken for colleCting the tribute of the Samoiedes,
where mention is exprefsly made of letters patent having been granted to thefe people
mere than fixty years before the reign of the Czar Feodor Iwanowitz; and by which
permiffon was granted them to collect of themfelves the tribute in peltry which they
had to pay. Add to which, it is certain it never was in contemplation even to build any
town or fort among the Samoiedes, for the purpofe of fubjugating them ; and actually
there is none in exiltence throughout their country. Their tribute, called se/fak, is re-
ceived in finall towns fituated in the vicinity of their country, inhabited by Ruffian colo-
nifts : it confifts in-a fkin of the value of twenty-five copecs annually for every man who
can draw the bow; and every {pecies of peltry is valued at a certain rate. But as we
are now fpeaking of a faét, in contradidtion to the ftatement of all who have written on
the fubject; and as the curious may fee with pleafure an original compofition, in the
fiile of that time, I have thought it right to tranflate one of the ordonnances of which I
have fpoken: the original is preferved in the archives of the chancellary of Pufto‘er.
VOL. I. IY “On
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