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A NEW ACCOUNT OF SAMOIEDIA, AND THE SAMOIEDES. $33
wants, and it is not right to take what belongs to another. As for murder, they
have no conception how a man can be induced to kill his fellow-creature. With re-
fpect to women, they imagine that the one which they are enabled to purchafe for a
trifle, may fatisfy their appetite as well as another, more fuitable to their fancy ; but
_which might not be acquirable unlefs by violence.
From all that has been faid, it will be feen that they know no other wants than thofe
of fimple nature; namely, food, the enjoyment of woman, and reit.
As they are of a tafte no ways delicate, and eafy of fatisfaction, the perfect indiffe-
rence which they contrat in refpect of their choice of women, ftands in{tead of prin-
ciple, and makes them ac accordingly, without attending to it.
Their fenfes and their faculties are in juft relation to their being and mode of life. -
They have a piexcing eye, very delicate hearing, and a fteady hand; they fhoot an
arrow with the greateft exactitude, and are exceeding fwift in running. All thefe qua-
hties, which are natural to them, and abfolutely neceflary for fupplying their necefii-
ties, have been perfected by continual exercife. They have, on the other hand, a grofs
tafte, weak fmell, and dull feeling ; arifing from the circumftance of the objects about.
them not being of a quality to produce on their fenfes any delicate impreflion..
It is eafy to conceive that ambition and intereft, thofe two great {prings which put
mankind in motion, and which in fociety are the motives of all good and: bad a¢tions,
as well as of the vices, which are the confequences of them; fuch as envy, diflimula-
tion, intrigues, injuries, meditated vengeance, flander, calumny, and falfehood, have
no admiffion in the moral fy{tem of thele people : on the contrary, their want of terms
to exprefs thefe different vices, which caule fuch ravages in civilized fociety, fufliciently
fhews their ignorance of them.
It will be comprehended without difficulty, that the manner of living of thefe people
muft be in contormity to the fimplicity of their notions, and the fterility of their country.
Although many authors affirm, that the Samoiedes have princes, judges, or matters,
which they obey with great fubmifiion, it is certain, that they never knew of any fuch,
nor at prefent have any. They pay, without repugnance, the tribute impofed on them.
in peltry, without Knowing of any other fubjection towards the fovereign :. they wil-
lingly fubmit to this payment, becaufe they faw their fathers before them do fo, and
becaufe they know that if refufed, it could be enforced.
In other refpeéis, they are perfectly independent one of another ; and if they pay
any deference, it is ony to the fenior of every family, and to the Koedefnicks, whofe
counfels they fometimes attend to, without obligation to fubmit to them.
Whenit is faid that the rein-deer are the only riches of the Samoiedes, it muft needs be
conceived, that they are unacquainted with the ufe of money, and the difference in the
price and value of metals, with the exception of fome few in the neighbourhood of the Ruf–
fians, from whom they may have learnt this diflin@tion. They make ufe of their rein-deer
for the purchale of girls for wives ; but, although upon agreeing with the fathers on the
price of them, they may take as many wives as they will, they rarely.take more than five,
and the greater part content themfelves with two, There are fome girls for whom a hun-
dred, or a bundred and fifty rein-deer are given; but the purchafer is allowed to return
them to their parents and take back what was given forthem,.when diflatisfied with them.
As their wives are accuftomed to produce children almoft without any pain, they are
fufpected of infidelity, and of having had commerce with fome ftranger when the con-
trary happens. It ison fuch occafions principally that they beat and ill treat them, to
make them confefs their fault: if the woman confefles, fhe is fent back to her parents,
and her-purchale price returned,. Although the direct contrary be affirmed, even by:
’ recent
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