The White Sea Peninsula PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ...prosperity, and long life. But when they commit sin, he throws them into poverty and suffering, and sends them an early death. The Samoyedes believe that in this life men are requited for their works, good or evil. A suspected thief is brought before a halie, which has been smeared with blood, and is asked solemnly whether he is guilty. An oath of innocence if taken thus may be relied upon, for no Samoyede dare perjure himself under such grave circumstances. However, crime and dishonesty are very rare among them. The sacrifice to the hahe is generally a reindeer, of which the hoofs, hide, and head are hung near the idol: its countenance is smeared with blood, and part of the fat is thrown into the fire. That is the hake's meal. The Samoyede's own share is the whole of the effective portion of the reindeer. I speak of all this in the present tense, rather than in the past, for though superseded in places, and in part, by a faint approach to Christianity: these idolatrous practices are still openly maintained by the remoter tribes, and must therefore still be considered as characteristics of this un fortunate race. I hope I have made it clear that they are partial, and that among the Russianised Samoyedes open evidences of the old life and faith are becoming more and more rare. The change is not to be attributed to any special effort of the Russians, but to the effect of example and the insensible influence of civilisation. The Samoyedes reverence their dead superstitiously, and honour their memory long. The graves of the unbaptized are furnished with a knife, an axe, a lance, etc., for the maintenance of the dead in the other world. When a Tddibe died, the custom was to fence in the spot of burial, and lay the body on a wooden framework, ..