immediately raised himself upon the hind legs, and began to cry and roar most bitterly; the imerach followed the example. The The bear then began to dance, and the driver did the same, till at length the other nartes coming up, the bear received a blow upon the nose and was secured. It appears that the nose is the only part vulnerable without fire-arms, and even then, they can be secured only on being shot through the head. The white bears are, however, by no means a dangerous animal, avoiding the chase as much as they are avoided. Another instance of imerachism which occurred in a distant part of the general government of Siberia, may be related in this place, to prevent again adverting to those ludicrous scenes which hourly attend it. Two old ladies in Kamschatka, one, the mother of a Mr. Tallman, an American, who had married a Russian girl, the other, the wife of a Russian, who were both afflicted with the disease, were sitting at tea opposite to one another, when Mr. Tallman, in a gentle manner, put his hands behind their backs, propelling the old ladies towards each other, upon which they instantly exchanged tea-cups and saucers, while the really offending party stood enjoying the mischief. There can be no doubt that the complaint is rendered worse by the constant annoyance and irritation to which they are subjected for the amusement of others."

"Having settled ourselves in a small Yukagir yourte, Mr. Matiushkin and I received a visit from one of the Tchuktchi, a most empty countenanced and wild looking savage. He entered the

room where we were, tumbled himself down upon a stool, smoked his pipe, and then quitted the room, without once looking at, or taking the least notice either of us, or any thing about us. The commissary having made his appearance, it was determined to commence the fair, by first installing two of the chiefs with medals and swords, baptizing them, and receiving a nominal tribute. The morning was ushered in by the arrival of these persons in state, dressed in their gayest apparel, and seated in a beautiful narte, drawn by two rein-deer, the whole forming a cavalcade of twenty-five or thirty pairs. Having reached a large store-house, to which the altar and images were carried, the priest proceeded to baptize the two men, their wives, and three children; but instead of being merely sprinkled with water, they, men and women, were obliged one and all to strip, and to be three times plunged in a large iron cauldron of ice-water, with the thermometer on the spot at 35° of Reaumur, with no part of the dress on except their trowsers; and were afterwards directed to bathe their feet in the same cold water. I could not help pitying the women and children, the former of whom having long hair, became, as it were, enveloped in icicles. small cross suspended round the neck completed the ceremony. A quantity of tobacco was then given as a present to each of the new converts, by way of inducing others to follow the example. Instances having, however, occurred of late of Tchuktchi being twice baptized, and even of presenting themselves a third time, for the privilege of the presents, the good E 2 people

A

people of Irkutsk begin to be tired of sending either their missionaries or tobacco to such a people.

"The ceremony finished, the same cavalcade, joined by the other chiefs, or Toions of the Tchuktchi, proceeded to the abode of the commissary, whither Mr. Matiushkin and I followed. The commissary then made the usual declaration, that the fair could not begin until he had received a tribute for the Emperor Alexander, on which the principal traders advanced and laid each a red fox skin at the feet of the commissary. The names of the donors, and the value of the skins were then regularly entered in the official records, and the commissary proceeded to invest two of the chiefs, with a medal and small sabre, reading to them publicly a letter, which he is supposed to receive from the chief of Yakutsk, declaring it to be the Emperor's order so to invest the chief, or Toion; the clergyman then advanced to give his benediction to them, and the poor ignorants became quite happy, quite proud, and ultimately quite drunk.

"The next topic started was that of my desire to accompany the Tchuktchi through their country, and this seemed to require more generalship than all the

others.'

"There were this year at the fair, which is termed a good one, two hundred and fifty hartes, and five hundred rein-deer, with sixtyeight men, sixty women, and fiftysix children. Each rein-deer can draw three and four poods, or one hundred and fifty pounds weight. Those which come to the fair return only to the river Tchaon, where they are exchanged for those which belong to, and which had come from the Bay of St. Lawrence. Seventy-five and ninety days are required for them to perform the journey, which is about eight hundred versts, or five hundred miles.

"There were three chiefs at the fair; first, Yebrashka, who commands the tribes inhabiting the banks of the Tchaon, Packla, and Kvata rivers, as well as the country towards Shelatskoi Noss. Second, Valetka, chief of the Belo Morsky Tchuktchi, which tribe inhabit the eastern sea coast, from Cape North to the Bay of Klasheui. Third, Kacharga, who commands the Tchuksoi Noss, or East Cape tribe, who inhabit the Noss, and the country from thence to the Bay of St. Lawrence. The first are wanderers, and live by their rein-deer, which are employed for burden between the river Tchaon and the fair, and in the trade of sea-horse teeth. The second subsist almost entirely by fishing and hunting, added to a small tribute, or toll of tobacco, which is paid by their southern neighbours for a free passage along their coasts; they have no rein-deer. The third tribe subsist by traffic, and the breeding of rein-deer, of which they have considerable herds, and are employed from the Bay of St. Lawrence, to

the

the banks of the Tchaon. There is also a fourth chief, who commands the Tchuktchi of Anadyr Noss, a tribe who inhabit the country and banks of the Anadyr, and also subsist by traffic and the breeding of rein-deer. These chiefs live equally distant from each other, about one hundred and fifty or two hundred miles, and carry on a sort of intercourse by means of the eastern coast Tchuktchi, who are provided with baidares. "The Tchukskoi Noss race are the most numerous; those of the eastern coast the most warlike and hardy; the Tchaon, or Shelatskoi are the most friendly, and those on the Anadyr Noss are the richest. The whole are nominally independent, but actually tributary; for the Yasack, though small, is enforced and conscientiously paid. Their existence as an independent tribe hangs on the will of Russia, for that independence will at any time be sacrificed to retain their trade. Their whole number cannot exceed four or five thousand. The Kargoules are represented by them as far more numerous, but the Tchuktchi cannot count past a hundred or ten tens, that is, their fingers ten times over. Each tribe has a different dialect of the same language, and all understand one another, though the dialects are extremely difficult to articulate; so much so, that the interpreters, after the three days of the fair, are generally laid up with a sore throat."

The jealousy and avarice of the Tchuktchi prevented Capt. Cochrane from prosecuting his journey, and he was obliged to return to Kolyma, whence he came.

He

next determined to try the route by Okotsk. He accordingly "departed on the 27th of March in a

narte royal, that is, one drawn by thirteen dogs, who took me eighty miles in one day; a prodigious day's journey, as it is considered in this part of the world, for the same dogs to perform."

This was altogether, however, a most miserable journey, and effected nothing. On reaching Okotsk through dreadful difficulties, the captain shaved, and resolved to return to Europe; but he was detained for a very important period at St. Peter's and St. Paul's by circumstances, and having fallen in love-and that love happily meeting with a return

his union with a fair inhabitant of the place, was the result. But even on marrying, our eccentric countryman seems to have indulged in a taste for his favourite passion; -while the preparations were making for his nuptials, he travelled all over the peninsula of Kamschatka! On his return he led his bride to the altar. From among the miscellanies which follow, we select only one extract, as bearing upon a subject which is at present interesting.

At St. Peter's and St. Paul's was a brig from the Sandwich Islands, with "a cargo of flour from Macao, the other a cargo of salt as a present to the Emperor, from his sable majesty of those islands, and in return received as a present, such things as seemed most desirable; among others, some animals, with a view of propagating the breed; though it may be doubted whether the propagation of bears will be beneficial or acceptable. The Sandwich brig was a fine American vessel, officered by three Englishmen, and entirely manned by natives. The conduct of the Executive here towards the Sandwichers was flattering;

and

and it is not a little singular that the first voyage undertaken by them should be to Kamtchatka." He notices a very whimsical blunder in Dr. Clarke, "who (he tells us) was eternally crossing the river Protok, apparently ignorant that the Protok means neither more nor less than the branch of a river."

12.-Sketches of the History, Manners, and Customs of the North American Indians. By James Buchanan, Esq.

NAMES OF THE DIFFERENT INDIAN NATIONS HITHERTO DISCOVERED IN NORTH AMERICA, THE SITUATION OF THEIR COUNTRIES, WITH THE NUMBER OF THEIR FIGHTING MEN.

"The Choctaws or Flatheads, on the Molect, 4,500.-The Natches, 150.-The Chukesws, Mississipi, 750. The Cherokees, South Carolina, 2,500. The Chatabas, between North and South Carolina, 150.-The Peantias, a wandering tribe, both sides of the Mississipi, 800. The Kasgresquios or Illinois, 600.The Piankishaws, 250; the Qurachtenons, 400; the Kikapous, 300; (on the Wabash,) — The Shawanese or Sciota, 500.-The Delawares, on the west of Ohio, 300.- The Miamis, 350.- The Upper Creeks, back of Georgia; the Middle Creeks, North Florida; the Lower Creeks, East Florida; 4,000. - The Caocutas, on the East of the River Alibamous, 700. The Alibamous, West of the Alibamous, 600. -The Arkansas, 2,000. West Side.The Anjoues, North of the Missouri, 1,000. The Padilonians, West of the Mississipi, 500.The White Panis, South of the Mississipi, 2,000.-The Freckled or Prickled Panis, 2,000. The

Cansas, 1,600; the Osages, 600; the Grand Eaux, 1,000; (South of the Mississipi.)-The Missouri, upon the River Missouri, 3,000.

The Sioux of the Woods, towards the heads, 1,800. The Sioux of the Meadows of the Missouri, 2,500. The Blanks Barbus, or White Indians with Beards, 1,500.-The Assiniboils, farther North, near the Lakes, 1,500.-The Christaneaux, 3,000.

-The Orusconsins, on the River of the same name, falling into the Mississipi, 500.- The Mascordins, 500; the Sakis, 400; the Mechuouakis, 250; (South of Pecan's Bay.)-Folle Avoini, or Wild Oat Indians, 350. - The Peans, 700.- The Potawatamis, near Detroit, 350.-The Missisagues,

or River Indians, being wandering tribes on Lakes Huron and Superior, 2,000.-The Ottapoas, Lake Superior, 900.-The Chepewas, 5,000. The Weandots, Lake Erie, 300.-The Six Nations or Iroquois, 1,500.-The Round-headed Indian, near Ottawas, 2,500.-The Algonkins, near the above, 300.-The Nepessins, near ditto, 400. The Chatas, St. Lawrence, 130. - The Amelestes, or the Bark, 550.- The Mukmacks, Bark of Nova Scotia, 700.-The Abenaques, ditto, 350. -The Conaway Crunas, near the Falls of St. Lewis, 200.--Total, 58,730 warriors.--58,730 warriors, one-third old men, makes 78,306. Multiplying by six gives 469,836 souls, men, women, and children.

"The foregoing list I received from old Mr. Heckewelder, the Missionary, to whom I paid a visit a short time ago at Bethlehem, where he resides. His active and constant exertions in the cause of benevolence seem to have

been

been rewarded with health and long life. He is now in his eightyeighth year, and his faculties are vigorous and alert. From him I learnt that it is not in the power of man to come at any thing demonstrative as to the numbers of the Indians. The list now before the reader refers to what was known between the years 1770 and 1780, and I have no reason whatever to doubt its accuracy. I find in the records of 1794, that a treaty was arranged at Philadelphia with the President of the United States, which comprehended upwards of fifty-seven thousand Indian warriors.

"This statement, therefore, could not have included the inhabitants of the immense regions from the Mississipi to the Pacific Ocean, and North to Hudson's Bay. But travellers have in all places found numbers, so that having reference to extent of territory, I do not overrate the population of the Indian nations at two millions; taking in from the Isthmus of Panama, and consequently including Mexico.

It

should be borne in mind that the great body of any Indian tribe never appear to strangers: only the scouts are seen."

The first extract we shall make is from the chapter upon the Indian vanity as to dress.

"As I was once resting in my travels at the house of a trader who lived at some distance from an Indian town, I went in the morning to visit an Indian acquaintance and friend of mine. I found him engaged in plucking out his beard, preparatory to painting himself for a dance which was to take place the ensuing evening. Having finished his head-dress

about an hour before sunset, he came up, as he said, to see me, but I and my companions judged that he came to be seen. To my utter astonishment, I saw three different paintings or figures on one and the same face. He had, by his great ingenuity and judgment in laying on and shading the different colours, made his nose appear, when we stood directly in front of him, as if it were very long and narrow, with a round nob at the end, much like the upper part of a pair of tongs. On one cheek there was a red round spot, about the size of an apple, and the other was done in the same manner with black. The eye-lids, both the upper and lower ones, were reversed in the colouring. When we viewed him in profile on one side, his nose represented the beak of an eagle, with the bill rounded and brought to a point, precisely as those birds have it, though the mouth was somewhat open. eye was astonishingly well done, and the head, upon the whole, appeared tolerably well, shewing a great deal of fierceness. we turned round to the other side, the same nose now resembled the snout of a pike, with the mouth so open, that the teeth could be seen. He seemed much pleased with his execution; and having his looking-glass with him, he contemplated his work seemingly with great pride and exultation. He asked me- how I liked it? I answered, that if he had done the work on a piece of board, bark, or any thing else, I should like it very well, and often look at it, 'But,' asked he, why not so as it is?''Because,' said I, "I cannot see the face that is hidden under these colours, so as to know who it is.' Well,'

The

When