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25

necessities.

A Koriak possessing a herd of fifteen hundred or two thousand reindeer is considered to be "pretty well off," the same fortune amongst Tonguzis is seldom met and is considered as an immense wealth.

The Tonguzis are always very unwilling to initiate Russians into the secrets of their territory and I had much trouble with the guides I got at Ghijiga. After the first week they became all right, seeing that I did not want to give up my explorations and surveys and that I always rewarded well those, who obeyed my orders promptly and without grumbling.

Finally we became so accustomed to each other that I frequently left behind the only Kosak who accompanies me as servant and cook, ordering him to wait for me in some settlement, and wandered round with four or five natives.

During the investigations we frequently stoped at