Regional Geography
Peoples of the World-10
Reindeer Hunters and Herders of the Tundra'
BOSWORTH GOLDMAN
This is the last Regional Geography talk this term, and the last of Mr. ROSWORTH Goldman 's three talks on Siberia. Last week he told you about the Southern Samoyed ; today he is to take you to the extreme north, to that part of Siberia touching the Arctic Ocean, to the portion of the Tundra that lies east of the Obdorsk Mountains.
Here is a flat, cold, desert, treeless plain, with low-growing vegetation. lichens, and moss, frozen for most of the year, and inhabited by the Southern Samoyed and the Tungus people (who originally came from China and whom the Samoyed call Aiya or ' younger brothers ').
The Samoyed and Tungus live in tepees or tents, and are dependent on reindeer for food, drink, and clothes. Their settlements are guarded, and their haulage is done by the snow-white Samoyed dog such as you see in Britain. They are less affected by the Russians, and therefore less civilised, than the Southern Samoyed. They are shy, and avoid the big rivers and places of trade. They have their peculiar habits and customs. The reindeer, on which they depend for survival, they use both as mounts and as pack-animals.