At an appointed day the family and friends are assembled in a yourt, the old women being bridesmaids.  The bride is placed in one polag and the bridegroom in the next.  At a given signal a race commences, the bride leading.  Each must enter every polag, and the man must catch his prize in a specified way before she makes the circuit of the yourt.

The bridesmaids, armed with long switches, offer every assistance to the woman and equal hindrance to the man.  For her they lift the curtains of the polags, but hold them down against her pursuer and pound him with their switches.  Unless she stops voluntarily it is utterly impossible to overtake her within the circuit.  If she is not overtaken the engagement is ‘off,’ and the man must retire or serve again for the privilege of another love chase.  Generally the pursuit is successful; the lover doubtless knows the temper of the lovee before becoming her father’s apprentice.  But coquettes are not unknown in Koriakdom, and the pursuing youths are sometimes left in the lurch—­or the polags.

Should the lover overtake the maiden, before making the circuit, both remain seven days and nights in a polag.  Their food is given them under the curtain during that period, and they cannot emerge for any purpose whatever.  The bridesmaids then perform a brief but touching ceremonial, and the twain are pronounced one flesh.

Northeast of Ghijiga is the country of the Chukchees, a people formerly hostile to the Koriaks.  The feuds are not entirely settled, but the ill feeling has diminished and both parties maintain a dignified reserve.  The Chukchees are hunters and traders, and have large herds of reindeer but very few dogs.  They are the most warlike of these northern races, and long held the Russians at bay.  They go far from shore with their baydaras, or seal skin boats, visiting islands along the coast, and frequently crossing to North America.  Their voyages are of a mercantile character, the Chukchee buying at the Russian towns and selling his goods among the Esquimaux.

At Ghijiga I made a short voyage in a baydara.  The frame appeared very fragile, and the seal skin covering displayed several leaks.  I was unwilling to risk myself twenty feet from land, but after putting me ashore the Koriak boatman pulled fearlessly into the bay.

The Chukchee trader has a crew of his own race to paddle his light canoe.  Occasionally the baydaras are caught in storms and must be lightened.  I have the authority of Major Abasa that in such case the merchant keeps his cargo and throws overboard his crew.  Goods and furs are costly, but men are cheap and easily replaced.  The crew is entirely reconciled to the state of affairs, and drowns itself with that resignation known only to pagans.

“But,” I asked, “do not the men object to this kind of jettison?”

“I believe not,” was the major’s reply; “they are only discharging their duty to their employer.  They go over the side just as they would step from an over-laden sledge.”