The  umiaks  in  full  sail,  crowded  with  fur-clad  people,  dogs,  and  their
various  possessions,  made  a  very  picturesque  sight.  Among  the  men
were  some  Chukchi  from  the  northern  coast  of  Siberia.  These  were
recognized  by  onr  officers,  who  had  spent  a  couple  of  weeks  with  them
earlier  in  the  season.  The  Chukchi  generally  start  out  on  their  trad-
ing voyages  in  May,  traveling  along  the  shore  with  dog  sleds,  hauling
on  them  their  umiaks,  which  are  folded,  until  they  reach  open  water,
when  the  sleds  are  left  at  some  point  and  the  umiaks  set  up;  then,  tak-
ing the  dogs  and  goods  on  board,  they  coast  along  the  shore  of  Bering
sound  and  over  to  the  American  side.  Some  of  them  even  visit  the
Eussian  fair  at  Ghigiga,  near  Anadyr  river,  during  the  winter  to  dis-
pose of  the  furs  they  have  gathered  on  their  summer  trading  voyages.
During  one  season  an  umiak  came  to  St  Michael  from  King  island,
but  the  people  were  poorly  supplied  with  goods  for  trading,  having
only  dried  salmon  and  seal  oil.  As  usual,  they  were  very  difficult  to
trade  with  on  account  of  their  slowness  in  closing  a  bargain.  A  man
would  bring  in  a  bunch  of  dried  fish,  throw  it  on  the  floor,  and  then
stand  about  as  if  he  had  no  interest  in  anything  going  on,  until  asked
what  he  wished;  when  the  regular  price  was  offered  he  would  almost
invariably  refuse,  and  then  a  long  talk  would  ensue,  which  ended  either
by  his  accepting  what  was  offered  or  by  taking  away  the  fish.  This
slowness  is  common  with  these  people.
