book chapter

An account of a geographical and astronomical expedition to the northern parts of Russia by Commodore Joseph Billings, in the years 1785-1794

T. Cadell, jun. and W. Davies • London • Published In 1802 • Pages:

By: Sauer, Martin.

Abstract

Commodore Joseph Billings headed a geographical and astronomical expedition to the northern parts of Russia for the purpose of ascertaining the degrees of latitude and longitude of various places. Between 1785-1794 Billings had the opportunity of first-hand observations of the country and the people of Siberia and Arctic Russia. The author has included in his material on the Yakut two native origin myths. There is information provided in this account of the religion of the Yakut, their festivals, their marriage and burial customs, and their superstitions which they had in abundance. Specific accounts of the shamans and their activities are included here also. Of special interest is a description of the punishment for and means of control of thefts among these people. The author attributes the declining population and the increasing poverty of the Yakut to the influence of the Russian settlers and the excessive tributes exacted from the natives by these Russians. This is a primary source for the treatment of the Yakut culture, based on first-hand observations and containing material not dealt with elsewhere.

HRAF PubDate

1997

Region

Asia

Sub Region

North Asia

Document Type

book chapter

Evaluation

Creator Type

Government Official

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

RCH ; 1950-1956

Field Date

1785-94

Coverage Date

1785-94

Coverage Place

Sakha Republic, Russian Federation

Notes

Martin Sauer

This document consists of excerpts

Plates which do not concern the Yakut are not included.

Appendix I giving a vocabulary of the Yukaghir, Yakut, and Tungu languages is not included

LCCN

unk80002149

LCSH

Yakut (Turkic people)