Kamtchatka. Scenery and animated life — engraving

"KAMTCHATKA. SCENERY AND ANIMATED LIFE".

Technique, Material: Steel engraving / Paper
Artist: ,  Engraver: 
Date, Publisher: London & Edinburgh, Thomas G. Jack., The illustrated Globe Encyclopedia of Universal Information
published by A. Fullerton & Co. 1877.
Size: sheet 26x19.5 cm.

This triptych is a composite image, bringing together three characteristic scenes from the life of the indigenous peoples of Kamchatka in the 19th century. Such engravings were published in European geographical works to give readers an idea of the nature and daily life in the remote corners of the Russian Empire. The publication was likely issued in London by A. Fullarton & Co. around 1849 . Each scene in the triptych details the unique adaptations of the native inhabitants (Kamchadals and Koryaks) to the harsh conditions of the peninsula.

1. "POST CONVEYANCE KAMCHATKA".
The first scene of the triptych depicts a mode of transport unique to Europeans: travel by dog sled across the vast expanses of Kamchatka. In the harsh winter conditions, when roads become impassable for wheeled vehicles, dogs were the primary and often the only means of transportation.
The sled (narta) is harnessed to several dogs, capable of covering great distances over snow and ice. Beside the sled stands the driver (kayur) holding an ostol—a long pole used for steering and braking. This "post conveyance" delivered people, goods, and, of course, mail between the peninsula's sparse settlements until the early 20th century.

2. "A BALAGAN OR SUMMER HUT".
The second scene depicts a Balagan—a unique summer dwelling and storage structure characteristic of the peoples of Kamchatka and the northern Far East. The Balagan is a log or plank barn raised high on stilts (posts), reaching a height of about 4 meters.
This design had crucial practical purposes : 
Under the Balagan, in the shade, was an ideal place for drying fish (yukola) , the dietary staple.
The height protected the supplies from dogs, foxes, and other animals In the summer, people lived in the Balagan itself; it provided shelter from dampness and, most importantly, from the mosquitoes and midges (gnus) that plagued the lower areas. In the engraving, long rows of dried fish, prepared for the long winter, can likely be seen hanging under the Balagan.

3. "A YURST OR WINTER HUT".
The third scene depicts a Yurst (or Yurta) —the winter dwelling of the Kamchadals . Unlike the summer Balagan, the Yurst was built as a semi-subterranean structure to survive the extreme cold. It was partially dug into the ground, and the roof was covered with earth and turf, providing excellent insulation.
Originally, the entrance to these yurts was through an opening in the roof, accessed by a notched log ladder. This also helped to retain heat. 
However, as travel accounts note, after the arrival of the Russians, doors began to be made at the side . The engraving shows this later type of construction. Smoke rising from the roof indicates a hearth burning inside to warm the dwelling.