Alcohol and Hallucinogens in the Life of Siberian Aborigines

Alexander Ch. ELERT

The Second Kamchatka, or Great Northern, Expedition (1733—1743), whose plan was developed by the Senate and Admiralteistv-Collegia* of St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, was a large-scale exploratory journey designed to investigate Russian nature and population. Many of the valuable documents and manuscripts of this expedition — letters, travel journals, geographic descriptions, etc. — kept in archives have been published only recently or are yet being prepared for publication.

“SCIENCE First Hand” has published a few articles dedicated to this academic project, including papers on the life and scholarly activities of G. F. Mьller, J. G. Gmelin and G. W. Steller, who were members of this expedition.

The December issue of SCIENCE First Hand (# 6 (12), 2006) featured documents of the Second Kamchatka Expedition dealing with the role of alcohol in the life of 18th century Russian Siberians. The present article dwells on the alcoholic habits of Siberian aborigines as well as on their consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms and other narcotics producing euphoria and stupor.

More information on these and other subjects you can find in the printed version of our journal.