Received a big portion of questions from a UK-based TV documentary production company. A production executive wrote in his request:
I’m researching a history/travel series about women travellers, their journeys and achievements. One story I’ve been looking at is about [a Brit nurse] Kate Marsden who travelled on horse back to help the Lepers in the Sakha Republic [in 1890s]. The part of the journey I’d like to do is from Yakutsk to Vilyuisk. I can’t find out much information about this region today outside of Yakutsk and I hoped that you could… advise me on this trip, about the regions, what to see and do etc.
Later a researcher emailed me a lot of questions. Find them with my answers below and also check the map of Vilyuisky Ulus.
I’ve heard of a square in Yakutsk which was being built in her honor, but no reference to whether it has actually been finished.
Yes, there is a small square named on the name of Kate Marsden in Yakutsk. It was officially opened on May 13, 2009. The grand-opening ceremony was visited by Evgenia Mikhailova, the vice-president of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and many other officials. Located near Yakutsk Medical College. By the way, Yakutia is officially celebrating her 150th anniversary in the course of the year.
If you’ve got a Russian-speaking assistant, here is the link to the news story about the opening of the square: http://ysia.ru/full-news.php?id_news=697
There are varied reports on the distance, time of travel depending on the time of year, and condition of road between the town. It would be good to know what is the best time to travel this route and if there is a metalled road.
The condition of the road is pretty good. You can reach Vilyuisk at any time. However, in the rainy period it is hard to go through. The distance is 576 km. Time to drive is around 7-11 hours. Depends on a car and driver.
I’m assuming that hunting takes place along the route and if so what animals are hunted for their food and their fur.
Yes, you can hunt along the route, mainly ducks, hares, and elks, but in the legal time of hunting. It is usually in the late spring and autumn.
I’d like them to learn more about Yakut culture, maybe by staying with a family who still follow some of the traditions?
Staying with a family you can arrange via a travel company that has agreements with locals. One night stay with breakfast costs about 1000-1200 rubles.
Is yakut horse trading still prevelant and is this something we’d find on the route between the 2 towns?
It is not regular practice anymore. However, if someone wants to sell a horse, he/she can post an ad in a newspaper or somewhere else and sell. A resident may have and breed a horse for meat on his/her own. But when we talk about mass horse breeding, we mean a special farming organization (plemobjedinenie in Russian).
Kate Marsden was searching for a herb which allegedly Shaman’s used to cure leprosy. Would it be possible to meet with a Shaman?
Yes, it is possible to meet the Shaman in Vilyuisk, namely a Yakut shaman Fedot P. Ivanov. Please, read the following post on my weblog http://askyakutia.com/2009/01/how-to-meet-shamans-in-yakutia/
Also I’ve heard that this herb is still drunk distilled in Vodka, but I havent’ been able to find a name for the herb.
You’d better ask locals about their recipe, when you’ll be in the place. Any family has its own recipe.
In Vilyuisk there were the remains of the hospital that was built for the Lepers by Kate. I’m assuming its still there but it would be good to know for sure.
Yes, there are remains. They are located 15 km from Vilyuisk, right on the way between Yakutsk and Vilyuisk.
Similar Posts:
- How to meet shamans in Yakutia, Siberia/Russia? Part II.
- How to meet shamans in Yakutia?
- More about Oymyakon, the Pole of Cold
- DIY tips: How to arrange the travel to Oymyakon, the Pole of Cold, from Yakutsk?
- Life in Oymyakon
