Transforming impact of government and private salt trade on life-supporting technologies of indigenous peoples of the amur-sakhalin region in the XIXth - Early XXth centuries

Abstract

The article considers the results of the impact of salt regalia, government and private salt trade by various institutions of the Russian Empire in the XIX - early XX century on the life-supporting technologies of the indigenous peoples of the Amur-Sakhalin region, on traditional sources of life energy. These technologies were based on waste-free production and consumption of products of hunting, fishing, sea hunting, gathering of food, medicinal, and technical wild plants. The traditional food model assumed minimal consumption of salt when eating, and almost complete absence of it when preparing food for the future, in technologies for processing skins of land and sea animals, sea and river fish for the production of clothing, shoes and utensils. Archaic prohibitions on the use of salt in cooking the meat of sacred animals and in treating numerous supernatural beings were carefully observed, which, in accordance with the ancient views of the indigenous peoples, constantly and strictly ensured that people did not violate the laws of ecology and social morality. Salt was also not used for feeding domestic animals, especially dogs, which were the main draft animals on the Amur and Sakhalin, with the exception of domesticated reindeers. The main food for sledding and hunting dogs was dried and not salted fish. During the development of the Amur basin by the Slavs, as a result of the salt trade, which was an important factor in replenishing the state Treasury, the traditional life-supporting technologies of the indigenous peoples of the region were transformed, which can be traced in the food complex, dog breeding, in the system of cults, rituals and sacrifices. Gradually, but inevitably, salt has become a necessary component of the modern system of nutrition, life and life of the indigenous peoples of the region.