Why were the Chukchi such great warriors

For a century and a half, the Russians failed to subjugate the inhabitants of the Chukotka Peninsula. In the end, they simply decided to reach an agreement with the ferocious nomadic reindeer herders.

"The Chukchi people are strong, tall, audacious, broad-shouldered, sturdily built, level-headed, fair-minded and bellicose; they love freedom, can't stand dishonesty and are vengeful; and, in time of war, when they