THE MIGRATION OF THE REINDEER 111 



acquired their winter coats the fur is thick and warm. 

 The difference of the quality of the skins at the two 

 seasons is such, that whilst an autumn skin is valued at 

 five or six roubles, a spring one will only fetch one or 

 one and a half roubles. In good years the migrating 

 body of reindeer consists of many thousands ; and 

 though they are divided into herds of two or three 

 hundred each, yet the herds keep so near together as to 

 form only one immense mass, which is sometimes from 

 thirty to seventy miles in breadth. They always 

 follow the same route, and in crossing the river near 

 Plotbischtsche, they choose a place where a dry valley 

 leads down to the stream on one side, and a flat sandy 

 shore facilitates their landing on the other side. As 

 each separate herd approaches the river, the deer draw 

 more closely together, and the largest and strongest 

 takes the lead. He advances, closely followed by a 

 few of the others, with head erect, and apparently 

 intent on examining the locality. When he has satis- 

 fied himself, he enters the river, the rest of the herd 

 crowd after him, and in a few minutes the surface is 

 covered with them. Then the hunters, who have been 

 concealed to leeward, rush in their light canoes from 

 their hiding-places, surround the deer, and delay their 

 passage, whilst two or three chosen men armed with 

 short spears dash into the middle of the herd and de- 

 spatch large numbers in an incredibly short time ; or at 

 least wound them so, that, if they reach the bank, it is 

 only to fall into the hands of the women and children. 

 The office of the spearman is a very dangerous one. 

 It is no easy thing to keep the light boat afloat among 

 the dense crowd of swimming deer, which, moreover, 



