MODE OF TRAVELLING. 7 



as winter food, has induced them to neglect the 

 labour of raising potatoes, although they have 

 known years when the fishery has barely pro- 

 tected them from famine. 



The winter, as I have already said, is very 

 unpleasant, from the heavy snows, which, drift- 

 ing from the mountains, often bury the houses, 

 so that the inhabitants are compelled to dig a 

 passage out, while the cattle walk on its frozen 

 surface over their roofs. 



Travelling in this season is very rapid and 

 convenient. The usual mode is in sledges 

 drawn by six or more dogs. The only dan- 

 ger is from snow-storms. The traveller, sur- 

 prised by this sudden visitation, has no chance 

 for safety except in quietly allowing himself 

 and his dogs to be buried in the snow, and 

 relieving himself from his covering when the 

 storm is past. This, however, is not always 

 practicable ; should the storm, or, as it is called 

 here, " purga,"" overtake him in the ravine of a 

 mountain, such an immense quantity of snow 

 becomes heaped upon him, that he has no power 

 to extricate himself from his tomb. These acci- 

 dents, however, seldom occur ; for the Kamts- 



