On the liein-Deer of the Laplanders. 353 



and Kengis with a large quantity of game, which is carried to 

 Stockholm by way of Torneo. 



The rein-deer is the support of the Laplanders, and the ob- 

 ject of their pride ; in it consist their wealth and their hap- 

 piness. Whoever is the possessor of many hundred rein-deer, 

 has attained the highest pinnacle of good fortune ; but he 

 never on this accoimt alters his mode of living in the slightest 

 degree, or increases his enjoyments, except, perhaps, as re- 

 gards the quantity of brandy he consumes. Besides the rein- 

 deer, the whole wealth of the Laplander consists of few ar- 

 ticles of clothing, his tents for living in and for keeping his 

 stores, a few wooden stakes with which he forms a kind of fold, 

 into which the x'ein-deer are driven when they are to be 

 milked, a few bed-covers made of rein-deer skins, a copper 

 vessel in which his food is cooked, a tew wooden dishes, and 

 his provisions, consisting of rein-deer-cheese and milk, which 

 latter he presei'ves for the winter in rein- deer stomachs. 

 When he alters his abode, the whole of this splendour is placed 

 on the pack-rein-deer, and conveyed to the new place of re- 

 sidence. 



The rein-deer is the most important possession of the Lap- 

 landers, for it supplies them both with nourishment and cloth- 

 ing. The Laplander spends his superfluous money chiefly on 

 the increase of his herd ; and it is only when that is suffi- 

 ciently large, that he begins to think of collecting silver and 

 burying it ; but he never dreams of procuring greater personal 

 comforts, for their value is unkno'mi to him. 



The Laplander lives in a tent of a circular conical shape, 

 provided with an opening above for the escape of the smoke. 

 The tent is made of coarse woollen cloth, sometimes also of 

 rein-deer skins, and the richer individuals construct their ha- 

 bitations with a double covering. The door consists of a curtain 

 of the same material. The internal arrangement of the tent 

 is just as simple ; in the middle there are a few stones which 

 form a sort of fire-place, and at the sides round about, twigs 

 of birch are strewed, and rein-deer skins spread over them, 

 so as to form a sofa during the day, and a bed at night. The 

 dogs also partake of this place of repose. The dishes and 

 kettles lie scattered about in the tent, and above are suspended 



