64 INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



constant defeat and torn skins, the Eskimo dogs surrendered and have 

 made no more attacks. In defense of his sled deer against wolves or 

 dogs, the Laplander always uses his knife, which is 10 to 12 inches long, 

 a formidable weapon, and he defends himself in the following manner: 



As soon as danger is i)erceived, the Lapp leaps out of the sled and 

 runs to the reindeer, throws them down with the back on the ground, 

 straddles them, holding their heads erect. In this position the animals 

 can not get up. The Lapp holds the head of the reindeer with his left 

 hand, and with the knife in his right hand he is ready for battle. He 

 hews to the right and to the left, and one dog after the other runs away 

 howling with wounds in his skin or even in his flesh. The matter con- 

 tinues in this manner until the number of animals becomes so small 

 that they dare not approach their would-be victim, w^hen the reindeer are 

 released. In less than a second they rise to their feet again, the Lapp 

 leaps into his sled, and only a cloud of snow teUs the remaining enemies 

 in which direction the intended victim has gone. In case he is pur- 

 sued, the process is rei^eated until all the foes, howling or limping, have 

 become unfit for any further pursuit. Our Lapps tell me that if only 

 one man meets a dozen strong Eskimo dogs that have not before seen 

 a reindeer, he will need all his strength and skill to defend a couple of 

 animals. 



With a little care and good sense on the part of the herders there 

 is no danger whatever in regard»to reindeer thriving and increasing in 

 Alaska; for, in x)laces where the herds are kept, the dogs soon become 

 accustomed to the sight of the reindeer and will not molest them. 



In connection with i)rovisions, we took only nine barrels of salted 

 corned beef with us from San Francisco to be used by the Lapps, but 

 as two more families than expected remained with us at this station, 

 the supply of meat was too small ; and to mend this, three reindeer were 

 killed just before Christmas, and the meat was divided and distributed, 

 together with the corned beef, among the Lapjis. One reindeer was also 

 killed to divide among the apprentices. One animal was taken and 

 killed by the superintendent, an account of wliich will be made this 

 summer. An account will also be made of a reindeer that had a little 

 blemish and was sold to the Lapps for food ; thus, the number of reindeer 

 killed for food was (J, and all these were males. 



If it be true, as reported by whalers, that the provisions for the 

 station will arrive this year by the same brig ( W. H. Meyer), it will 

 doubtless be long before it gets here, in which case it will be necessary 

 to kill more reindeer for food, as we have no meat left from last year's 

 supply for the July distribution, which takes place the 1th of July. 



In accordance with your instructions that the tongues of the animals 

 killed should be prejiared for market, the tongues of the 5 reindeer 

 killed were smoked; but the tongues of the 6 that died, or were sick 

 and killed, were not prepared in this way, but together with the rest of 

 the meat, they were appropriated to the stomachs of the aj)prentices, 

 jn which market there is always a large demand for such things. 



