94 THE NATUEALIST IN NORWAY. 



another. The nerves and sinews of the animal are 

 dried, then they are softened by being steeped for 

 some days in water, when they are worked up and 

 made into an article resembling flax ; a substance as 

 fine as cotton, and much stronger, is manufactured 

 from this flax. The weaving apparatus looks like a 

 large white comb, and is made of the broad frontal 

 horns of the reindeer. The hide of the reindeer is 

 tanned, and makes strong and durable harness, boots, 

 and other articles. 



A Lapp female of the higher class wears a case of 

 reindeer leather hanging from a girdle round her 

 waist, at one end of which is a leather thimble, as well 

 as a receptacle for needles, which last is covered with 

 a moveable sheath of brass. The girdle is of solid 

 silver, generally gilt, and is ornamented with engrav- 

 ings of roses, lilies, and forget-me-nots. This latter 

 article is really a very pretty work of art, and would 

 not be despised by some village coquette. There is 

 very little of the flirt, however, about the Lapp belle. 

 She is a plain, sensible woman, who has to take a 

 practical view of every-day life ; and she has, more- 

 over, to assist her husband in his daily labours. She 

 has to milk the reindeer, to turn the milk into cheese, 

 to cook the dinner for the family, and to see that 

 everything in the tent is kept in proper order and in 

 its place. She is at no times good-looking, and, as 

 old age grows upon her, she becomes positively ugly. 



The reindeer harness is of leather, manufactured 

 from the hide of the animal. It is very strong, and is 

 ornamented with scarlet cloth; for the Lapp has a 

 mania for bright colours. The scarlet housings are 

 adorned with the hair of the deer dyed black for the 



