210 NEIGHBORS WITH OLA WS AND HOOFS, 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



THE LAPLANDER'S TREASURE. 



1. THE American caribou answers to the reindeer of 

 the extreme north of Europe. It roams over a vast range 

 of territory, being found as far south as Maine, in New- 

 foundland, and on the bleak barrens of Labrador. Like 

 the reindeer, both sexes of the caribou wear large, branch- 

 ing antlers ; and they are compact in form and possessed 

 of great speed. The color of the caribou is dark fawn, or 

 light gray ; that of the Lapland reindeer is brown, grow- 

 ing white as winter approaches. The caribou, or reindeer 

 of America, is the game of the Indian or the sportsman, 

 and is never domesticated. The Lapp reindeer is found 

 wild in large numbers, but is chiefly noted as the domestic 

 animal of many uses to the inhabitants of a barren, winter 

 land ; and this is a description of it and its home, given 

 by Mr. Bowden : 



2. " The reindeer furnishes its master, the wandering 

 Lapp, or native of Norwegian Lapland, with food ; warm 

 fur coats are made from its skin, as well as excellent 

 leather; spoons, forks, and other articles are made from 

 its horns ; while the only household gods that the poor 

 Lapp possesses are made from the bones, sinews, or mus- 

 cles of the same serviceable creature. The reindeer also 

 draws its master's sledge, and transports his worldly goods 

 from one place to 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 rein- 



