THE REIN-DEER. 139 



the greatest and most valuable portion of their time. 

 The movements of the Laplander, and his habits of 

 life, may indeed in reality be said to be under the 

 control of his deer. He must follow them during 

 summer in search of adequate pastures, and attend 

 to their migrations to the coast; while in winter 

 many a dreary hour is spent in the snowdrift in look- 

 ing after the safety of his herd. 



Independent of the indispensable utility for food 

 and clothing, the rein-deer is also used to transport 

 merchandise, as a courier, where dispatch is needed, 

 and for general travelling. Sometimes they are even 

 used to plough and harrow, and in winter are em- 

 ployed to draw hay and fodder laden upon trays.* 

 Travelling in winter is performed entirely by their 

 assistance, in a sledge, or, as it is termed, a pulk ; 

 but before adverting to this conveyance, novel to the 

 European visitor, we shall notice the speed with which 

 the animal can travel. 



According to the best authorities, one hundred and 

 fifty miles was performed with one deer in twenty- 

 four hours, and once by two merchants across the 

 mountains in nineteen hours, while the same distance 

 has been performed with three deer in thirteen 

 hours. But the greatest recorded instance of the 

 speed of this animal, is that of the deer, of which a 

 portrait, together with that of its driver, is preserved 

 in the palace of Drottingholm. In consequence of 



* Capel Brooke, p. 83. 



