RtlN-DEEK. 109 



As the rein-deer constitutes the sole riches of the 

 Laplander, and is the source of his comforts, it may 

 reasonably be supposed, that a constant attention to 

 its preservation is his principal employment. As 

 soon as the summer commences, the rein-deer are 

 removed from the low pastures, where they would 

 be constantly tormented by the insects, generated 

 in the woods and morasses, and driven up to the 

 mountains, where they are less incommoded. The 

 gnat and the gad-fly are their greatest and most for- 

 midable enemies.* Every morning and evening, 

 during the summer, the herdsman returns to the 

 cottage with his deer to be milked ; and a large fire 

 of moss is made, for the purpose of driving off* the 

 gnats by the smoke. The quantity of milk, afforded 

 in a day by one rein-deer, is about a pint, and it is 

 sweeter and more nutritive than that of the cow. 



The rein deer is found wild in the northern parts 

 of America, and abounds in the vicinity of Hudson's 

 Bay. It is also common in all the northern regions 

 of Europe and Asia, from Lapland to Kamtschatka. 

 Several of the Laplanders possess herds of them to 

 the number of five or six hundred, and some of the 

 richest of the Karntschadalesare said to have several 

 thousands. It is well known, that of every kind of 

 deer the flesh is exceedingly palatable, wholesome, 

 and nourishing ; in every country, indeed, venison 

 is esteemed a luxury. How happy a circumstance 

 is it, therefore, to the inhabitants of the countries be- 

 yond the arctic polar circle, that the All-bountiful 

 Creator has furnished them with so useful an appen- 

 dage to human existence, in these rigid climates, as 

 the rein-deer, which, after having during its life so 

 essentially contributed to their comfort, atibrds them 

 after its death so excellent a repast. I have expa- 

 tiated somewhat more largely on this article, as it 

 exhibits so conspicuous an instance of the diffusive 

 bounty of the Author of Nature, in thus providing 

 for ine subsistence of all his creatures, in every 

 country, and under every climate; counter-balanc- 

 ing evil with good, in more equal proportion, and 



