332 THE REIN-BEER. 



Stockholm. The distance, one hundred and twenty-four 

 Swedish miles, or eight hundred English miles, was per- 

 formed in forty-eight hours ; but the deer dropped down 

 lifeless on its arrival. This relation of speed is always 

 spoken of as a certainly authenticated fact ; but we cannot 

 help suspecting that there is some error in the time ; both 

 the time and distance appear incredible ; and, at all events, 

 it will prove the exception to the general rate of speed. 

 Sir Arthur de Capel Brooke observed, that a deer can 

 easily trot ten miles, and perhaps gallop nearly double the 

 space in an hour, if put to extreme speed ; but he would 

 be unable to keep it up longer. That traveller has also 

 given the details of a race, instituted for the purpose of as- 

 certaining the comparative speed ; and, as the details are 

 short and simple, we shall insert them : Four deer were 

 used ; the first accomplished five thousand three hundred 

 and ninety-seven Paris feet in six minutes ; the second 

 performed the same distance in seven minutes thirty 

 seconds ; the others were distanced. This race was per- 

 formed while the snow was deep, and consequently a con- 

 siderable impediment to the running. Another experi- 

 ment was afterwards tried on more favorable ground. The 

 first deer performed three thousand eighty-nine feet eight 

 inches, in two minutes, being at the rate of nearly nine- 

 teen miles in an hour, and thus accomplishing twenty-five 

 feet eight inches in every second. 



To give some idea of travelling in Lapland with these 

 useful creatures, we have abridged an account of a jour- 

 ney performed by Sir Arthur de Capel Brooke in that 

 country, and can recommend the perusal of his " Winter 

 in Lapland," as a work of much interest, and containing 

 one of the best histories of the domestic condition of the 

 Rein-deer. 



The party of which Sir Arthur formed a part, were 

 about to travel from Alten to Stockholm in sledges. They 

 leave Alten; but, at a distance of some miles, find them 



