THE REIN-DEER. 335 



twenty feet, and on each side there was a short precipitous 

 bank, the space between that on which we were and the 

 open part, being about six or seven feet, the ice of which 

 appeared firm and thick. 



" The wappus now getting out of his pulk, stationed 

 himself near the open part ; and the sledges then advanc- 

 ing, each deer was urged forward by his driver to the 

 utmost of his speed, descending the declivity at full gallop. 

 Nothing less than such an impetus could have carried us 

 across, from the heavy load of the sledge and driver. The 

 natural force which its own weight gave it, being thus so 

 greatly increased by the speed of the deer, and the icy 

 smoothness of the bank, it made of itself so great a bound 

 on coming to the open space, as in most instances to gain 

 the firm part of the opposite ice, and by the strength of 

 the deer was dragged up the opposite side. The first 

 three or four took their leaps in fine style, carrying their 

 drivers completely and safely over. The one immediately 

 before me failed in the latter respect ; for though it cleared 

 the open part, yet the sledge, from its weight or some other 

 cause, not making a sufficient bound, the fore part of it 

 alone reached the firm ice, and the hinder, with its driver, 

 was consequently immersed in the water, till the deer, by 

 main strength, extricated it from its awkward situation. I 

 relied greatly on mine, from its size, and fortunately was 

 not disappointed, as it conveyed me safely across, both 

 deer and sledge clearing the entire space." 



At night the party, twenty- three in number, halted in a 

 birch thicket at the base of the Finmark or Lapland Alps. 

 The weather changes to a storm of wind and snow, but 

 after much consultation, it is determined to proceed and 

 attempt the crossing of the Solivara Mountains. The 

 ascent was very tedious, from the steepness and the newly 

 fallen snow, and the weather came on so thick, that the 

 guide thought it advisable not to attempt crossing the sum- 

 mit. In the course of an hour, however, the fog cleared 



