338 THE REIN-DEER. 



ness, and every step was pregnant with danger. In a 

 few minutes I heard a confused noise among the foremost 

 sledges, and had little time for preparation, when I found 

 myself suddenly descending a precipitous part of the moun- 

 tain. The surface was as smooth as glass, and both deer 

 and sledge glided down like lightning. It was in vain to 

 attempt to stop the latter. The velocity it acquired in a 

 few yards, from the weight alone, was so great, that it 

 quickly overtook the animal that drew it. His legs being 

 now hampered by the traces between them, the deer in 

 consequence fell, and the pulk swinging round in a dif- 

 ferent direction, came on its side, and in an instant rolled 

 like a ball. In this manner it continued its descent, and 

 dragged the deer along with it. The surface of snow was 

 fortunately smooth, and I rolled along with the pulk with 

 comparative ease ; the lowness of it greatly increasing 

 the facility with which it performed its evolutions, while 

 the quickness with which it took place, made me hardly 

 sensible of it. 



" During this time the situation of the other sledges was 

 similar to my own, and the cry of Wappus was now heard 

 from all quarters to obtain assistance. The guide, as 

 soon as he could extricate himself, came to our aid, setting 

 the deer again on their legs. We now collected at the 

 bottom, in a state of alarm naturally created by this sud- 

 den and unexpected descent. The damage sustained, 

 however, was trifling, and, singular to relate, no one had 

 suffered the least hurt." 



These sketches from Sir Arthur's work will serve to 

 depict travelling in Lapland with Rein-deer. The party 

 arrived in safety at their destination, after many adventures 

 of a similar kind, which our limits will not permit us to 

 insert. No other conveyance at many seasons could tra- 

 verse that country, and no animal but the Rein-deer could 

 serve the same purposes ; -and though not affording the 



