LAPLAND HOESE.] MODEEN VETEEINAET PEACTICE. [laplattd nonsB. 



victim down, however, it is said, the bear sel- all outlets guarded. The first thing to be done 

 dom makes use of his teeth ; but he strikes his j is to secure the restive reins. Selecting a 

 victim on the back and sides with his terrible j long thong or cord, a Lap takes a turn of 

 paws, in the same manner as if with a sledge 



hammer. Sometimes, however, the horse, by 

 flinging out behind, makes his escape ; for it is 

 not an uncommon circumstance for a bear to be 

 killed, and found minus an eye or a fang, which 

 the peasants suppose, and with some reason, has 

 probably been caused by the heels of horses. 



The wounds which the bear inflicts upon 

 cattle, when be attacks them, are sometimes 

 dreadful to look upon. Mr. Lloyd says that 

 he saw a horse that had been within the 

 clutches of one of tliese monsters, some few 

 days previously, but from which he had been 

 rescued, owing to an accidental circumstance. 

 In the back and neck of the poor steed, were 

 holes of such a size, that, without exaggera- 

 tion, he could almost have buried his hand in 

 them ; this horse, however, died a few days 

 subsequently. 



The suff'erings of animals, when attacked by 

 a bear or other wild beast, must olten be 

 dreadful. JS^early the whole of the hind-quar- 

 ters of a cow, or a horse, have been actually 

 devoured, and yet the poor creatures have been 

 found alive. 



THE LAPLAND HORSE. 



The Laplanders are comprised in two distinct 

 classes, differing entirely from the Swedes in 

 points of person, habits, and language. Tliey 

 consist ofa nomadic and a settled class— the one 

 pursuing a wandering life, and the other living 

 in towns. The reindeer is both their solace 

 and their wealth ; but they are possessed of a 

 small, eager, and willing species of horse. 

 This little creature is employed in drawing 

 sledges over the snow in winter, and, in summer, 

 is turned into the forests, where he selects 

 certain districts to feed in, and from which 

 he rarely wanders. When these districts no 

 longer supply hina with pasture, from the 

 change of the season having set in, he volun- 

 tarily returns to his master to be re-yoked to 

 the sledge, or to draw wood for the winter. 



To be present in an encampment of Swedish 

 Laps, when preparing to milk their " Eeins," 

 or deer, is one of the most exciting scenes 

 that can be presented to human observation. 



The herd is driven within the inclosure, and 



both ends round his left hand, and then 

 gathers what sailors call the higlit in loose 

 folds held in his right. He now singles out 

 a rein, and throws the bight with unerring 

 aim over the antlers of the victim. Sonietimes 

 the latter makes no resistance ; but, generally, 

 no sooner does it feel the touch of the thong 

 than it breaks away from the spot, and is 

 only secured by the most strenuous exertions 

 of its capturer. Every minute may be seen 

 an unusually powerful rein furiously dragging 

 a Lap round and round the inclosure, and 

 occasionally fairly overcoming the restraint of 

 the thong, and whirling its antagonist prostrate 

 on the sod. This part of the scene is higtdy 

 exciting; and one cannot but admire the 

 great muscular strength and the trained skill 

 evinced by all the Laps, women as well as 

 men, who happen to be engaged in it. 

 The resistance of a rein being overcome, 

 the Lap will take a dexterous hitch of the 

 thong round his muzzle and head, and then 

 fasten him to the trunk of a prostrate tree, 

 which, with many other trees, has been brouglit 

 within the level inclosure for tliat special 

 purpose. Even when thus confined, some of 

 the reins plunge in the most violent manner. 

 Men and women then indiscriminately engage 

 both in singling out milk-reins, and in milking 

 them. A wooden bowl is held in the operator's 

 left hand, and he then slaps the udder of the 

 rein, several times, with the pahn of the right 

 hand. After this he moistens the tips of his 

 fliitrers with his lips, and then rapidly completes 

 the operation. Tiie amount of milk yielded 

 by a single rein is, noticing only bowls which 

 had not previously receiveel contributions, little 

 more than a gill; others give at least double, 

 and a few tiirice that quantity; but the fair 

 average is about half a pint. 



This milk is as thick as the finest cream 

 from the cow, and is luscious beyond descrip- 

 tion. It has a pleasing aromatic smell, and, in 

 flavour, reminds us most strongly of cocoa- 

 nut milk. No stranger can drink much of 

 it at a time — it is too rich. "When the rein is 

 milked, the operator takes up a small portion 

 of a particular species of moss, and carefully 

 wipes the drained udder and teats with it ; and, 



37 



