350 ANIMALS OF THE 



The rein-deer, as was said, is naturally an in- 

 habitant of the countries bordering on the arctic 

 circle. It is not unknown to the natives of Sibe- 

 ria. The North Americans also hunt it, under 

 the name of the Caribou. But in Lapland, this 

 animal is converted to the utmost advantage ; 

 and some herdsmen of that country are known to 

 possess above a thousand in a single herd. 



Lapland is divided into two districts, the moun- 

 tainous and the woody. The mountainous part of 

 the country is at best barren and bleak, exces- 

 sively cold, and uninhabitable during the winter ; 

 still, however, it is the most desirable part of this 

 frightful region, and is most thickly peopled dur- 

 ing the summer. The natives generally reside on 

 the declivity of the mountains, three or four cot- 

 tages together, and lead a cheerful and social 

 life. Upon the approach of winter they are 

 obliged to migrate into the plains below, each 

 bringing down his whole herd, which often 

 amounts to more than a thousand, and leading 

 them where the pasture is in greatest plenty. 

 The woody part of the country is much more 

 desolate and hideous. The whole face of nature 

 there presents a frightful scene of trees without 

 fruit, and plains without verdure. As far as the 

 eye can reach, nothing is to be seen, even in the 

 midst of summer, but barren fields, covered only 

 with a moss almost as white as snow : no grass, 

 no flowery landscapes, only here and there a 

 pine tree, which may have escaped the frequent 

 conflagrations by which the natives burn down 

 their forests. But what is very extraordinary, as 



