DEER KIND. 361 



animal of that climate. These skins alsa serve 

 them for beds. They spread them on each side 

 of the fire, upon some leaves of the dwarf birch 

 tree, and in this manner lie both soft and warm. 

 Many garments made of the skin of the rein-deer 

 are sold every year to the inhabitants of the more 

 southern parts of Europe ; and they are found so 

 serviceable in keeping out the cold, that even 

 people of the first rank are known to wear them. 



In short, no part of this animal is thrown away 

 as useless. The blood is preserved in small casks 

 to make sauce with the marrow in spring. The 

 horns are sold to be converted into glue. The 

 sinews are dried, and divided so as to make the 

 strongest kind of sewing thread, not unlike cat- 

 gut. The tongues, which are considered as a 

 great delicacy, are dried, and sold into the more 

 southern provinces. The intestines themselves 

 are washed like our tripe, and in high esteem 

 among the natives. Thus the Laplander finds all 

 his necessities amply supplied from this single 

 animal ; and he who has a large herd of these 

 animals has no idea of higher luxury. 



But although the rein-deer be a very hardy and 

 vigorous animal, it is not without its diseases. I 

 have already mentioned the pain it feels from the 

 gnat, and the apprehensions it is under from the 

 gadfly. Its hide is often found pierced in a hun- 

 dred places like a sieve from this insect, and not 

 a few die in their third year from this very cause. 

 Their teats also are subject to cracking, so that 

 blood comes instead of milk. They sometimes 

 take a loathing for their food, and instead of eat- 



