66 SIBERIA IN EUROPE. chap. VH. 



from a bunch at his belt, tied one of the animal's forelegs 

 to the hind leg on the same side; crossing the feet, but 

 keeping the legs parallel at the point of ligature. 



As soon as tin- reindeer was left, he made wild efforts to 

 rise and walk : and sometimes succeeded in hobbling a few- 

 paces. Finding his strength irive way with his frantic 

 efforts to escape, he generally rested with his foreknees on 

 the snow lor a time; and finally lay down quietly. A dozen 

 reindeer were soon on the ground. The scene became quite 

 exciting j the reindeer were wheeling round and round in 

 circles. The dogs tied t<> the sledges barked furiously, and 

 evidently wished to have a share in the sport. The dogs 

 selected by the Samoyedes to help them to get within lasso 

 ■ ■ nt' the deer, rushed frantically about at the command 

 lit their masters, whose loud cries added to the excitement of 

 the scene. Sometimes a herd of reindeer ran over a place 

 where the snow was unable to bear their weight; and it was 

 interesting to watch them snorting and plunging. As the 

 number caught increased, the dilliculty also increased of 

 identifying and catching the remaining few of the fifty that 

 belonged to the Russian, and the Samoyedes with the 

 lassos were driven about in sledges at a rapid pace to get 

 within reach of the animals they wanted. The deer kept 

 I her; if one ran out of bounds a dog was sent after it and 

 soon brought it back again. \n one respect the reindeer 

 r< -liable sheep ; wherever one goes, the rest try to follow. 



In this le rd the greater number were female- (vah'shinka), 

 with good horns; th> >«■ they do not cast till they drop their 

 young. A \r\\ were males (liorre), their new horns just 



