chap. vii. REINDEER HARNESS. 69 



skin is attached, and forms the belly band. The thong passes 

 through the saddle, and is fastened to a button (steJiorlak) 

 made of reindeer horn or bone. These buttons are about 

 two inches in diameter, with two oval holes near the centre 

 for the thong to pass through. Some of these buttons are 

 round, others square with the corners off, others hexagonal ; 

 and others again hexagonal with every alternate side concave, 

 whilst some are merely irregular rhomboids. All the buttons 

 are bevelled on the edge, and generally slightly hollowed to 

 fit the curve of the reindeer's side. On the near side of the 

 near reindeer is a piece of carved bone, into which the 

 reins can be hitched, called hahil (the h pronounced slightly 

 gutturally). This part of the harness is of divers shapes and 

 patterns, and seems to be especially the part on the orna- 

 mentation and variation of which the Samoyedes expend 

 their spare time and taste. 



The simplest form is a hook, to receive the reins. A 

 more elaborate one is a double hook, the reversed hook 

 being obviously added only for the sake of ornament. Others 

 again have the double hook, with a variety of ornamental 

 carving added. On the off side of the saddle, opposite the 

 hahil, is a leather loop to which the bridle rein of the 

 next deer is attached. The collar is a narrow band about 

 three inches wide, also of tanned leather, passing round the 

 neck. The two ends of this collar are fastened together by 

 the trace which passes from the sledge, between the hind 

 legs of the deer, between the body and the belly-band that 

 hangs rather loosely, then between the forelegs to the 

 breast, where it passes through the two ends of the collar, 



