38 THE LAPLAND ALPS. 



snow, so that the animal cannot break it 

 with his feet, to get at the Lichen on which 

 he feeds, he is frequently starved to death. 

 This misfortune is as dreadful to the Lap- 

 landers as any public or national calamity 

 elsewhere; for, when his reindeer are killed, 

 he must himself either starve to death, beg 

 for his livelihood, or turn thief. 



The hoofs of the reindeer are not uncom" 

 monly affected with a swelling at the edge 

 where they are attached to the skin, at 

 which part they consequently become ul- 

 cerated, and are seldom healed. The crea- 

 ture thus grows lame, and cannot keep up 

 with the herd. 



These animals are sometimes attacked 

 with a vcrtigOy or giddiness in the head, 

 which causes them to run round and round 

 continually. The people assured me, that 

 such of them as run according to the course 

 of the sun may be expected to get the 

 better of the disorder; but those which 

 turn the contrary way, being supposed in- 

 curable, are immediately killed. The reco- 



