LULEAN LAPLAND. 107 



by which it is possible to know whether 

 it contains a pearl or not. Consequently 

 many thousands are destro3^ed to no pur- 

 pose before one pearl is found. It is also a 

 great pity that all the muscles are killed in 

 consequence of this examination. Each 

 pearl is either attached to the shell, or loose. 

 They are found at all seasons of the year, 

 and are sometimes thrown out of the shell 

 spontaneously by its inhabitant. 



I witnessed at this place what appeared 

 to me a very extraordinary phtenomenon, 

 a pike in whose stomach, when opened, was 

 found a young duck entire. The peasant 

 who was my companion told me he had 

 many times seen the same thing. 



July 27. 

 The reindeer fed with evident avidity on 

 the great water Horsetail [Equisetitm Jiu- 

 viutile), which the Laplanders call A, ske, 

 though it was in a dry state, and though 

 they will not eat common hay. How unac- 

 countably negligent are the Laplanders, 



