DOMESTICATED REINDEEE INTO ALASKA. 149 



Much of the property not required in summer is left at the winter quarters. The 

 Lapps return from their summer wandering in August, and early in October is slaugh- 

 tering time. 



The reindeer cows drop their fawns about the middle of May of each year, and at 

 this time great care is necessary to keep them separated from the bulls. At this 

 time the herd needs the closest attention both day and night, and both men and 

 women have all they can do. This particular work would be utterly impossible 

 without the aid of dogs. Every Lapp owns his dog and frequently is more attached 

 to this highly developed canine animal than to any human being. 



The cows begin to bo milked twice a day soon alter they have dropped their fawns, 

 and for this purpose they are brought near the tent. 



I was informed by you that in Eastern Siberia the reindeer cow is milked by 

 sucking the feats like a babe and spitting the milk into a bowl or cup. The Lapps 

 in Norway and Sweden are more civilized in their mode of milking. There the man 

 catches the cow by the antlers with a lasso, throws her down and holds her while 

 the woman milks her with her fingers. In a large herd this involves a great deal of 

 work, for several hours morning and evening. A cow gives from three to six cubic 

 inches of milk at a milking. The milk is nearly as thick as the best cream and is 

 very rich in cheese. Mixed with one-third or one half water, with the addition of 

 vinegar or some other acid, it makes a good drink, though the Lapps make cheese 

 of the most of it. In connection with the care of the reindeer in Alaska it may be 

 worthwhile considering whether the milk-producing quality of the reindeer cow 

 can not be greatly improved so as make her yield a larger quantity of milk. It 

 would also seem that she could be traiued to be milked like other cows. The former 

 object may possibly be gained by an improved system of feeding and the latter by 

 getting the fawns used to the ordinary method of milking. 



The semidomesticated reindeer (cervus tarandus) of Lapland are smaller in size 

 than the wild ones. Of the semidomesticated reindeer in Norway there are a"-ain 

 two kinds, one called the forest the other the mountain reindeer, the latter bein" 

 smaller than the former. 



If the reindeer had not been domesticated, the larger part of the country north of 

 the arctic circle in Europe and Asia would be utterly uninhabitable. The reindeer 

 serves as a substitute for the horse, the cow, the sheep, and the goat. None of 

 these domestic animals can exist in those arctic regions. The reindeer will endure 

 any amount of cold, and its broad and deeply-cleft hoofs are admirably adapted for 

 traveling over the frozen snow. It lives on young shoots of willow and birch in the 

 summer, and in winter it feeds on reindeer moss and other lichens, scraping away 

 the snow with its hoofs. 



With the efforts you are now making, a great industry will doubtless be developed 

 in Alaska giving sustenance and employment to thousands of inhabitants, and in 

 addition thereto, developing a large reindeer product for export. The reindeer will 

 in time make those large moss-grown tracts of Alaska a suitable abode for civilized 

 man. The rich fields of reindeer moss Avill supply food for millions of reindeer, and 

 these will in time give sustenance to thousands of human beings. The enterprise 

 deserves the most cordial support of the Government. 



Rasmus B. Anderson. 

 To Dr. Sheldon Jackson. 



Philadelphia, Pa., June 27, 1S93. 

 Dear Sin: Referring to your favor of the 8th ultimo, and in v reply to the same 

 dated the3lst ultimo, I herewith inclose a synopsis of the Norwegian book. I have 

 limited the translation to the paragraphs describing the reindeer, their habits, pecu- 

 liarities, etc., (in Norway), presuming that it would be of less interest for your 



