DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 171 



have grown strong and their horns have developed sufficiently, they prove to be 

 very capricious, and especially the bucks fire as a rule ferocious. Only grown-up 

 people can then take charge of them, and many a time it happened to me that I was 

 forced to turn the sleigh over me for protection against the angry animal until he 

 had finished butting. During the winter we were moving about all the time, and 

 tin instinct of the reindeer will tell him where to find food. The reindeer have fat- 

 tened n]p at the harvest season, anil then we used to kill those whose meat we 

 intended to sell, smoke, or carry along lor our own food. The skins were likew ise 

 sold or we made garments lor ourselves, or shoes, sleighs, anil sleeping hags, besides 

 other things. The horns were carefully collected and various articles made of them, 

 as handles for spoons, knives, etc. The horns that the animals lose in the spring 

 are not worth anything and are not collected ; besides they are usually butted off 

 and can not be found. 



Honored sir, I hardly know if the above includes the desired information, I hav- 

 ing at the same time mentioned the mode of living of the Laplanders, which was 

 perhaps superfluous, yet I hope that you will excuse my inefficient ways of describ- 

 ing the desired details, and I wish to say that it is indeed much easier for me to 

 handle the reindeer than to picture their characteristics or management. Should 

 you in future find a place for me and my services be of use to you. I will say that I 

 shall be very willing to go to Alaska. I am not able to remain here longer Can up 

 to .May, when the work will give out here, and I do not know where lam going then; 

 in any ease to nearest place where I can find work. 

 Very respectfully, yours, 



JULL. SAMOELSEN. 



Chicago, March 4, 1S94. 

 Mr. Sheldon Jackson: 



In your letter of February 22 you request information concerning the manage- 

 ment of reindeer in Lapland, with which request I shall partly comply, although it 

 probably may lie useless, since you, no doubt, have engaged men who are well posted 

 in the business. Vou will have to suffer severely under it if an inefficient person 

 has accepted the position. 



One of the conditions is that the herder must be a good ski-runner, so as to follow 

 the animals wherever they wish to go. 



The next thing of importance is that one is familiar with the characteristics of 

 the reindeer, and accordingly can judge what direction they wish to choose. 



All male animals, with the exception of those destined for propagation, must be 

 cantrated in the spring when the weather is good. How this is done is not worth 

 mentioning here, since only experienced persons can perform this work; however, 

 it must be attended to, as otherwise the bucks would be too savage and unruly and 

 not worth killing for domestic purposes. 



The persons who milk the cows must he supplied with pick or trap ropes, with 

 which the reindeer is caught and held until after come time it becomes tame, like 

 other cows. The reindeer are very fond of salt, which may be strewn upon flat 

 stones for t hem to eat. 



1 1! format ion with regard to the killing of reindeer for domestic use you can obtain 

 at a later time if you desire so. 



0. Hippe. 



Ely, March 5. 1S94. 

 Dr. Sheldon Jackson: 



Your letter of February 22 is at hand and I thank you for your politeness. I see 



that the positions at the reindeer stations have been filled with men who probably 

 shall be drilled to watch the herds there. I do not know the physical conditions of 

 Alaska nor where the stations are situated, but iu my fatherland it is utterly impos- 



