210 LINNiEUS. 



would my compassion for the mother allow me long 

 to detain her offspring, which I restored to her in 

 safety." 



About the evening of the following day, they 

 reached a secluded spot where a Laplander had 

 pitched his tent. Immediately after their arrival, 

 the herd of reindeer, consisting of seven or eight 

 hundred, came home to be milked. Some of the 

 milk was boiled for the stranger, but it proved 

 rather rich for his stomach. His host furnished 

 him with his own spoon, usually carried in his to- 

 bacco-bag, and which he washed by squirting a 

 mouthful of water upon it. 



He was here joined by another guide, and after 

 refreshing themselves by sleep they proceeded on 

 their journey. On the sides of the hills were ob- 

 served in abundance the holes of the lemming-rat ; 

 and the alpine hare occasionally presented itself. 

 Scarcely any other fish occurs in the lakes than the 

 char, a beautiful species of trout, with the belly of 

 a bright-red colour. In the evening they sought in 

 vain for one of the native dwellings. Linnaeus had 

 walked so much that he could hardly stand ; and, 

 being ready to faint with fatigue, lay down, resolv- 

 ing rather to endure the cold and boisterous wind 

 than proceed any farther. But his companions at 

 length found some reindeer-dung, which by smelling 

 they discovered to be fresh ; and, perceiving a track 

 in the snow, they advanced till they came to a hut, 

 where they remained all next day, it being Sunday. 



It is mentioned that the reindeer of those moun- 

 tains are innumerable. The herds are brought home 

 night and morning to be milked, and are so tract- 

 able as to be easily conducted by a single driver 



