HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 131 



forth two at a time. The fondness of the dam for 

 her young is very remarkable. They follow her 

 two or three years, but do not acquire their full 

 strength until four. It is at this age that they are 

 trained to labour; and they continue servicable 

 four or five years. They never live above fifteen or 

 sixteen years. At eight or nine years old, the Lap- 

 landers kill them for their skins and their flesh. 

 Of the former they make garments, which are 

 warm, and cover them from head to foot: they also 

 serve them for beds ; they spread them on each side 

 of the fire upon the leaves of trees, and in this 

 manner lie both soft and warm. The latter affords 

 a constant supply of good and wholesome food, 

 which, in the winter, when other kinds of provisions 

 fail, is their chief subsistence. The tongue of the 

 Rein-Deer is considered as a great delicacy; and 

 when dried, great numbers of them are sold into 

 other countries. The sinews serve for thread, with 

 which the Laplanders make their cloaths, shoes, 

 and other necessaries ; and when covered with the 

 hair, serve them for ropes. 



Innumerable are the uses, the comforts, and 

 advantages, which the poor inhabitants of this 

 dreary climate derive from this animal. We can- 

 not sum them up better than in the beautiful 

 language of the poet : . 



" Their Rein-Deer form their riches. These their tents, 

 " Their robes, their beds, and all their homely wealth 

 " Supply; their wholesome fare, and chearful cups : 

 " Obsequious at their call, the docile tribe 

 " Yield to the sled their necks, and whirl them swift 

 " O'er hill and dale, heap'd into one expanse 

 " Of marbled snow, as far as eye can sweep, 

 '' With a blue crust of ice unbounded glaz'd." 



