336 THE ELK AND 



their fkin, that it is as full of holes as a fieve. 

 Thefe holes made hy the worms clofe in fum- 

 mer ; and it is only in autumn that the rain- 

 deer are killed for their fur or their hide. 



The flocks of rain-deer require much atten- 

 tion. They are apt to run off, and to aflume 

 their natural liberty. They mud be followed, 

 and narrowly watched, and never allowed to 

 pafture but in open places. When the flock is 

 numerous, the afliftance of feveral perfons is 

 neceilary to keep them together, and to purfue 

 thofe which run off. In order to diftinguiih 

 them, when they wander into the woods, or 

 mingle with other flocks, they are all marked. 

 In fine, the time of the Laplanders is totally 

 confumed in the management of their rain- deer, 

 which conftitute their whole riches, and they 

 know how to derive all the conveniences, or ra- 

 ther the neceflities of life, from thefe animals. 

 They are covered from head to foot with their 

 furs, which is impenetrable either by cold or 

 water. This is their winter habit. In fummer, 

 they ufe the {kins from which the hair is fallen 

 off. They likewife fpin the hair, and cover the 

 finews they extract from the animal's body 

 with it. Thefe finews ferve them for ropes and 

 thread. They eat the flefli, and drink the milk, 

 of which laft they alfo make very fat cheefe. 

 The milk, when churned, inftead of butter, pro- 

 duces a kind of fuet. This Angularity, as well 

 as the great extent of the horns, and the fatnefs of 



the 



