A REINDEER RIDE THROUGH LAPLAND. 13 



assist his better half, nor did she seem to expect such 

 help. The animals having been speedily got in order, 

 the next thing was to harness them, which is done in 

 this fashion : The deer has a skin-collar round its 

 shoulders, to which is fastened a long strap, also of 

 untanned skin, which going between the legs of the 

 animal, is tied to a ring at the prow of the poolk. 

 The single rein with which we drive is made fast to 

 the left side of the head, and is held in the right hand. 

 In steering, you must, if you wish to turn to the right, 

 cast the rein over to the right shoulder of the animal, 

 and pull or rather tug a little. If you wish to go 

 faster, you can strike with the rein on the animal's 

 sides and back ; though if you have a wild brute this 

 is rather dangerous, as it on being struck becomes 

 utterly unmanageable, and therefore it is generally 

 quite sufficient to raise the left hand as if for a 

 blow, which will cause the deer to rush off smartly 

 enough. 



The moment the foremost deer starts all the others 

 follow in a long line, winding in and out according as 

 the leader's tracks go. All deer cannot be induced to 

 lead the way ; in fact very many are trained to follow 

 only, as they then become much more easily managed 

 as baggage-deer. Over all Finmarken, and in fact all 

 Lapland, one never sees two deer harnessed together 

 or with proper gear. In this respect the Samoyedes 

 are far more practical, and not only do they bring the 

 animal to the same state of subjection as the horse 



