A REINDEER RIDE THROUGH LAPLAND. 49 



whole of Tana river to the Russians ! This, of 

 course, amounted to high treason, and as such could 

 not be allowed to go -unpunished. The amtmand, 

 the foged, and the forstmester determined, therefore, 

 to make an example of him, which they allowed me 

 to witness. After reriting into a room by themselves, 

 the trio sent for the unfortunate delinquent, and on 

 coming in he was politely requested to sit down on a 

 chair that stood facing the semicircle, which the three 

 self-appointed judges formed. His terror was ex- 

 treme ; and when, after an examination of some 

 length, during which he by turns denied and admit- 

 ted the allegations, the forstmester proposed concilium 

 dbiunde, the poor fellow almost fainted. He was 

 then dismissed from his appointment, but was recon- 

 stituted pro tern, until another official could be ap- 

 pointed in his stead. From these instances it will be 

 seen how utterly devoid he was of that common-sense 

 and tact so requisite to every frontier official. 



With regard to the idea of Russianising the whole 

 of the Tana river, which would have the effect of 

 depriving Xorway of Vardoe and Vadsoe, as well as 

 of the best coast for the great cod-fisheries, it is by 

 no means a new one. Russia has always had an eye 

 on those districts, which would give her an open port 

 all flie year round in these regions. It is, of course, 

 useless to credit mere hearsay in such affairs; but 

 even the amtmand, who was well versed in such 

 matters, and who from his high position was in con- 



VOL. III. D 



