MAMMALIA—REINDEER 349 
the age of four or five. It is at this age that they begin to dress and 
exercise them for labor. There are both wild and tame reindeer in Lap- 
land; the wild males are more robust and stronger than the tame. The 
issues of this mixture are preferred for the harness. These reindeer are not 
so gentle as the others; for they not only sometimes refuse to obey those who 
guide them, but they often turn furiously upon them, and attack thein with 
their feet, so that there is no other resource, than to cover themselves from 
their rage by their sledge, until the fury of the beast is subsided. This 
sledge is su light that they can easily manage it, and cover themselves with 
it. The bottom of it is lined with the skins of young reindeers ; the hairy 
side is turned against the snow, so that the sledge glides easily forward, and 
recoils less on the mountains. The harness of the reindeer is only a thong 
of the hide, with the hairs renaining on it attached to the head, whence it 
descends towards the breast, passes under the belly, between the legs, and is 
fastened to a hole which is in the fore part of the sledge. ‘The Laplander has 
only a single cord by which to guide the animal, and which he throws in- 
differently upon the back of the beast, sometimes on one side, sometimes on 
the other, according as he would direct him, to the right or left. They can 
travel ten miles a’: hew; and it is not uncommon for them to make jour- 
neys of a hundred and fifty miles in nineteen hours. At their utmost specd, 
and for a short time, they can accomplish near twenty miles in the hour; 
but tle quicker the method of travelling is, the more it is inconvenient; a 
person must be weil accustomed to it, and travel often, to be able to direct 
the sledge and prevent it from turning over. They can draw three hundred 
pounds, but the Laplanders usually limit the burthen to two hundred and 
forty pounds. 
The reindeers are all very spiritea, and very difficult to manage; they 
choose the liveliest and the swiftest to draw their sledges, and the more 
heavy, to travel with their provision and baggage, at a slower pace. These 
animals are troubled with an insect called the gadfly, during the summer 
season, which burrowing under their skins the preceding summer, deposit 
their eggs; so that the skin of the reindeer is often so filled with small 
holes, that an incurable disorder is brought on. Seo formidable are the 
attacks of these insects, that in June, July, and August, the Laplar:ter is 
compelled to migrate with his deer from the forests to the mountains; with- 
out which precaution, he would run the risk of losing the major part of bis 
nerd. The reindeer are subject to elope, and voluntarily renew their natural 
liberty; they must be closely attended, and narrowly watched ; they cannot 
lead them to pasture, but in open places; and in case the herd are nume- 
rous, they have need of many persons to guard them, to recall them, and to 
run after them if they stray. They are all marked, that they may be known 
again; for it often happens that they stray in the woods, or mix among 
another herd. In short, the Laplanders are continually occupied in the 
care of their reindeer, which constitute all their wealth. 
