562 THE CARIBOU. 



sting them all over, and creatures which lay their eggs in their ears and nostrils and make 

 themselves comfortable under their skin ; and wolves, and gluttons, and dogs, and Laps— in 

 short, I know of no animal so persecuted (barring a rat, and he has his revenge, and lives 

 on the fat of the land), and nothing in return except snow, and moss which tastes like dry 

 sponge." 



The Laplanders place their chief happiness in the possession of many Reindeer, which are 

 to them the only representatives of wealth. Those who possess a herd of a thousand or more 

 are reckoned among the wealthy of their country ; those who only own a few hundreds are 

 considered as persons of respectability ; while those who only possess forty or fifty are content 

 to act as servants to their richer countrymen, and to merge their little herd in that of their 

 employers. In the waste, dry parts of Lapland, grows a kind of white lichen, which forms 

 the principal food of the Reindeer during winter, and is therefore highly prized by the natives. 

 Although this lichen may be deeply covered with snow, the Reindeer is taught by instinct to 

 scrape away the superincumbent snow with its head, hoofs, and snout, and to lay bare the 

 welcome food that lies beneath. Sometimes the siirface of the snow is frozen so firmly that 

 the animal can make no impression ; and under these circumstances it is in very poor case, 

 many of the unfortunate creatures dying of starvation, and the others being much reduced in 

 condition. 



The Reindeer is extensively employed as a beast of draught and carriage, being taught to 

 draw sledges and to carry men or packages upon its back. Each Reindeer can draw a weight 

 of two hundred and fifty or even three hundred pounds, its pace being between nine and ten 

 miles per hour. There is, however, a humane law which prohibits a weight of more than one 

 hundred and ninety pounds upon a sledge, or one hundred and thirty upon the back. It is a 

 very enduring animal, as it is able to keep up this rate of progress for twelve or more hours 

 together. 



The eyes of the Reindeer are very quick, and his hearing also acute ; but his sense of 

 smell is more wonderfully developed than either of the other senses. 



The Caribou, or American variety of the Reindeer, is a large animal, measuring three 

 feet six inches in height at the shoulder when adult. Although it is specifically identical with 

 the European Reindeer, it has never yet been brought under the sway of man, and trained to 

 carry his goods or draw his sledges. Should it be employed for these purposes, it would be a 

 most valuable servant, for it is a very strong as well as an enduring animal, leading its pur- 

 suers a chase of four or five days, and often eventually making good its escape. A small herd 

 of these animals was chased continually for a week ; and after tiring out their original hunters, 

 lost two of their number by the bullets of some fresh hunters who took up the chase. When- 

 ever practicable, the Caribou makes for the frozen surface of the lakes, and is then sure to 

 escape, although the manner of doing so is ludicrously clumsy. Rushing recklessly forward, 

 the Caribou will be suddenly startled by some object in its front ; and on attempting to check 

 its onward career, falls on the ice in a sitting posture, and in that attitude slides for a con- 

 siderable distance before it can stop itself. Recovering its feet, it then makes off in another 

 direction, and gets over the ground with such celerity that the hunters always yield the chase 

 whenever the animal gets upon the ice. 



During the greater part of the year, the flesh of the Caribou is dry and tasteless, and when 

 eaten seems to have no effect in satiating hunger. There is, however, a layer of fat, sometimes 

 two or three inches in thickness, that lies under the skin of the back and croup in the male, 

 and is technically termed the depoutlle. This fatty deposit is so highly esteemed that it out- 

 weighs in value the remainder of the carcase, including skin and horns. The marrow is also 

 remarkably excellent, and is generally eaten raw. When pounded together with the depouille 

 and the dried flesh it makes the best pemmican, a substance which is invaluable to the hunter. 

 Even the horns are eaten raw while they are young, soft, and in the velvet. The skin is very 

 valuable, especially when taken from the young animal ; and when properly dressed is an 

 admirable defence against cold and -moisture. With the addition of a blanket, a mantle of 

 Caribou skins is an ample protection for any one who is forced to bivouac in the snow. 



