THE REINDEER. 547 



ern tribes. Many of those in Siberia depend entirely on the Reindeer 

 for food, clothing, conveyance, and shelter. The chase of the Reindeer 

 decides whether there will be famine or prosperity, and the season when 

 these animals migrate is the harvest-time. The hunters attack them 

 when crossing a river, and the slaughter made on these occasions can 

 be best described as immense. 



The Reindeer is domesticated by the Lapps and Finns, as well as by 

 the Samoyede tribes, the Ostzaks, Tunguses, and others in Siberia. 

 According to Norwegian statistics, the Lapps in that kingdom possess 

 seventy-nine thousand reindeer. It is the support and pride, the jo}'- and 

 riches, the plague and torment of the Laplander. He is the slave of his 

 Reindeer ; where they go, he must follow. He has to be out for months, 

 tormented in summer by the mosquitoes, half-killed in winter by the 

 cold, and with no other companion than his dog. The latter is an indis- 

 pensable auxiliary ; watchful, sagacious, reliable, it obeys every sign of 

 its master, and will for days together keep the herd together by its own 

 independent action. The uses to which the tame Reindeer is put are 

 manifold. The Lapps use it for driving, the Tunguses mount and ride 

 on their backs. On even ground it can travel seven or eight miles an 

 hour, but its ordinary pace is four or five miles. 



The mode of harnessing and driving the Reindeer is most simple.. 

 A collar of skin is fastened round its neck, and from this a trace 

 hangs down, which, passing under the belly, is fastened into a hole 

 bored in the front of the sledge. The rein consists of a single cord 

 fastened to the root of the animal's antlers, and the driver drops it on 

 the right or left side of the back, according to the side to which he 

 wishes to direct the animal. The vehicle being very light, traveling 

 may be rapidly performed in this equipage, but not without running 

 some risk of breaking your neck ; for, to avoid being upset, one must 

 be very skilful in this sort of locomotion. The Laplander becomes by 

 practice a perfect master of this art. 



We have not yet mentioned the most important articles this Ruminant 

 of the Arctic regions yields man. The female produces milk superior to 

 that of the cow, and from it butter and cheese of excellent quality are 

 made. Its flesh, which is nutritious and sweet, forms a precious alimen- 

 tary resource, and almost the only one in the polar regions. Its coat 

 furnishes thick and warm clothing, and its skin is converted into strong 

 and supple leather. The long hairs on the neck of this animal are also 



