82 A SPRING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



One-half of their time seems to be spent in killing 

 u ripa" or catching fish, and the other half in 

 eating them ; and I take it — as we used to say 

 with the coach-horses in England — that their 

 belly is their measure ; for however much fish or 

 game they took in one day, it seemed all to be 

 cleared off by night, and nothing left for the next. 

 Except when a stranger comes into the country, 

 and requires a guide or assistance, I could not see 

 that they had any means of earning money ; for 

 there is no sale for their game or fish, and every 

 man is able to do all the work he requires at his 

 own home. It is true they don't much want 

 money, for every one has his house and little patch 

 of arable land, a cow or two, a horse, and as much 

 grass for hay from the sides of the rivers and 

 lakes as he requires. But all they grow, and all 

 the fish and game which they get, is required for 

 home consumption. They can turn none of their 

 products into money ; and those who possess a 

 few reindeer eat them up all but the bones and 

 skin, which they sell for a few shillings. Some of 

 these settlers have as many as 300 or 400 reindeer, 

 many have none. These wander on the hills under 

 the charge of a Lap, to whom they pay yearly 3d. 

 for looking after each reindeer. Every one has his 

 own mark — certain mysterious nicks in the ear, in 

 some as many as six or eight ; and I may add, that 



