ETHNOLOGY OF THE IMIESENT DAY. • 159 



almost entirely of reindeer, arc of ^reat importance in tlieir eyes. Upon the 

 >vhole they are temperate, but still very fond of "whiskey and tobacco; and 

 both sexes smoke and chew the latter article. 



The Laplanders, accordin;^ to their mode of life, are divided into 

 Mountain or Reindeer Lapps, Forest Lapps, and Mendicant Lapps. 

 Herds of reindeer furnish the first chiss with the means of subsistence. In 

 summer they go into the mountains, and in winter roam about in the 

 Lappmarks, on account of the wood found there. Their pyramidal huts, 

 ■which are set up at their different places of sojourn, are about six feet high, 

 and from fifteen to eighteen feet in circumference at the base. The floor is 

 covered with twigs of the birch tree, upon which reindeer skins are laid. 

 The entrance is small, and covered with a piece of cloth ; and there is an 

 opening above at the apex, through which the light enters and the smoke 

 passes out. Stones are piled together upon the floor, in the middle of the 

 hut, in the form of a parallelogram, and the fire burns in this inclosed 

 space. When a place of residence is about to be changed, tlie huts, which 

 are constructed of poles covered with coarse cloth, are struck, and placed 

 upon reindeer. Rich Lapps frequently possess upwards of 1000 reindeer ; 

 the individual, however, who does not own more than 100 head is considered a 

 poor man. The great usefulness of these animals to the Laplanders is well 

 known. 



The Forest Lapps have smaller herds of reindeer, which they drive into 

 the forests to pasture. They practise fishing besides, and the Fishing 

 Lapps support themselves almost exclusively by this means. The latter 

 possess but few^ reindeer, which are pastured by the Mountain Lapps. 

 The Fishing Lapps have both large and small boats upon the lakes. The 

 larger vessels are purchased ; the smaller, which are built by themselves, are 

 fastened together only with ropes and roots of trees. 



The Mendicant Laps are employed as herdsmen or day laborers, or go beg- 

 ging. These, as well as the Forest Lapps and Fishing Lapps, are, for the 

 most part, impoverished Reindeer Lapps, who have lost their cattle by misfor- 

 tune, or sacrificed them to their love of whiskey. Poverty gains upon them 

 continually ; and as more than two children are seldom found in a famil}'', the 

 number of people is constantly diminishing. The dress of both the sexes is 

 very much the same. Reindeer skins, with the hair turned outward, consti- 

 tute their winter coats. A long coat is worn under these instead of a shirt. 

 In summer the coats are of cloth or leather. At the belt which holds the 

 coat, hangs a sheath in which are placed a knife and other utensils ; the to- 

 bacco pipe is also suspended at the belt. The shoes, made of reindeer leather, 

 are filled with hay. The head is covered with a small cap, or a high conical 

 red, blue, or green cloth cap, that of the men being somewhat higher than that 

 of the female. 



The Lapps are good hunters. Their guns are furnished with rifle- 

 barrels, and very simple locks. Wolves and bears are the animals chiefly 

 slain by them with this weapon. They shoot squirrels with cross-bow and 

 bolts in order that the skin may not be injured. Reindeer are taken with 

 ropes, which the hunters know hoAV to throw in a skilful manner around 



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