THE REIN-DEER. 



that time, for the fake of its flelh, which is dried and preferred for food. The 

 Laplanders kill them by thralling a knife through the hinder part of the neck, 

 between the vertibra% into the fpinal marrow, which inflantly deprives them 

 of life and fenfation ; and thus do thefe poor favages furnifh their more 

 enlightened neighbours with a leffon of humanity well worthy of imitation. 



The female is milked every night and morning, and yields about a pint 

 each time. They make cheefes of this milk, which are tolerably well tailed ; 

 thefe they keep as ftores; and the whey, which remains after making them, is 

 warmed again, and becomes of the conliftence of hafty pudding. On this- 

 Ample food the inhabitants of thefe unproductive regions exift during a 

 confiderable part of the lummer. 



So eilentially neceflary is the Rein-Deer to the well-being and comfort of 

 the Laplander, that the care and management of this valuable animal occupy 

 almoit the whole of his time and thoughts. Some of the richer! individuals 

 polfefs a thoufand of them at a time, and few even of the pooreft have lefs- 

 than a hundred. The Rein-Deer is fed on the lower grounds during the 

 winter, but the genial warmth of the approaching fummer calls to life 

 myriads of gnats, which are bred in the ftagnant waters, and annoy both: 

 men and deer fo much by their flings, that they are obliged to feek for 

 refuge in the mountains, which are covered with fnow during the fummer, 

 where they remain all the day time, and are driven down to pallure at 

 night. The gad-fly is alfo their formidable enemy, which depofits its eggs 

 under the fkm of the poor creature, whence maggots are produced, and 

 fometimes in fuch numbers as to bring on an incurable difeafe. 



Such of the Rein-Deer as are deftined to draw the fledge, in which the- 

 Laplander travels, are accuftomed to it early ; the fledge is very light, and 

 fliod at the bottom with the fkins of young Deer, faflened on fo as that the 

 direction of the hair points backwards, which greatly aflilts its Aiding on the 

 frozen fnow : to this the animal is yoked by a ftrap, which goes round the 

 neck, and pafles backwards between the legs. The perfon who fits in the 

 fledge, guides the Deer with a cord faflened to his horns, and encourages it 

 to proceed with his voice, and fometimes with a goad. In this manner they 



