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forefts fcem to the laft degree black and gloomy: 
while one fpecies of mofs gives the fields a fnowy 
appearance, another kind blackens the trees, and 
conceals their verdure. This mofs, however, 
which deforms the country, ferves as the only fup- 
port of the Rein-Deer. 
As foon as the fummer begins to appear, the 
Laplander, v/ho had fed his Rein-Deer on the 
lower grounds during the winter, drives them up 
the mountains, leaving the woody country, and the 
low pafture, which at that feafon are in a moft de- 
plorable condition. The gnats, bred by the vivi- 
fying heat of the fun in the marfhy bottoms and 
weedy lakes with which this country abounds 
more than any other part of the v/orld, are then all 
on the wing, and darken the atmofphere, like 
clouds of duft in a windy day. The inhabitants, 
at this feafon, are obliged to daub their faces with 
pitch mixed with milk, in order to fhield them from 
the depredations of thefe noifome infedls ; and every 
place is then fo much infefted by them, that the 
natives dare hardly open their mouths left tliey 
fhould be fuffocated ; for thefe vermin, from their 
numbers and minutenefs, enter their noftrils and 
eyes, and fcarcely fufier them to be at eafe for a 
fingle moment. But thefe infefts are chiefly ini- 
mical to the Rein-Deer; for the horns of thefe 
animals being then in their tender ftate, and pof- 
feffed of extreme fenfibility, a famifhed fwann of 
thefe gnats inftandy fettles on them, and drives the 
poor animals almoft to diftraftion. In this extre- 
mity, there are two remedies to which thefe qua- 
drupeds, as well as their proprietors, are obliged to 
have immediate recourfe. The one is, for both 
parties to fhelter themfelves near a large fire of 
tree-mofs adjoining to their cottage, the fmoke of 
which extending to a confiderable diftance, repels 
the gnats; and "thus one inconvenience excludes 
another and greater. The other confifl:s in af- 
cending to the fummits of the highefl; mountains, 
where the air is too thin, as well as too cold, for 
thefe iniefts to exift : there the Rein-Deer are often 
glad to continue for v;hole days together, though 
almoft without any fubfiftence, rather than venture 
downward to lower fituations, where, though they 
might probably meet with food congenial to their 
appetites, they would be deftitute of every defence 
againft their relentlefs perfecutors. 
But gnats are not the only infe6ts which moleft 
thefe ufefui animals; there is a fpecies of gadflies 
which are ftill more formidable to them. Thefe 
infefts are bred under their flcins, where their eo-gs 
have been depofited the preceding fummer; and 
they are no fooner produced as flies, than they again 
endeavour to depofit their eggs in fome fituations 
fimilar to thofe from which they before emerged. 
Whenever, therefore, thefe flies appear over a herd 
of Rein-Deer, they put the whole flock in motion ; 
who being aware of their enemies, exert all their 
little arts either to avoid or terrify them. Their 
endeavours, however, are too generally v/ithout 
fuccefs; for the gadflies depofit their eggs v/ith 
great facility ; which burrowing under their fliins, 
lacerate them in various places, and often produce 
4iforders for which the natives have not as yet dif- 
covered any proper fpecific. 
In the mornings, as foon as the Lapland herdf- 
men drive their Deer to pafture, they employ their 
utmoft care to hinder them from fcaling the fum- 
mits of the mountains, where there is generally lit- 
tle or no food, but to which the animals eagerly 
ftrive to afcend, in order to be at a diftance from 
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their adverfarics. At fuch times there are ufually 
ftrong contcfts between the dogs and the Deer; 
the latter endeavouring to climb the hills, and to 
gain their tops, which are perpetually covered 
with fnow ; and the former driving the latter down- 
ward to thofe fpots where their food is moft plen- 
tiful, and where both the men and dogs guard 
them throughout the whole day with the utmolt 
precaution, and drive them homeward at the pro- 
per milking periods. 
The feafon of parturition is about the middle of 
May; and the females continue to give milk till 
about the middle of Oftober. Every morning and 
evening during that interval, the herdfmen return 
to their cottages with their Deer, for the purpofc 
of milking them; in which the women having pre- 
vioufly lighted up fmoky fires, thereby repel the 
infefts, and keep the Rein-Deer in a quiet ftate. 
Every female affords nearly one pint of milk ; 
v^'hich, though thinner than that of the cow, is ne- 
verthelefs fweecer and more nourifliing. After be- 
ing milked, the herdfmen drive them back to paf- 
ture; for they neither fold them, houfe them, nor 
provide for their fubfiftence, during the winter, nor 
improve their pafture by cultivation. 
On the return of winter, when the gnats and flies 
are no longer to be dreaded, the Laplander, as al- 
ready obferved, defcends into the lower grounds; 
and, as there are but fev/^ to difpute the pofl"eflion 
of that defolate country, he has then a very exten- 
five range for his herds. Their chief, and almoft 
only food, at this feafon^ is the white mofs already 
nientioned, which, from it's fupplying thefe animals 
with food, is called lichen rangiferinus. This plant, 
though unpleafing to the fpe61:ator who has been 
accuftomed to more propitious climates, is eft'eemed 
by the natives as one of the choiceft benefits and 
moft indulgent gifts of nature. While their fields 
are cloathed with mofs, they envy neither the fer- 
tility nor the verdure of a Ibuthern foil; and, 
warmly habited in their Deer-ftcin cloaths, with 
fhoes and gloves of the fame materials, they intre- 
pidly drive their herds along the defarts, ignorant 
of any higher luxuries than thofe which their milk 
and fmoke-dried flefh afibrd them* Inured to the 
climate, they fleep in the midft of ice; or, waking, 
dofe away their hours amidft the fumes of tobacco ; 
while their faithful dogs perform the parts of 
adive fubftitutes, and keep their herds from ftrag- 
gling. The Deer, in the mean time, with inftinfts 
adapted to the foil, fearch out their food, though 
buried under the deepeft fnows; they turn it up 
with their nofes, after the manner of fwine; and, 
even though the furface of the fnow be frozen, their 
hides are fo very hard in thofe parts, that they ea- 
fily overcome thefe difficulties. It fometimes how- 
ever happens, though but feldom, that the winter 
commences with rain; and a froft enfuing, covers 
the whole countiy with a glazed cruft of ice. In 
that cafe, both the Laplander and his Rein-Deer 
are in a manner undone ; for having no provifions 
laid up againft accidents, his only refource is to 
cut down fuch large pine-trees as are encrufted 
with mofs ; which affording but a very fcanty fup- 
ply, the greateft part of the herd inevitably pe- 
rifhes, without any pofTibility of affiftance. It 
fometimes alfo happens, that even this fupply can- 
not be had ; for the Laplanders often burn down 
their woods, in order to improve and fertilize the 
foil which produces the mofs ; and in this cafe no- 
thing but ruin prefents itfelf, and hope fets in de- 
fpair. 
Thus 
