562 
THE CARIBOU. 
sting them all over, and creatures which lay their eggs in their ears and nostrils and make 
themselves comfortable under their skin ; and wolves, and gluttons, and dogs, and Laps — in 
short, I know of no animal so persecuted (barring a rat, and he has his revenge, and lives 
on the fat of the land), and nothing in return except snow, and moss which tastes like dry 
sponge.” 
The Laplanders place their chief happiness in the possession of many Reindeer, which are 
to them the only representatives of wealth. Those who possess a herd of a thousand or more 
are reckoned among the wealthy of their country ; those who only own a few hundreds are 
considered as persons of respectability ; while those who only possess forty or fifty are content 
to act as servants to their richer countrymen, and to merge their little herd in that of their 
employers. In the waste, dry parts of Lapland, grows a kind of white lichen, which forms 
the principal food of the Reindeer during winter, and is therefore highly prized by the natives. 
Although this lichen may be deeply covered with snow, the Reindeer is taught by instinct to 
scrape away the superincumbent snow with its head, hoofs, and snout, and to lay bare the 
welcome food that lies beneath. Sometimes the surface of the snow is frozen so firmly that 
the animal can make no impression ; and under these circumstances it is in very poor case, 
many of the unfortunate creatures dying of starvation, and the others being much reduced in 
condition. 
The Reindeer is extensively employed as a beast of draught and carriage, being taught to 
draw sledges and to carry men or packages upon its back. Each Reindeer can draw a weight 
of two hundred and fifty or even three hundred pounds, its pace being between nine and ten 
miles per hour. There is, however, a humane law which prohibits a weight of more than one 
hundred and ninety pounds upon a sledge, or one hundred and thirty upon the back. It is a 
very enduring animal, as it is able to keep up this rate of progress for twelve or more hours 
together. 
The eyes of the Reindeer are very quick, and his hearing also acute ; but his sense of 
smell is more wonderfully developed than either of the other senses. 
The Caribou, or American variety of the Reindeer, is a large animal, measuring three 
feet six inches in height at the shoulder when adult. Although it is specifically identical with 
the European Reindeer, it has never yet been brought under the sway of man, and trained to 
carry his goods or draw his sledges. Should it be employed for these purposes, it would be a 
most valuable servant, for it is a very strong as well as an enduring animal, leading its pur- 
suers a chase of four or five days, and often eventually making good its escape. A small herd 
of these animals was chased continually for a week ; and after tiring out their original hunters, 
lost two of their number by the bullets of some fresh hunters who took up the chase. When- 
ever practicable, the Caribou makes for the frozen surface of the lakes, and is then sure to 
escape, although the manner of doing so is ludicrously clumsy. Rushing recklessly forward, 
the Caribou will be suddenly startled by some object in its front ; and on attempting to check 
its onward career, falls on the ice in a sitting posture, and in that attitude slides for a con- 
siderable distance before it can stop itself. Recovering its feet, it then makes off in another 
direction, and gets over the ground with such celerity that the hunters always yield the chase 
whenever the animal gets upon the ice. 
During the greater part of the year, the flesh of the Caribou is dry and tasteless, and when 
eaten seems to have no effect in satiating hunger. There is, however, a layer of fat, sometimes 
two or three inches in thickness, that lies under the skin of the back and croup in the male, 
and is technically termed the depouille. This fatty deposit is so highly esteemed that it out- 
weighs in value the remainder of the carcase, including skin and horns. The marrow is also 
remarkably excellent, and is generally eaten raw. When pounded together with the depouille 
and the dried flesh it makes the best pemmican, a substance which is invaluable to the hunter. 
Even the horns are eaten raw while they are young, soft, and in the velvet. The skin is very 
valuable, especially when taken from the yonng animal ; and when properly dressed is an 
admirable defence against cold and moisture. With the addition of a blanket, a mantle of 
Caribou skins is an ample protection for any one who is forced to bivouac in the snow. 
