THE REINDEER. 79 
The reindeer has been domesticated by the 
fplanders from the earliest ages. It con- 
*'*tutes their sole wealth, furnishing them not 
with food, but with the means of commu- 
tation by land in winter, for in summer the 
®rous lakes, rivers, and marshes, present 
jf'^tiperable obstacles to travelling. At about 
years of age the animal, having acquired 
<lr' strength, is trained to the labour of 
a sledge over the frozen snow ; he con- 
j. serviceable four or five years, and seldom 
longer than fifteen or sixteen. The deer 
^ ^ yoked to the sledge by a collar, from which 
leo brought under the belly between the 
and fastened to the fore-part of the sledge 
carriages are extremely light, £ 
at the bottom with reindeer skin 
h: 
The 
^ ^Mler, who sits in it, guides the animal by 
U fastened to his horns, driving him with 
and encouraging him with his voice. 
*-his 
mode 
of travelling requires 
well- 
