REIN DEER. 
183 
snow ; tlie oilier is black, and covers the branches 
of the trees in very great quantities. However 
unpleasing these may be to the spectator, the na- 
tive esteems them as one of his choicest benefits, 
and the most indulgent gift of nature. While 
Iris fields are clothed with moss, he envies neither 
the fertility nor the verdure of the more southern 
landscape ; dressed up warmly in his deer-skin 
clothes, with shoes and gloves of the same mate- 
rials, he drives his herds along the desert, fear- 
less and at ease, ignorant of any higher luxury than 
what their milk and smoke-dried flesh affords 
him. Hardened to the climate, he sleeps in the 
midst of ice ; or awaking, dozes away his time 
with tobacco ; while his faithful dogs supply 
his place, and keep the herd from wandering. 
The deer, in the mean time, with instincts adapted 
to the soil, pursue their food, though covered in 
the deepest snow. They turn it up with their 
noses, like swine, and, even though its surface 
be frozen and stiff, yet the hide is so hardened 
in that part, that they easily overcome the diffi- 
culty. It sometimes, however, happens, though 
but rarely, that the winter commences with rain, 
and a frost ensuing, covers the whole country with 
a glazed crust of ice. Then, indeed, both the 
rein deer and the Laplander are undone ; they have 
no provisions laid up in case of accident, and the 
only resource is to cut down the large pine-trees that 
aTe covered with moss, which furnishes but a 
scanty supply ; so that the greatest part of the 
herd is then seen to perish without a possibility 
of assistance. It sometimes also happens, that., 
even this supply is wanting ; for the Laplander 
often burns clown his woods, in order -to improve 
and fertilize the soil which produces the moss, 
upon which he feeds his cattle. 
In this manner*, the pastoral life is still continued 
