THE EHMINANT ORDER. 
295 
leagues and a half an hour. At the end of the journey the poor 
animal is reported to have died. 
The mode of harnessing and driving the Reindeer is most 
simple. A collar of skin is fastened round its neck, and from 
this a trace hangs down, which, passing under the belly, is 
fastened into a hole bored in the front of the sledge. The 
rein consists of a single cord fastened to the root of the animal’ s 
antlers, and the driver drops it on the right or left side of the 
back, according to the side to which he wishes to direct the 
animal. The vehicle being very light, travelling may be rapidly 
performed in this equipage, but not without running some risk 
of breaking your neck ; for, to avoid being upset, one must be 
very skilful in this sort of locomotion. The Laplander is a 
perfect master of this art. 
We have not yet mentioned the most important articles this 
Ruminant of the arctic regions yields Man. The female produces 
milk superior to that of the Cow, and from it butter and cheese 
of excellent quality are made. Its flesh, which is nutritious and 
sweet, forms a precious alimentary resource, and almost the only 
one in the polar regions. Its coat furnishes thick and warm 
clothing, and its skin is converted into strong and supple leather. 
The long hairs on the neck of this animal are also used for sewing, 
while out of its tendons is manufactured string. From the old 
antlers of the Reindeer various utensils are made, such as spoons, 
knife-handles, &c., and when the horns are young, gelatine is 
extracted from them by submitting them to a severe course of 
boiling. Their excrement, when dried, is formed into bricks, 
which serve for fuel. Many tribes even turn to advantage the 
cropped lichens contained in the stomach of a slaughtered animal. 
The Esquimaux and Greenlanders add to these lichens chopped 
meat, blood, and fat ; when this is smoke-dried, they are extremely 
fond of it. The Toungouses, or nomadic inhabitants of Siberia, 
add wild berries to the above northern delicacy, then make it into 
cakes, which rank high among the articles of their cuisine. 
The Reindeer is truly an invaluable companion to the people of 
high latitudes. The poorest Laplander possesses at least several 
pairs ; while the wealthy have immense herds of from four to five 
hundred, even sometimes of several thousand of these animals. 
During the day they are taken to graze ; and at night they are 
