32 
THE STAG, OR HART. 
How does the Rein Deer differ from the stag ? 
The Rein Deer differs from the stag in being more 
strongly made, and in not being so tall. The Rein 
Deer’s legs and body are shorter and thicker than those 
of the stag, and his hoofs are larger than those of that 
animal. The coat of the Rem Deer is much thicker 
and warmer than that of the stag; his horns are also 
larger in proportion, and more branched, over the eyes. 
When the Rein Deer moves, his hoofs strike together 
and make a crackling noise, while the stag bounds away 
silently. The Rein Deer is an animal of the greatest 
use to man, while the stag, when compared with him, 
is of little value. 
How does the Rein Deer differ from all other animals ? 
The Rein Deer appears to be the only animal that can 
draw the sledge of the Laplander, over the frozen 
regions of the north, and at the same time afford him 
milk, meat, and clothing. 
Here let us stop a moment, and think on the goodness 
and wisdom of Providence, in having given the people 
of each country the blessings they most need. In Lap- 
land, the people are denied many of the comforts which 
the inhabitants of other countries enjoy. It is so cold 
that neither the horse, the cow, nor the sheep can live 
there, but instead of these animals the Creator has given 
these people one animal, which answers the purposes of 
them all. With the Rein Deer, the Laplander is per¬ 
fectly satisfied with his fortune, and his situation in the 
world. This animal is therefore, to him, the greatest of 
all worldly blessings. 
journey. He can run thirty miles without resting, or 
being tired, and this is a long distance for an animal so 
small and light. 
Sometimes the wild Rein Deer, even after he has been 
; so far tamed as to run well in the sledge, will turn upon 
| his master and attack him with the greatest violence, 
and would kill him, did he not take some means to 
\ avoid the blows of his feet. The man cannot escape by 
{ running, because the Deer would overtake him; he 
\ therefore lies down, and covers himself with his sledge. 
\ The angry Deer then beats the sledge with his fore feet, 
until he becomes tired, and gets over his rage, when his 
master crawls out from under it, and having put his har- 
) ness in order, drives on again. . 
This kind of traveling, of course, can only be done in 
- the winter when the ground is covered with snow, and 
i the snow covered with a crust of ice, on which the Rein 
; Deer can step without breaking through. In the cold 
1; country of Lapland, this is the best and the quickest 
i mode of traveling from one place to another, but in other 
( countries it would be thought a very uncomfortable, as 
well as unsafe means of conveyance. The sledges with 
\ the best drivers in them, are often overturned, and the 
\ man thrown out, and when this happens, the Deer some¬ 
times runs away, thus leaving the poor man to perish in 
the snow. 
ANECDOTES. 
THE STAG, OR HART. 
There are two kinds of Rein Deer in Lapland, the 
wild and the tame. The wild are the largest and strong¬ 
est animals, but are always more mischievous, and not 
so safe to drive in the sledge as the tame ones. The 
wild ones are however often taken, and tamed for this 
purpose, and when they become kind, can travel much 
swifter and longer than the tame ones. The animal is 
fastened to the sledge, by a strap which passes between 
his legs, and is tied to another strap which is put round 
his neck. The sledge is so very light, that the Lapland¬ 
er can carry it on his shoulder, with ease. It is covered 
with the skins of the Rein Deer, so as to make it warm 
and comfortable in the coldest weather. The person 
who rides, takes hold of a cord which is tied to the horns 
of the animal, and thus guides him, just as a horse is 
guided with a bridle. When the rider is seated in his 
sledge, and every thing is ready, the Rein Deer, on 
being spoken to, starts away with much life and swift¬ 
ness, and sometimes goes sixty miles without stopping. 
This, however, is too far for him to go at one time, and 
the poor creature often dies in consequence of such a 
What kind of an animal is the Stag ? 
The Stag is an animal of the deer kind, and among 
all the animals of this kind, he is the most elegant and 
beautiful. 
What is his form ? 
His legs are long and slender; his body is round and 
handsome ; his head is high and crowned with a noble 
pair of horns, and his eyes are mild and brilliant. 
What is the color of the Stag ? 
The color along the back is brownish red, which grows 
paler about the sides, and is nearly white under the 
throat, and along the breast. 
How large is this animal ? 
His back is as high as the head of a bo}? of ten or 
twelve years old, and he is as long as a bench on which 
five or six children can sit. He is from four and a half 
to five feet high, and from five to six feet long. His 
horns are about three feet long, with many branches. 
How many teeth has this animal? 
The Stag has eight fore teeth in the under jaw, but 
- in each jaw, making in all thirty-two teeth. 
