THROUGH LAPLAND. 
77 
the relations of the damfel, and his own little wife. Thofe inci¬ 
dents, however, are not regarded in the fame ferious light beyond, 
as on this fide the polar circle. The matter was very amicably 
fettled : the child died foon after it was born, and the fchool- 
mafter’s w r ife felt more pride in her hufband’s fuccefsful courtfhip, 
than mortification at his infidelity. 
Before we leave Kautokeino, it may not be amifs to offer, for 
the amufement of my readers, a few geographical and fhitiffical 
obfervations on this part of the country. In the whole of the dif- 
tridl or parifli of Kautokeino, which is twenty-five Norwegian 
miles in length, and twelve in breadth,* there are but two places 
occupied by fettled Laplanders, which amount together to no 
more than twelve families. The reft are all of the fhepherd, or 
vagrant kind, who cannot be accurately numbered, becaufe they 
are conftantly in motion, and not attached to any particular fpot. 
In 1756 they reckoned ninety diftindt families; but it is poffible 
\ 
that fome of thefe families may alfo have been counted among 
thofe of other diftridts. Thefe wandering Laplanders inhabit 
during winter the mountainous trails, and move from place to 
place with their tents, and herds of rein-deer ; but in fummer 
i 
they draw towards the coafl for the benefit of fifhing. At Kauto¬ 
keino there are fome very fine fields of meadow and arable land ; 
the latter of which yield as much oats and barley as fupplics the 
inhabitants for fix months. Horfes they have none : all journeys 
are performed on foot or in boats in fummer, and during winter, 
in 
* A Norwegian mile is about eight Englifh miles. 
