THROUGH LAPLAND. 
79 
caution that nothing can equal. When a Laplander perceives one 
of thofe animals at the diflance ot about half an Englifh mile, he 
takes a circuit to the windward ; coming nearer and nearer to it, 
creeping on his hands and feet, until he comes within gun-fnot. 
I have been allured by a Laplander, that he has been obliged to 
creep in this manner for five miles, through fhrubs and mofs, in 
order to reach the moft convenient foot for taking aim at his 
prey. 
In the fmall village of Kautokeino, there is in the month of 
February an annual fair, which is frequented by the neighbouring 
Laplanders and the merchants from Tornea, who come thither 
for the purpofe of purchafing rein-deer fkins, furs, and other arti¬ 
cles. In thofe fairs the medium of trade is barter. The Laplan¬ 
ders give the fkins of rein-deer, foxes, wolves, and bears, with 
gloves and fhoes, or rather fhort boots, in exchange for coarfe flan¬ 
nels, but above all for brandy, tobacco, meal, and fait. 
They have a few cows and fheep, which in fome degree Supply 
them with milk and wool. For fodder to their cows, when they 
have not hay enough, they gather the mofs that the rein-deer 
feeds upon, and which the cows, for want of better nourishment 
are glad to live upon. On the adjacent mountains there is a kind 
of mofs which the fheep will eat, and even feem to like. As fheep 
do not form any article of barter or commerce, they are to be 
purchafed at a very low price. We bought fome for our kitchen, 
at the rate of eighteen pence Englifh a-piece. 
The people in thofe parts are neither ignorant of the ufe of 
money, 
J 3 
