174 
GENERAL REMARKS 
Near their huts the maritime Laplanders conflrudl a receptacle 
for hay, to which purpofe they fix three rows of polls in the 
ground, refembling the three walls of a houfe, with beams croffing 
them at a certain height from the ground. Upon thefe tranfverfe 
beams they place their hay, which they prefs down as clofely as 
poffible, but principally work it round the upright pofls, the tops 
of which remain vifible. Thus there are left under the hay two 
empty fpaces, divided, as has been mentioned, by the rows of polls, 
and termed, in the language of the country, aike or lap. In this 
manner the Laplanders preferve their hay through the winter, 
rain fcarcely ever falling during that feafon to do it damage, and 
the fnows affedling it but little on the outfide. In the fpaces be¬ 
neath this hayflack the Laplanders hang their coats, and flcre 
their rein-deer fkins, their pots, and other houfehold fluff. When 
their flock of hay is confumed, they are under the neceffity, in 
order to procure provender, to cut down trees, and flrip them of 
their bark, which they offer to their cattle; they likewife give 
them fmall branches to eat. It fometimes happens that the frofl 
proves fo fevere, as to congeal the fnow, and prevent the rein¬ 
deer from fcraping it away with their feet, and thus hinder them 
from coming at the mofs, which is their chief food: in this cafe 
the Laplanders cut down large firs and others trees, in order to 
take off the lichens and modes growing on them. This occafions 
a great deflruClion and wafle of timber. They feed their cattle 
likewife with roots, and fometimes prepare a particular mefs on 
which their cows feed greedily. This is compofed of the head, 
bones. 
