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doubting whether it was a man or a woman. “ It 
turned out to be a woman, small, with face blackened 
with smoke, brown glittering eyes, black eyebrows, 
hair as black as pitch, and hanging down all round her 
head; a red flat cap, grey petticoat, with bosom like a 
frog skin, pendulous breasts, with brass rings as adorn¬ 
ment; a girdle round her waist, and boots on her feet. 
She appeared like a Fury, but spoke briskly and with 
pity. ‘ Oh, you poor fellow, what unlucky fate has 
brought you here, where I have never seen any 
stranger. How did you get here and what do you 
want? You see our dwellings and understand how 
hard it is for us to get to church. 5 I asked her how r 
I could go further, either forward or any way, except 
the way I came. ‘ No, you must go back the way 
you came, there is no other, you cannot avoid it. Nor 
can you proceed, for all the streams are in strong 
flood. We cannot help you on your journey, for my 
husband is ill, who otherwise might take you to our 
neighbour, six miles off, who might perhaps aid you, 
but I think it would be entirely useless. 5 
“ I asked, how far was it to Sorsele. 4 That I don’t 
know, 5 she answered, 4 but you could not get there 
in less than a week. 5 
44 I already felt sick with fatigue, through carrying 
my own effects, for the Lapp only bore the boat. I 
was exhausted by wakeful nights, and much water 
drinking, for only fish, often teeming with maggots 
and unsalted, was afforded me for my sustenance, for 
I had come to an end of the dried reindeer-meat 
(indigestible without bread) which the priest’s mother 
had given me. I wanted to find folk who ate broth, 
and cared not if salmon ran up the stream. I asked 
if she had any food for me. 4 No, unless you will 
have fish. 5 I looked at the fresh fish, which was 
swarming with maggots in its mouth, which stayed my 
hunger at the sight, but did not strengthen me. I 
asked for reindeer tongue, which the natives dry 
and sell. 4 No, 5 was the answer. 4 Any reindeer 
