The Wilmingtonian., 1824-04-22
From Brooke's Travels to the North.
Interesting accoaat Of the cLaplunders.

From Brooke's Travels to the North.
Interesting accouat Of the cLaplanders
Mr.. Lenning, my landlord, having re-
ceived intelligence that the Larlanders
with their rein deer, had approached with
in the distance of about one mile fron
Fagleness, and that they would remain
for few days in that part off the mountains.
was anxious to avail myself of this op-
portnnity of seeing them. Accompanied
by Madame Lenning and her husband, af-
ter halfan hours walk, we found the tent;
and its owner. Per Mathisun Sahra, sit
ting at the entrance cutting birch twig.
Though well acquainted with M. Lenning.
who spoke his language perfectly, he re-
ceived us with the most perfect indiffer-
ence, showed no disposition to welcome
us; or betraying any emotion whatever.
Inside the tent, into which we crept, we
found his wife busy in preparing the uten-
sils for milking the deer and making the
cheese. As the herd was some miles dis
tant in the mountains, and consequently,
take considerable time in returning TO
the evening fold, occupied myself with
inspecting the whole of a Laplander's
household economy, which was extremely
curious.
Per Mathision had pitched his tent at the
extremity ofa valley between the noun
iains, which sloped gradually down TO the
sea shore at Fugleness, and whence fine
view was obtained of that part of the ocean
enclosed By the surrounding islands. Mar
it Martins Datter the name of Per Mathi-
sons wife, meaning literally MART the
daughter of Martin, was short in stature,
not exceeding in height feet nine inches,
and of brown complexion, which seemed
more the result of habitual dirt, living con-
stantly surrounded by smoke, and exposure
to the weather all seasons of the year, than
of nature, as the colour of her eyes and
hair did not denote natural darkness oil
The skin. She had on her summer dress
ofdirty, white, walmal cloth, girt round b,
a belt, to which was suspended smel
Knife. She had laid aside every part 0
her winter dress, and her komagers. o
shoea, were of strong leather, forming
peak at the toes. On her head she wor
a high cap, made partly of cloth and il
part of coloured calico. This cap is pecu
liar to Norwegian l.apland, and is rathe
elegant in shape. Though wild and In
south, yet her manners did not betray an
of the surfiness so CONSPICUOUS in her hus
band. The latter was dressed in rein-dee
iawn skins, which being thin and plabl'
and made to sit close, were not so likely
incommode the wearer from their too grei
warmth. His family consisted of viii
and child and Laplander. who, bein
poor, and having no deer Of his own, acte
in the capacity Of servant, and had til
principal care of the herd, attending thel
by night as well as day. He was them at
sent, driving them to the tent to be mill
ed. With him were another Laplandt
and his wife, who also lived in the tent wit
the formed. This man seemed to be a kin
Of partner Of Per Mathison. Their de,
was mixed in common together, though Il
superior number belonging to the latt
evidently constituted him the head of Il
family, which it was easy to perceive fro
his idlegess and inactivity, mixed with
kind of gruF independence, that bespok
laird of the mountains. lie had been
the habit, Tor the last two summers, of
pairing with his herd of deer to the mot
sains .! Vale Island from the neighbol
ing country oil koutokno, distance
more than 600 miles in the interior of N
wegian Lapland. Here he remained
tween two and three months; and, bef,
the approach of winter, again returned
his native forests The whole number
IL. ob a
in like manner, were only visitants dur
the summer.
After the expiration of about two hos
The distant barking of the dogs indica
the coming of the deer, which we at
discsrned, winding slowly along the mo
tains at the distance of near a mile, 7
sentiug only the appearance of biz
moving mass blending with the dark 81,
Of the mountains. They now approach