Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-02
From the London Literary Gazette.
BROOCHES WINTER LAPLANl


BROOKE'S WINTER IN LAPLAND.
The Field FINER, our Mountain Laplander,
is strange being, and apparently very low in
the human scale In the summer months OF
June. July, and August, he is driven from the
fores,-covered interior by the plague OF insects,
and obliged. with his rein deer, TO seek refuge
on the cooler and rocky coasts. Here he bar
tiers his skins, feathers, &c. Tor coarse cloth,
meal, gunpowder, tobacco, and too often Tor
spurious liquor-lo the consumption OF which
he is strongly addicted.
sin addition TO these inducements TO repair
10 the coast (our author states he will tell you
tina, is absolutely necessary To the existence OF
the rein deer, that they should once during the
summer drink the sal! wafer This, which ap:
tv of Witnessing, as il only takes place immedi-
alely on the arrival of the herd from the inland
parts; but all constantly agreed in saving, that,
as soon as the deer arrived in sight Of the O.
cean, they fastened forward with one accord, s
drank eagerly OF the salt water, though they
were never observed to drink il aIterward du-
ring the time they remained rear it. | was in
formed also, that this draught was efficacious
in destroying the lar, &c of the gadAy, which lays
its eggs in the hide Of The deer, before they leave
the forests, and that instinct prompts them 10
adopt this remedy.
"Irhe Laplander Che eontinues)is awanderer
both from nature and necessity. His subsist,
ence depending entirely upon his deer, which
are left free and unconstrainfd, his own move
nents may be said to be guided by theirs, and
BY them also his habits Of life are in great
measure formed. The number of deer belong
ing to herd is from 800 to 500: with these a
LaplaudeI can do well, and live in tolerable
comfor, He can make in sumner sufficient
quantity Of ohees for the wears consumption;
and during the winter season can afford to Kill
deer enough TO supply him and his family pref
" constantly with ,enison With 200 deer, a
man, if his family be but small, Can manage 10
gel on Ifhe have but 100, his subsistence Is
very precarious, and he cannot rely entirely up
on them for support Should he have but nj
ty. he is no longer independent, or able to keep
a separate establishment, but generally JOINS his
small herd with that of some richer Laplander,
being then considered more in the light OF a
mental, undertaking the laborious office OF at
tending upon and watching the herd, bringing
them home 10 be MIXED, and other similar Of
fees, in return for the subsistence afforded him
Ii happens, however, very frequently, that when
either from sickness or accident, the herd OF
Laplander is reduced to this small number, ne
will give in charge to another what he has re
naming, and will repair TO the sea-coast;where
he, will either endeavour to- gei work from the
Norwegian settlers, and in this manner 10 sup
por, HIMSELF or else, which believe is more fire.
quenliy the case, he settles himself on the
shores ofsome Of the ScShbouring hords OF
the coast, follows the fishery for his livelihood,
and from mountain is transformed into coast
Laplander Thus his habits are totally chang
ed, and in time he becomes an expert at the
fishery, and as uudaunied in Drawing the dam
gers ofthe ocean, as he was before firm in bear
ing the numerous hardshps Of his former row
ing life Still the charms of the liberty he EN-
joyed are never obliterated from his mind; he
regards the Shore Laplanoer as an inferior be-
ing inasmuch as he is less free, and his only
thoughts are Of returning 10 his mountains
Should be successful, he is enabled to do SO, s
repairing the losses of his herd, again commen-
ces, his former manner Of life II more gener-
ally happens, however, that, having once be-
comea Shore Lapander, he remains SO, being
TOO careless and 100 thoughtless being TO car
ry his views beyond the exigencies of The pres
emit momea. Laplander who is the master
Of herd of 1000 deer, is considered a rich