The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-07-24
LOUISVILLE, KY. SATURDAY, JULY a. 1S47

share OF their tent, the only nights lodgin.
they had to give. We thankfully accepted
their hospitality, and soon found ourselve
lying on skins before large and cheerful
fire.
The inhabitants OF the hut comprised
three generations Of Laps; namely, mid
dle-aged man and his wife, with four chill
dren, and ali old grandmother; to these wer,
now added Our party, consisting Of ioul
Englishmen, their two interpreters, and two
other attendants The tent was made o.
coarse dark cloth, and the outside of il was
covered with turf; around the inside were
hung cheeses, bladders, dried gu, of REIN
deer, Guns, and various other useful articles.
The chief part of the smoke escaped
through large opening at the top, but
enough remained painfully to affect ouI
eyes, and to give the copper countenances
Of the Laps shade as dark as those of In
dams. The second family, who occupied
the smaller tent, namely, our late Lapp
guide, Peter Johansen, his wife, and two
children, soon came 10 pay us a visit.
have already described his person. His wife
and daughter had light hair and far COM
Plexions. and were pleasing in their APP
pearance, and his little boy was all intel
ligent and interesting child, and although
under ten years Of age, took his turn with
the men in watching the reindeer during
the night He was dressed la ms best
clothes, entirely made OF skins, with cir
die round his waist, and such a protuber-
ance in front as to give him the appearance
OF being stuffed, and greatly 10 excite our
laughter. He wore his knife in his case be-
hind, and several small ornaments by his
SIDE; thus forming complete Lllliputian
Lapp in full costume. We were soon
presented with large bowl Of reindeer
milk, which is much richer than that of the
cow and has a delicate and aromatic fla
vOr, with a pleasant taste resembling the
milk Of the cocoa-nut; but | found could
not axe much OF it with IMMUNITY, as it
was more like drinking cream than milk.
They also boiled for us reindeer ham,
which had only been sailed two DAYS be-
lore. We found it 80 good, that, upon ia.
king our departure next morning, We
were glad 10 add i, 10 ouT scanty store OF
provisions, IL has wild flavor. and is
quite equal 10 our park venison The
old grandmother was as shrivelled d, a
mummy, but the other Two women We're by
no means Unlocking. Their dress was of
dark woollen cloth, with silver ornaments
in front, as well as in the gndle round the
waist, to which sewing implements were
suspended. The ornaments were in good
taste, and well finished: and the buttons
Were similar to those used by the pea
santry IL Spain. | have no doubt this smart
costume was put on in compliment 10 Us.
The dress OF the men consisted of leath-
Ell coats and tight trousers of the same ma
terial, with reindeer skin boots. All the
females smoked; and the old woman seemed
more pleased with having her pipe filled
with tobacco brought from England than
with anything else that We gave her some
boxes oil luclier nulCnes which VT preSen-
ted TO them were also highly prized. they
had evidently never seen them before. and
expressed no small astonishmenl at the man.
ner in which ignition is effected. We re-
GREETED We had no fish hooks, which thew
inquired for; but We gave them a glass OF
fnkel each, which the octogenarian ap
peaIed 10 relish more than any of her des
pendants. The head of the family John
Neilson) was a grave sedate looking man:
decision of character and intelligence were
marked on his fine countenance In reply
to the question | put to him through nv in
terpreter, he said they were happy in the
enjoyment of their wandering pastoral lie:
that they confined themselves to the mounta-
inous ridge which separates Norway from
Sweden, the boundary line between these
countries being only two English miles from
the spot where they were then encamped: thai
they had been there about eight days. intended
to remain fortnight longer, and should then
move EDWARDS for a change of pasture for
their reindeer. He told me, that in sum
mer they conduct these animals, which con
stitute their wealth, TO the elevated parts Of
the mountains, and in the winter they des
cend to the level country. His herd con-
sisted Of about three hundred, and il ap
pears that family requires nearly that
number for its support. The grea, pro.
portion Of them were his own property
but some belonged to Peter Johansen, anf
ten to a middle aged single woman who
lodged with them. These Lapps, although
jewellers in tents all the year round, are il
many respects far from being uncivilized.
They strictly observe the Sabbath, III,
bes, reader of the family officiating a:
priest, and going regularly through the Lu
theran service, Occasionally, they attent
the church of the nearest village Oh tn
frontier of Sweden"
A group Of five African dwarfs, OF tn
tribe Of BOgesmans, or Bush People, y ar,
noU exbihifing .t th,. EgyUtian Hall in Pic