Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-29
The Laplander mt Home.

The Laplander mt Home.
We saw the Lapp camp before us on
dry and pleasant grassy space, about two
and half English miles from the sea-
Some piles of sticks and mounds, which
seemed like no human habitation, first at
tracted attention. The piles of sticks form
as we found) sort of skeleton shed, which
can be enclosed in bad weather by kind
of rude tarpaulin. They contain barrels,
clothes, and many nondescrpt utensils and
stores, which, in fine weather, are exposed
suspended from the bare poles. Two low,
round mounds of turf, overlaid with sticks
and branches in most dlsorderly fashion,
composed the habitations of a multitude of
men, women, and especially children, who
seemed al first sight to be countless. Their
appearance-uncouth, squalid and dlminu-
tive in the extreme-was, ] thought, decl.
dedly unprepossessing. But an attentive
survey brought out some more favorable
features. The coulitenance was altogether
unlike any / had seen, but by no means
devoid Of intelligence, and even certain
sweetness OF expression. Notwithstanding
that our party was tolerably numerous, they
exhibited no signs either of distrust or shy
ness and whilst some of them entered IN
to conversation with one of the gentlemen
from Tromso, who knew little of their di-
alect, and others went, attended by seve-
raj small active dogs, to fetch some rein
deer for our inspection from the heights,
the greater part remained quietly engaged
in their huts, as we had found them, quite
regardless of our presence. On inquirlng
into their occupation, we were surprised to
fad them possessed of some eXcellently
printed and well-cared-for books, partcu-
larly Bible in the Finnish tongue, and a
commentary, each forming quarto vol
ume. We found some of them also en-
gagged in writing. This was a matter OF
surprise, where we had been led to expect
something approaching barbarism and we
had soon proof that their pretensions to
religious impressions was not merely theo-
retical for they positively refused to taste
the spirits which were freely offered to
them, and Of which our party partook !;
though it is well known that excessive and
UGSOlllu2
sin of The Lappish tribes, and still is of
those who have not been converted to hab-
its of order and religion, by the jealous ef-
forts of the Swedish missionaries (partic-
ularly, l believe, Lestadius and Stockheth)
who have indefatigably laboured amongst
them. The characteristic composure of
the people was well shown in young mo-
ther with rather pleasing features, who
brought her infant Of four months old out
of one of the huts, and seating herself on
the sunny side of it, proceeded in the most
deliberate way imaginable to pack mp the
child for the night in its little wooden cra-
die, whilst half dozen of US looked on
with no small curiosity. The cradle was
cut out of the solid wood, and covered with
leather, flaps of which were so arranged as
TO lace across the top with leathern thongs;
the inside and the little pillow were rem
dered tolerably soft with reindeer moss;
and the infantsftted the space SO exactly
that it could STIR neither hand nor foot yet
made little resistance to the operation. A
hood protected the head, whilst it admitted
air freely. When the packing was finish
ed, the little creature was speedily rocked
asleep. The elder children were inqulsi-
tive, but far from rude, and they played
nicely with one another. The Lapp hut is
formed interiorly of wood, by means Of
curved ribs, which unite near the centre
in ring, which is open, and allows free
escape for the smoke, the fire being lighted
in the centre of the floor. The exterior is
covered with turf. The door is of wood on
one side. The inmates recline on skins on
the floor, with their feet towards the fire
and behind them, on row of stones near
the wall of the hut, are their various uten-
sis. Their clothing-chieAy of tanned
skins and woolen stufs-looked very dirty.
Their whole wealth consists in reindeer
The two families who frequent this valley
possess about seven hundred deer. We
saw, perhaps, about one-fourth of that
number. A few of them were driven, for
our inspection, into circular enclosure of
wooden pallng, where they are habitually
MIXED. One of the men dexterously caught
them by the horns with lasso, or moose.
The deer are small but some of them car
ry immense branching horns, the weight of
which they seem almost unable TO support.
At this season their long winter coat of hair
came off by handluls. They make low
grunting noise, almost like pig; the milk
is very small in quantity and excessively
rich. 1t was eleven o'clock at night when
we left the Laplanders, and we reached the
seaside few minutes before midnight
1t was glorious evening-the sun shining
he I'm
1t was more like sunset at Naples than
what had imagined of midnight in the
Arctic Circle. The town and shores OF
Tromso lay in comparative shadow; and as
we rowed across 10 our steamer, we heard
in the distance the not unmelodious chant
of the Russian sailors, who amused them
selves in boating and singing most of the
night" ."-Works Of Professor Forbes.
KERBoCKIANIAN.-"l was amused,
and perhaps you will be, at remark of a
lour-year youngster of my acquaintance
He has brother few months old that he
is particularly fond of. A few days ago, a
visitor told him she wanted to take Baby
home with her, land his permission. mo"
said he, "we can't spare him but I'll tell
you what to to do--ask God He'll tell you
how TO get one enacily like him"
ga little nephew of mine, "fve-year-
DID," whose mind was running on holyday
subjects, said to his father
"'Papa does Santa Claus travel all over
he world at Christmas?
eyes, my son, was the answer.
"I shouldn't think he'd 60 to Africa,
said the child
"'Why not:' he was asked.
"'Why, because they have got no stock
ngs thereP
"Our little Eddy sometimes says queer