The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-02-18
ANn Irs lslAnlrANrs.

The number Of The RussiansLarps does not
exceed 1000; those of the Swedish LapIand
were estimated in 1874 al 1000: and those Of
Northern Norway 5,0o0-an aggregate of only
1900 souls. Besides the Lapp population,
there are 10 be found on the shore of the
White Sea several villages of Russians,
stretching along itom Kerelt TO the Bay of
Kandalasch Cor Candidacy Between the viii
Iage of Kandalaschka and Kola, on the coast
al The mouth OF the Touloma, distance of
213 wersts, s,-14i miles-there are seven post
stations, the mails being carried from one 10
another by reindeer, four of which animals
are Kept at each station. This mode ofHsns-
port, however, is only employed in winter;
in summer everything being transported first
a few miles by land 10 Lake lmandra,
then the whole length OF that fine body of
wafer some sixty miles, thence across 10 the
River Touloma, and down that stream TO
Kola. The navigation of the lake, by the
way, is not always free from danger.
The language of The Lapps is similar 10
that of the Firms, from which race they are
originally an offshoot. The Lapps are gen.
orally of middle stature. They have large
heads, short neeks, small brown-red eyes,
owing 10 the constant smoke in their huts,
high cheek bones, thin boards and large
hands. Those of Norway are distinguish
ed from the Russian Lapps by TIE blackness,
luxuriance and gloss of their hair; the more
northern portion of the race are somewhat
larger, more Muscular and oi lighter com.
plexion than the rest. Those of Sweden and
Norway are TO some exten, more cultivated,
enterprising and industrious than those of
Russia, and make light of the greatest priva.
tions and hardships. The richest OF the lat
Ter have not more than 800 reindeer, while
The former possess from 1000, 10 5000. In
Sweden and Norway, whoever owns from
400 TO 500 passes for man in moderate cir
cumstances; with 200 small family with
proper prudence can live without suffering
from want but less than this number punges
a family into all the troubles of poverty
Whoever has not more than so, adds his
heard 10 that o! some rich man, and becomes
his servant--almost his slave, and he is bound
in the proper season TO follow him 10 the
hunting or fishing grounds.
Fish, game and the flesh of the reindeer
are the usual food of the Lapps. Bread they
never eat, though of The rye meal which they
procure in Kola or of tlie-ssishe hermcn III barter
for The products of their reindeer herds, they
make sort of fiat or pan cake, miugiiag the
meal with the pounded bark Of trees. For
this purpose the meal is first soaked in cold
water, and the cakes baked upon hot iron.
They are eaten with butter or Goldfish oil,
which is esteemed great luxury. The min.
Cling ofthe bark with the meal is not done
merely for the sake OF economy, the Lapps
considering il an excellent anli-scorbutic.-
They are very fond of salt, and eat noibirg
uncooked. Their cookery is all done in un-
timed copper vessels, perhaps because in all
Lapland there are no pewlerers more prob.
ably, however, i, is long descended cps.
tom, since in all Northern Asia the use of
copper was formerly universal, and the art OF
overlaying that metal could hardly be known
by the rude inhabitants. Nevertheless cases
of poisoning from the copper never occur,
being rendered impossible by the perfect
cleanliness OF the coppefvesseIs, which after
every meal are secured with sand ill they
shine like mirrors. Besides, after the food
is rufficien,y cooked it is Immediately pour
ed into wooden vessels oil home manufac-
ture.