Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-05-22
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, FRIDAY, MAY q, 1857

ously welcomed by Hal, Herr Forst-
rom's brown wolf-dog, who had stray
ed thus far from home. Our deer were
beginning 10 give out, and we were
very anxious to reach Muoniovara in
time for dinner; so we only waited
long enough TO give tho animal q feed
of moss and procure hot milk for our
selves.
The now-storm, which had moved
over a narrow belt of country, had
not extended below this place, and
tho road was consequently well brolS-
en-. We urged our deer into fast
trot, and slid down tho icy floor oftho
Muonlo, past hills whose SHOWS fash
ed scarlet and rose-orange in the long
splendor Of sunset. Hunger and fa-
tigne, which our journey was produc-
ing at last, made us extremely sonsi.
tive to the cold, though II was not
more than zoe below zero. My blood
was chilled through, and | was appre-
hensive tho extremities would freeze,
and tho most vigorous motion Of the
muscles barely sufiiced TO keep at bay
the numbncss which attacked them.
AT dusk we drove through Upper
Muonioniska, and our impatience kept
the reindeers so we'll in motion that
before 8 o'clock (although long after
darlx), we were climbing tho we'll
known slope to Herr Forstrom's house
at Muoniovara. Hero we find the
merchant not yet departed to the
Lapp fair at Karessuando, and Mr..
Wolley, who welcomed us with the
cordiality ofan old friend. Our snug
room at tho carpenters was already
warmed and set in order, and after
our reindeer drive of 250 miles thro
the widest parts of Lapland, we feel u
home-like sense ofhappiness and COM
fort in smoking our pipes before the
familiar iron stove.
The trip to Kautolxeino embraces
about all ! shall see of Lapp life this
Winter The romance of the tribe,
as l have already said, has totally de-
parted with their conversion, while
their habits Of life, scarcely improved
in the least, are sufficiently repulsive
to prevent any closer experience than
l have had, unless the gain were grea-
ter. Mr.. Wolley, who has been three
years in Lapland, says that the super
stitions and picturesque traditions of
Lapland have almost wholly disap-
peared, and the coarse mysticism and
rant which they have ongrafted upon
their imperfect Christianity docs not
differ materially from the same cxcre-
sciences in more civilized races. They
have not even (the better for them, y
is true) any characteristic and pictu-
rescue viees--but have become, ccr-
tainly TO their own great advantage, n
pious, fanatical, moral, commonplace
people. have described them exact.
ly as found them, and rs thoy have
been described to me by those who
knew them well. The readers of 'Af.
raja' may be little disappointed
with the picture, as l confess / have
been (in nm artistic sense, only) with
the reality, but the Lapps have lost
many vices along with their poetic
didJicrie and nobody has right To
colnplhln'
1t is pity that many traits which
aro really characteristic and interest.
ing In u people cannot be mentioned
on account of that morbid prudery so
prevalent in our country, which In.
suits tho common innocence Of M.
ture. Oh, that ono could initiate the
honest unresorvo of the old travellers
tho consciousness which insisted
on tolllng not only the truth, but the
whole truth This IL scarcely possible
now; but at the same time / have not
been willing TO omasculato my nc
counts of the tribes of men TO the
cxtent perhaps required by our ultra
convcntlonallsm, and must insist, now
} and then, on being allowed little
Flemish fidelity TO nature. In the do
: scripton Of nature, az In the blogra,
J ply of individuals, the most import.
ant half Of life Is generally omitted
, b. II.