Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-11-11

unscrupulous in its operations, and history
proves it to be the enemy of Freedom
LAPLAND AND ITS INHABITANTS.
The number of the Russian Lapps does not
exceed 2,000 those of Swedish Lapland were
estimated in 1871 at 4,OO0-an aggregate of
only II 900 souls. Besides the Lapp popula-
ton, there are to be found on the shore of the
White Sea aseveralvilages of fRussians, stretch
ing along from Kerrett to the Bay OF Randall
asch COR Candidacy Between the village Of
Kandalaschka and kola, on the coast at the
mouth of the Touloma, distance of 2l3
wersts, (1il miles.) there are seven post sta
tons, the mails being carried from one to a.
mother by reindeer, four of which animals arc
kept at each station. This mode of transport,
however, is only employed in winter in sum-
mcr everything being transported first, few
miles by land to Lake Imandra, then the,whole
| length of that fine body of water, some sixty
| miles, thence across to the river Touloma and
down that stream TO kGla. The navigation of
the Lake, by the way, is not always free from
danger.
| The language Of the Lapps is similar to tia,
| of the Firms, from which race they are origi-
naly an ofshoct. The Lapps, in general, are
of middle stature. They have large heads,
short necks, small brown-red eyes, owing to
| the constant smoke in their huts, high cheek
| bones, thin boards and large hands. Those of
Norway are distinguished from the Russian
Lapps, by the bIackness, luxuriance and gloss
of their hair the more northern portion of
the race are somewhat larger, more muscular
and of lighter complexion than the rest.
Those OF Sweden and Norway are to some ex-
tent more cultivated and enterprising than
those of Russia, and make light of the great
est privations and hardshps. The richest of
| the latter have not more thun 500 reindeer,
while the former possess from 1000 to 5000.
In Sweden and Norway, whoever owus from
400 TO 500, passes for man in moderate cir
cumstances: with 200 small family with prop
er prudence live without suffering from
want, but less than this number pIunges fam
lily into all the troubles of poverty. Whoever
has not more than fifty, adds his herd to that
of some rich man, and becomes his servant
almost his slave, and is bound in the proper
season to follow him to 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 the fishermen in barter
for the products of their reindeer herds, they
make sort of fiat OF pan cakes, mingling the
meal with the pounded bark of trees. For
this purpose the meal is first soaked in cold
| water, and the cakes baked upon a hot iron.
| They are eaten with butter or Goldfish oil, which
is esteemed great luxury. The mingling of
| the bark with the meal is not done merely for
| the sake of economy. the Lapps considering
it an excellent anti-scorbutic. They are very
fond of salt, and eat nothing uncooked. Their
| cookery is all done in untinned copper vessels,
perhaps because in all Lapland there are no
pewters, more probably, however, it is long
descended custom, since in all Northern Asia,
the use of copper was formerly universal, and
the art of oyerlaying that metal could hardly
be known by the rude inhabitants. Neverthe-
less, cases of poisoning from the copper never
occur, being rendered impossible by the per-
feet cleanliness of the copper vessels, which
after every meal are secured with sand till they
slime like mirrors. Besides, after the food is
sufficiently cooked, it is Immediately poured
| into wooden vessels of home manufacture.
The Norwegian and Swedish Lapps make
| cheese of reindeer milk. and carefully save for
use all the whey, &c. They milk their ami
mails summer and winter, and freeze the milk
| which is set apart for cheese. The women cor
slider this as great luxury. 1t is remarkable
for its pleasant odor, and has ready sale in
Norway at a rather high price. The Russian
Lapps have no idea Of making cheese from
their reindeer milk, although the manufacture.
beyond doubt, would be of great advantage
tothem. This milk is distinguished for its
excellent favor; in color and consistency it
is like thick cream from the milk of cows, and
is remarkably nourishing.
FLouR.-During the war of 1872. barrel