Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-06-05

who stIikingly resembled bear cubs stand
ing on their hind legs. They we're coated
with reindeer hide from head to foot, with
only little full moon Of tawny red face
visible.
| We stopped at Siepe an hour to bait the
deer. The single wooden hut was crowded
with Lapps, one of whom, apparently the
owner, spoke little Norwegian. He knew
who we were, and asked me many ques-
tlons about America. lie was most anx-
ious to know what was our religion, and
what course the Government took with re-
gard to different scots. He seemed lit
tic surprised, aud not less pleased, to hear
that all varieties of belief were tolerated,
and that no one sect possessed any peculiar
| privileges over another. lit is only very
recently that dissenters from the Orthodox
Church have been allowed to erect houses
Of worship in Norway.l While we we're
speaking on these matters, an old woman,
kneeling near US, was mutteriDg prayers to
herself, wsagng her hands, sobbing and
giving other evidences of violent religious
excitement. This appeared to be com
! mon occurrence, as none of the Lapps took
the slightest notice of it. / have 10 doubt
that much of that halIucination which led
to the murders at Kautokeino still exists
among the people, kept alive BY secret in
diligence. Those missionaries have much
to answer for who have planted the seeds of
spiritual disease among this ignorant and
impressible race.
The night was cold and splendidly clear
We we're obliged to leavs the river on ae-
count of rotten ice, and took to the open
plains, where our deers sank to their bel
| lies in the loose snow. The leading ami
mails became fractions, and we were obliged
to stop every few minutes, until their par
oxysns subsided. lcould not perceive that
the Lapps themselves exercised much more
control over them than we, who were new to
| the business. The domesticated reindeer
still retains his wild instincts, and never
fails toplotest agaipst the necessity of labor.
The most docilc will fly from The track,
! plunge, face about and refuse to draw,
when you least expect it. They are posses
sed BY an incorrigible stupidity. Their sa-
gacity applies only to their animal wants,
and they seem almost totally deficient in
memory. They never become attached to
men, and tho only sign Of reception they
show, is sometimes to allow certain persons
to catch them more easily than others. In
point of speed they are not equal to the
horse, and an hours run generally exhausts
them. When one considers their size, how
ever, their strength and power OF endurance
seem marvellous. Herr Berger informed nc
that he had driven reindeer from Alten
to Kautokcino. 112 miles, in twenty-si
hours, aud from the latter place to Muonio-
vara in thirty. was also struck by the
remarkable adaptation of the animal to its
uses Its hoof resembles that of the cam
cl, being formed for snow as the latter for
sand. 1t is broad, cloven and flexible, the
/ separate divisions spreading out so as 70
present resisting surface when the foot is
set down, and falling together when it is
| lifted. Thus in SHOWS where horse would
founder in the space of hundred yards,
the deer easily works his way, mile after
mile. drawing tue sliding, canoc-like pulk,
burdencd with his masters weight after
/ him.
The Lapps generally treat their animals
with the greatest patience and forbearance,
but otherwise do not exhibit any particular
attachment for them. They are indebted
to them for food, clothing, habitation and
conveyance, and their very existence may
| therefore almost be said 10 depend on that
of their herds. 1t is surprising, however,
what a number of deer are requisite Cor the
suppor, of family. Won Bnch says that
/ tbdHI hilV titiS a bhhNlC0 uttf rs DtOlJ hhh
will be finally driven to descend tot The coast
and take 10 fishing. The COWS are never
made to labor, but are kept in the woods for
milking and breeding. Their milk is said to
be rich and nourishing, but have not yet
had an opportunity of testing it. The cheese
made from it is strong and not particularly
palatuble. Ii yields an oil which is the
sovereign specific for frozen flesh. The male
deer> used for draft arc always castrated !,
which operation the old Lapp women perform
by slowly chewing the glands between their
teeth until they are reduced to pulp, with
out wounding the hide.
During this journey have had aruple
! opportunity of familiarizing myself with rcin-
deer travel. 1t is picturesque enough at
the outset, but when the novelty Of the thing
is worn of nothing is left bat continual
drain upon ones patience Nothing can
exceed the coolness with which your deer
! inmps oE the track. sIackeps bis tow rope,