The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-02-18
AND IT'S INHABITANTS.

Il
exceed 1000; those of the Swedish Lapland
were estimated in ls44 at 1000, and those of
Nor'hern'Norwa 5.000-an aggregate Of only
1000 souls. Besides the Lapp population,
there are 10 be found on the shore of the
White Sea several villages of Russians,
stretching along irom Kereu 10 the Bay of
kandalaseh Cor Candidacy Between the viii
ase of Kandalaschka and Kola, on the coast
al the mouth OF the Touloma, distance of
2ls wersts,-l4i 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 ofrans-
port, however: is only employed in winter /;
in summer everything being transported frs,
few miles by land 10 Lake lmandra,
then the whole length OF that fine body of
water some sixty miles, thence across 10 the
River Touloma, and down that stream to
Rola. The navigation of the lake, by the
way, is not always free from danger.
The language of ihe Lapps is similar 10
that OF the Finns, from which race they are
originally an offshoo,. The Lapps are gen.
eIally o: middle stature. They have large
heads, short necks, small brown-red eyes,
owing TO the consian. smoke in their hu,s,
high cheek bones, thin boards and large
hands. Those of Norway are distinguish.
ed from the Russian Lapps by Ike backuess,
luxuriance and gloss oftheir hair; the more
northern portion of the race are somewhat
larger, more Muscular and OF lighter com.
plexlon than the rest. Those of Sweden and
Norway are 10 some exlen. more cultivated,
enterprsing and Industrious than those of
Russia, and make light of the Creates, prva
,ons and hardships. The richest OF the lat.
Ter have not more than 500 reindeer, while
the former possess from 1000, 10 1900. In
Sweden and Norway, whoever owns from
400 10 500 passes for man in moderate cir
cumstances; with 200 a small family with
proper prudence can live without suffering
from want but less than This number plunges
a family into all the troubles of poverty
Whoever has no, more than 30, adds his
heard 10 that o! some rich man. and becomes
his servani-almost his slave, and he is bound
in the proper season 10 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 Ko,a or of the 6shs.m in barter
for the products of their reindeer herds, they
make sort of fiat or pan cake, mingiag the
meal with the pounded bark of trees. Fol
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 Of The bark with the meal is not done
merely for the sake OF economy, the Lapps
considering il an excellent anti.scorbulic.- -
They are very fond of salt, and eat nolhirg
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 n long descended Gus
tom, since in all Northern Asia the use of
copper was formerly universal, and the art of
OVERLAPPING 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 copper vessels, which after
every meal are secured with sand till they
shine like mirrors. Besides, after the food
is rufficeutly cooked it is Immediately pour
ed into wooden vessels oil home manulac-
ture.