Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-05-06

y
barren elevated table land, which divides the
winters of the Bothian Gulf from those of the
Northern ocean, dreary, unfriendly re-
gion, inhabited only by few wandering
Lapps. Thc journey was made by the as
sistance Of reindcers, on "pulks,f as the
Lapps call a species of long, light, narrow
sled. We have space for only a few extracts
of his long, though interesting letter.
TRAVELLING DRESS
We found it impossible to procure Lapp
leegings and shoes at Muonovara, but our
Russian boots proved an admirable substi-
tute. The poesk of reindeer skin is the
warmest covering for the body which could
be devised. 1t is drawn over the head like
a shirt, fitting closely around the neck and
wrists, where it is generally trimmed with
ermine, and reaching half way below the
knee. A thick wooden sash, wrapped first
around the neck, the ends then twisted to-
gether down to the waist, where they are
passed tightly round the body and tied in
front, not only increases the warmth and
convenience of the garment, but gives it a
highly picturesque air. Our sea-otter caps,
turned down SO far as to cover the ears and
forehead, were fastened upon our heads with
crimson handkerchefs, aud our boas of black
and red squirrel tails, passed thrice around
the neck, reached to the tips of our noses.
Over our dog skin mittens we drew gaunt-
lets of reindeer skin, with which it was diff
cult to pick up or take hold Of any thing: but
as the deer rein is twisted around one wrist,
their clumsiness does not interfere with the
facility OF driving. ltwould seem impossible
for even Arctic cold to penetrate through
such defenccs-and yet it did.
TIE COUNTRY. WEATHER AND NORTHERN LIGHTS
The country through which we passed was
merely a continuation Of the scenery below
MISUNDERSTANDING, wooded hills, white
plains, and everywhere snow, SHOW, silence
and death. The cold increased to 30o below
zero, obliging me to bury my nose in my
boa and to keep up vigorous exercise Of my
toes to prevent them from freezing, as it is
impossible to cover ones boots in pulk The
night was calm, clear and starry, but after
an hour bank Of auroral light gradually
arose in the north, and formed u broad arch,
which threw its lustre over the snow and
lighted up our path Almost stationary at
first restless motion after time agitated
the cleaning bow it shot out broad stream
ers of yellow fire, gathered them in and
them forth again, like the hammer
of Thor which was always returned to his
hand, after striking the blow for which it
had been hurled. The most wonderful ap-
pearance, however, was an immense square
curtain, which fell from all the central part
of the arch. The celestial scene Shutters
were rather clumsy, for they allowed one end
to fall lower than the other, so that it over
Tapped and doubled back upon itself in a
broad fold. Here it hung for probably half
an hour, slowly swinging to and fro, rs if
moved by gentle wind. What new spec
tacle was in secret preparation behind it we
did not learn, for it was hauled up so bung-
lingly that the whole arch broke and fell in,
leaving merely pile of luminous ruins I'M
der the Polar Star
SCENE WITH A REINDEER. s+
Our progress was now slow and toilsome,
and it was not long before my deer gave out
entirely. Long Isaac, seeing that change
must be made, finally made up his mind to
give me wild, powerful animal, which he
had not yet venturel to intrust to either of
us. -..-s
The deer was harnessed to my pulk, the
rein carefully secured around my wrist, and
Long Isaac let 90 his hold A wicked toss
"a tAC uii'l jump lOllON-
ed, and the animal rushed full tilt upon
BREASTED, who was next before me, striking
him violently on the back. The more | en-
deavored to rein him in, the more he plunged
and tore, now dashing against the led deer
and now hurting me over the baggage pulk,
and now ieaping off the track into bolt )n less
beds of loose snow Long Isaac at last
shouted to me to go ahead and follow Erie
who was about half a mile in advance. A
few furious plunges carried me past our lit
tie caravan, with my pulk full Of snow and
my face likewise. Now, lowering his neck
and thrusting out his head, with open mouth
and glaring eyes, the deer started off at the
top Of his speed. Away | went, like lance
shot out from the auroral armory-the pulk
slid over the snow with the swittness of fish
through the water A torrent of snow-spr
poured into my lap and showered against my
face, until was completely blinded Eric
was overtaken so quickly that he had no time
to give me the track, and as | was not in a
condition to see or hear anything, the deer
with the stupidity of his race sprang directly
upon him, 'trampled him down. and dragged
stand in the deep SHOW, while Eric shook
and started again. My deer now turned and
made for the caravan, but | sccuecded in
pulling his head around when he charged a
second time upon Erie, who threw himself
out of his pulk to ESCAPE. My strength was
fast giving way, when we came to q ridge of
deep loose snow, in which the animals sank
above their bellies, and up which they could
hardly drag us. My deer was so exhausted
when we reached the top that had no fur
ther difficulty in controlling him.
LONG DRIVE.
We started again at IL. taking our way
across Wilderness of lakes and snow Gov
cred marshes, dotted with stunted birch
thickets. The road had entirely disappeared,
but Eric of Palajoki, who accompanied us as
an extra guide, went ahead with strong
reindeer and pioted us. The sagacity with
which these animals find the track under a
smooth covering of loose snow, is wonderful
They follow it by the feet, of course, but
with the utmost ease and rapidity, often
while going at full speed.
We pursued our way in complete silence
Our little caravan, in single file, presented
strange, shadowy, mysterious appearance, as
it followed the winding path, dimly seen
through the mist FIRST on this side and then
on that not a sound being heard except the
Of ones own pulk over the snow
Ny reindeer and myself seemed to be the
only living things, and we were pursuing the
ohantoms Of other travellers and other deer,
who long ago persisted in the wilderness IL
was impossible to see more than hundred
Yards Some short, stunted birches, in their
spectral coating Of snow, grew along the low
ridges Of the deep, loose snow which sepa-
,a,ed the marshes, but nothing else inter-
-upted the monotony of the endless gray
,cean through which we went foundering,
at haphazard How our guides
ound the way, was beyond my comprehen
lion, for could discover no distinguishable
andmarka
GOT loST.
The fog now became thicker than ever
Ne were upon the watershed between the
ooshnian Gulf and the Northern Ocean,
lbout l 400 feet above the sea The birches
became mere shrubs, dotting the low mounds
which here and there arose out of the ocean