Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-04-10
COSTUME OF THE LAPS.

Inc QreSS or the Laps is peculiar,
but seems especially adapted to tho
necessities OF their climate and mode
OF life. The boots which they wear
look rough and uncomfortable, but
are notwithstanding more suited to
a country like Lapland than the or
binary European boot. The Lap boots
consist OF two parts; the under, which
Is made Of ox-leather, is quite thin,
and Is, In fact, simply piece OF
leather, sewn together at the heel ard
toe, and is consequently peaked In
front. There is neither heel nor sole
beyond the leather, which accommo-
dates itself to the shape OF the foot,
and through which you feel each par
ticular stone you chance to step on.
The upper part Of the boot is usually
made of reindeer leather. which is
softer than the other. 1t is sewed on
to the under part with thread made
OF slnews, and is wide and loose about
the ankles, round which 1t is tightly
fastened by long band. The color
OF these boots when new Is Q bright
yellowish brown, but In time becomes
almost black, partly from dirt, partly
from the oil with which the boots are
smeared to make them easy to the foot.
In Winter the Laps use boots covered
with fun. but we did not see any ofthem'
These boots are used not only by the
Laps, but also by the'settlers, who find
them useful in crossing morasses and
other places, where ordinary boots
would not keep out the water. The
Lap boots, on the contrary, are al
most waterproof when we'll smeared
and tied carefully at the ankles. Our
: boatmen never hesitated TO step into
the water with them, and sat with
their feet in water in the boats,
without any apprehension OF getting
wet Until, indeed, they get old and
begin to crack these boots require q
good deal OF soaking before the wa
ter comes through, and even then the
wearer Is not much incommoded, be-
cause. instead OF wearing stockings
the FLAPS stuff their boots with hay.
which both makes them more COM
Portable for walking in and soaks
I'D any water which may come
through. In Lule Lapmark some OF
the Laps now wear stockings, and the
settlers, excepting the very poorest.
always do. but they also continue to
use the hay. The only hay harvest
with which the Lap concerns himself
is the gathering Of sufficient guam
titv Of grass 20 serve him through
the Winter. The grass he dries in
the sun, and, after picking out all
foreign substances, carefully combs
and heckles II. so as to make the hay
soft for the foot When the Lap comes
home in the evening he takes the hay
out, and dries II at the fire in his hut,
and, with the occasional addition OF
a little new hay, the same stufiing
will last for one or two weeks. Both
men and women wear trousers reach
ing down 10 their ankles, and their
lower end is tucked into the boots,
so as TO prevent the water making its
way through. The trousers are made
either Of skin or Of rough homespun,
the latter Of which the richer Laps
prefer i'm Summer. The skin trousers
when old. acquire the same blackish
look which the boots have, but at first
they are browuish in color. The wo-
men are fond Of having trousers orna-
mented with red and green. The
Laps rarely wear linen shirts, or in
deed any glinen: but some OF the
Forest Laps wear in Summer a sort
OF shirt made % homespun under the
tunic. which is the most important
article Of their dress. This tunic,
which is worn alike by men and wo-
men. is open at the neck and halfway
down the breast. II generally does
not reach below the knee, and IS
made of reindeer skin or homespun.
The only difference between the tunlc
worn by the men and that worn by
the women Is that the former has a
high. standing-up, stif collar. The
TUNES are ornamented with blue ana
red stripes round their edges, and the
women are specially fond OF variety
OF colors In Winter furs are worn by
all, and are required TO keep out the
intense cold. The TUNES are fastened
round the waist by belt, which IS
often HlEulN VI oAANA ~
pending from which, the women gen
orally carry a bunch Of scissors and
needle-holders. The women also ire
auently wear bright colored hand
kerchief round their necks. The
head-dress OF men and women Is the
same, viz. a tall sugar-loaf-shaped
cap, made OF blue cloth. sewed with
red, though sometimes other colors
are used. Such is general descrip-
ton OF the Lap dress, but there are,
OF course, differences ia material and
ornamentation, arising cut OF the
comparative wealth OF the wearers.
II is said that in Lule Lapmark or
naments are not so common as they
once were, and that the Laps have
used the money which they obtained
by their sale in maintaining schools.
-FrGSeT'S Magazine.
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