Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-05-25
Lapland and It's Ways.

In Lspland the sun never goes down
during May, June and July; but in winter.
for two months he never rises at ALL HIS
place, however. is somewhat supplied By
the wonderful northern lights, which fash
and flicker in the cold gray skies. They
look like fires of thousand shapes and
colors. Now like crowns, and now like
domes; now like fishing nets, and now like
streamers Of silk; now like arches, and
now like banners-those welcome guests
make a Lipland night beautiful.
AslOng as the unwearied sun goes around
aud around the sky in summer, the Lap.
landers live in tents made of poles and
skins; but when jack frost app caches with
a scowl on his brow, the house of thick
sods becomes n very snug home, The
Laplander creeps into it on all fours along
a sort of tunnel A hole in the roof lets in
a little daylight or rather moonlight, and
lets cut what smoke there is from the sooty
lamp. The lamp is made of stone, and
filled with seal oil aud it answers many
ends. 1t cooks food, dries wet clothes,
keeps the house warm, and affords light.
Trees are plentiful of certain sorts; and
the soil of the forest is carpeted by reindeer
ulOSSs SUI VI INutll, ulCu 2EOWS Ou
stones, trees and earth. This moss will
flourish where hardly any other sort of
grass will; and it affords gluten, or starch.
which is very wholesome and nourlshing
The reindeer will root under the snow for
the moss, as q pig roots in the field. And
if the animal browseS on the moss which
sticks 10 the trees, without digging beneath
the snow, the Laplander takes it for grant.
ed that the ground there produces none.
The reindeer when he casts his coat is
brownish yellow. In the dog days, he
becomes white. His hair is close and
thick. The horns are large and beautiful.
but fall towards the end of November, and
are turned into spoons or glue. This Won
derful creature has been known to 20 at
the rate of nineteen miles an hour. when
yoked to light sledge. After their most
severe journeys, these deer require no
more moss than can be held by a man in
both his hands.
Were it not for this admirable animal,
who could live in Lapland? 1t is mans
all in all there 1T feeds and clothes its
master" says Goldsmith with its skin
the Laplander covers his tents and makes
his bed; of its milk he makes cheese, and
uses the whey for his drink Every part
Of this valuable animal is converted to some
use or other The slnews make bow
strings, springs for catching birds, and
threads for sewing; the horns make glue
the tongue u great delicacy is sold, and
the money comes back in luxuries. Yoked
to a sIedge, the reindeer carries his master,
who guides 1t easily by means of cord
fastened around the horns, and it is en-
couraged 10 proceed by the drivers voice
The sledge is covered with bears skin,
and at the back are two leathern girths,
into which the traveller thrusts his arms
so as to keep himself steady. He has also
a pole to support the sedge, in case it is
in danger of being overturned"
The Laplander hunts the ermine and
he squirrel, the hare, the otter, and the
sable Besides, he has fish in abundance
in his waer,-srlmon, pike, tench, perch
and smelts The birds which always live
with him are heath.cocks and hawks
Other birds only stop awhile, such as swans
and wild geese.
Nobody dies of cold in I.apland," say
q French writer, Except some person
perhaps. who is bewildered in the woods
or who being fatigued with hunger or long
journeys, has not strength enough left to
return to his own home"
1 The people have some curious customs
When they have eaten bear, and wiped
their mou hs and fingers, they solemnly
4 bury all the bones for the think the beaI
will rise again. They bury with the bones
some spoons and knife, for the bear vii
want to eat hi. bread and milk in another
/ life. If hungry dog carries off a bone
/ he is killed, and one of his own bones i.
put in The grave.
The master OF the house always does the
cooking. Women are not allowed to max,
messes for the men The Laplander.
make little toys for sale, also boxes AN,
baskets, snuff boxes, spoons of horn, shoes
gaiter. aud gloves. The women make
pewter wile, and adorn with it the rein
deer harness. Ropes are made of tre
roots, and bows of fir and birch, glue,
together with glue made from fish skins
This glue is SO strong that pieces OF Woo
joined by it never separate. ChaterbUz.