The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-07-27

II Lapland 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 some
what supplied by the wonderful north
ern lights, which flash and flicker in the
gray skies. They look like fires of q
thousand shapes and colors. Now like
clowns, and now like domes; now like
flashing nets, and now like streamers of
silk; now like arches, and now like ban
ners-these welcome guests make night
beautiful.
AS long as the unwearied sun goes
round and round the sky in summer,
the Lsplanders live in tents made of
poles and skins; but when Jack Frost
approaches, with scowl upon his brow,
the house of thick sod becomes very
snug home. The Laplander creeps into
it on all-fours. along a sort of tunnel.
A hole in the roof lets in little day.
light, or rather moonlight, and let's out
what smoke there is from the sooty
lamp. The lamp is made of stone, and
filled with seal oil, and it answers many
ends. 1t cooks food, dries wet clothes,
keeps the houses warm and affords the
light.
The Laplander likes brandy; but hap
PLY for him, it is very scarce. He has
often to be contented with snuff instead,
of which he takes you may be sure, many
good pinch. For niue months of the
year the ground is of dazzling white
ness, and the cold is intense. In July
and August, on the contrary, the heat is
almost intolerable.
The Laplanders are very small ma
ton. Perhaps there are not above seven
thousand of them. Part of them are
called reindeer Laplanders," and part
Fishing Laplanders." The former live
on their herds, some possessing many
hundreds; the latter dwell near the lakes
and fjords. The greatest plague of Lap
land is plague of gnats. Their numbers
are Incredible
Trees are plentiful of certain sorts and
the soil of the forest is carpeted by REIN
deer moss, sort of lichen, which grows
on 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
nourishing. The reindeer will root
under the snow for the moss, as pig
roots in the field. And if the animal
browses on the moss which sticks to the
trees, without digging beneath the snow,
the Laplander takes it for granted that
the ground there produces none.
The reindeer when lie casts his coat is
brownish-yellow. In the dog days he
becomes white. His hair is close and
thick. The horns are large and beauti-
full, but fall toward the end of November,
and are turned into spoons or glue.
This wonderful creature has been known
to 60 at the rate of nineteen miles an
hour when yoked to light sledge. After
their most severe journeys these deer re-
uuire no more moss than can be held by
q man in both his hands.
Were it not for this admirable animal
who could live in Lapland? 1t is mans
all in all there. sit 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 drink.
Every part of this valuable animal is
converted into some use or other. The
sinews make bowstrings, springs for
catching birds, and threads for sewing;
the horns make glue; the tongue, great
delicacy, is sold, and the money comes
back in Injuries. Yoked to sledge the
reindeer carries his master who guides it
easily by means of q cord fastened round
the horns,; and it is encouraged to pro-
coed 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 to keep
himself steady. He has also pole to
support the sledge in case it is in danger
Of being overturned"
1.-The deserts in Lapland never echo
with the song Of the lark and nightin-
gale. There, instead OF fruitful hills
and laughing meadows, are only noun
tains covered with eternal snow. and
marshes here and there growing willows
and small birches." So speaks another
traveller. From the bark of the trees the
Laplander makes kind Of bread. Meat
of certain sort is plentiful. The elk is
the principal game. This animal is
caught. in trap, which flies mp and
drives an iron stake into the elk's body.
Then there are bears which are killed
with gun. After the bear has departed
this life the hunters sing song. In
this ditty they thank the bear for
having been 80 good - to do them NO
mischief.
Then there are wolves which do much
harm to the reindeer, killing sometimes
forty or fifty in angle night. These
troublesome fellows are caught in wolf.
pits. Then there are gluttOns, which