Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-04-04
LIFE IN LAPLAND.
PEcULlARITIEs OF A SEMLcIVILlzEo
 PEOPLE OF THE NORTH.
Sea, River. and Mountain LapPs-yirtues of the Mueh-Beloved Reindeer The LapP a- Home-Dress
 and Equipment
THarner,s weeklr.1

usually divided Into usner, mOuntilns anu forest ! apps; the latter two are the true representatives O, the race In Norway thay are clasSed as sea lapps. river Lapps, and mountain Lapps, the nrst two settled. the last, wandering or nOmaiic Their habits are most conservative, and can hardly have altered since the far-distant time when they first tanned the reindeer. The mOunta Lapps have learned 10 drink conee and wear stout Norwegian cloth, but they set as much store by the reindeer a. ever A poor family will have thirty and upward in a flock. the middle classes 3OO 10 7UO. and the richest l ,OOO or more The reindeer l. as much beloved by the lapp as is his pig by the lrishman, and the reind, CT often sleeps in his hut in much the same fashion. The Lapp will whisper to his reindeer when harnessing him to his sleigh. and will tell him where he is to go, and declares he understands him.
 The reindeer is much like a stag. only smaller; all the people. animals. and trees in Laplgnd are very diminutive the men are mostly under hve feet high. and the women under four feet nine inches. so great are the rigors of the climate in this as in all countries under the arctic circle. and the COWS, sheep. and goats are all small in proportion In summer the rein deer feed upon grass. and give excellent milk; in winter they feed upon moss. which they scratch up under great depths of snow with marvellous instinct When winter q avs near great numbers are killed. and the flesh Is dried and smoked tO provide food when the ground Is GOV cred with snow. and but few birds. like ptarmigan. cartridges. and caper- cailZie. are met with. The flesh is very nutritious. and after a course of grass feeding il is surprising how soon the rein deer becomes fat and plump The skin makes their dresses and boots. the sinews their thread and fishing lines. and the horns their spoons and domestic ut nsils The utensils are not all of horn. the Lapps have always some kettles f copper and iron. and sometimes also bowls of wood and tin, or even of silver among the rich ones
 The wandering Lapps usually live in rude huts. formed of trees Or pOles in the shape of cone. with an opening in the center 10 allow the smoke to esCape and a few mats are spread on the cor Each side of the fireplace is divided into three chambers, separated by mats or skins the innermost for husband and wife. the next for the children and the outer for serv- ants. When they are too poor for serv- ants they often find room for some re h. deer. The winter dwellings are much more substantial and are roo ed with beams. on which are hung the dried cakes and reindeer tiesh while outside the huts are covered with bushes and earth. The door l. very low and small. and can only be entered by creeping on the hands and knees Sometimes these winter hUts are made large enough to hold dozen families separated by cur tains of skins The windows are made from the intestiues of seals. prepared and sewed together The furniture Is very primitive such as it is. it IS made by the men. who also do the cooking and make the boats sleighs, snow shoes, and the bows and arrows
 The Lapp aS he appears in his own country IS very dIIerent from many of the pi, tures so familiar tO us His usual dress consists of dirty old reindeer pelts and filth, peaked blue cap. In the winter all the dress IS made of reindeer skins, except the cap. which is made of blue q, ,h, and shaped like a sugar loaf. The dress of men and women is much alike They wear their hair long and straight. failing down the sides of the head and the baek. and as beards and whiskers are never seen, there is some difficulty in distinguishing the sexes. You can tell them by their bOOtS-thc men wear long. the women short ones. The costume is in the blOOmcr style. and con sists of a short skin coat with the hair outside. fastened round the waist with belt and buckle. and pair of tight-htting brooches of tanned reindeer leather. The brooches are fastened round the ankle. and the boots are also of tanned reindeer leather. peaked. and turned up at the toes, saw .urr hn Ia nf brooches and fastened at the top by long piece of list which keeps Ou' the snow and makes them nearly water proof.
 Even in the depth of winter the Lapps have their necks always bare. They wear no linen or stockings. and stuff the boots, which are roOmy. with soft hay made from cypress grass. Their gloves are like mittens and often crnamenied with great taste. In summer the same leather brooches are worn, but the coat Is made of coarse blue cloth. The women carry a tobacco pouch. pipe, scissors. and spoon to drink spirits from. hanging from the waist, which the richer Lapps decorate with braid.
 In winter the Lapps use snow-shoes and they always carry a spear with four edged s ikS about a foot in length mounted on an sOen shat six feet long.
 Aol AnG NAAtNA Ao NoA4 pleted with an old skin kRapsack for pro visions. a rough case knife in the belt. and a little ion pipe for their delectation in smoking and sometimes a gun like pea. ri.e The s.eighs are like small boats cut in half. and only hold one person. and arc SO cranky that the driver is obliged to use short pole 10 keep the sleigh steady. so that betw ,en driving the reindeer which are fastened to the sleigh. and keeping his balance with tie short pole. he has enough to do.
 The kussian Lapps are chiefly fishers. They are quiet hospiiable. honest. and inoiiensive. and decidedly favorable specimens of a semi-civili4ed race still re
 iaining their patriarchal traditions. The father is supreme in the family. and can appOrtiOn his property at de"th. and dis
 inherit any of his children should he see it If a wishes Co leave the house and set up for himself he can take nOth- ing with him but hs gun and his wifes dowry. Drunkenness is their great failing.