Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-10-06

which rises through hole ia the root.
The men and women occupy different
sides OF tho Same apartment. but .
long pole laid across the space bstvssn
them symbolizes an ideal partition.
Hunting and fishing are the chief
employments OF the Lapp tribes. and
TO slay bear is the most honorable
exploit Lapp hero can achieve The
flesh ofthe slaughtered beast becomes
th. property, not OF the man who
killed IT, but Of him who discovered
its trail, and the skin II hung upon .
pole for the wives OF oil Who took part
In the expedition TO shoot 1t with
their eyes bandaged. Fortunate -
she whose arrow pierces tho trophy.
Not only does it become her prize.
but In the eyes Of the whole settle
ment her husband is looked upon
thencefor,h as the most fortunate OF
men. AS long IS the chase il going on
the. women are Lot allowed 20 stir
abroad. but as soon as tho party have
safely brought home their booty, the
whole female population issue from
their tents, and. having deliberately
chewed some bark from . species Of
alder, they spit the red Juice in their
husbands faces. typifying thereby The
blood Of the beast, which has been
shed in an honorable manner.
Although the forests. the rivers and
the sea supply them in . great meas
ure with their food. it is upon the
reindeer that tho Laplander - depsn.
dent for every other comfort in life.
Tue reindeer is his estate. his horse.
his COW, his companion and friend;
he has twenty-five different names for
him. His coat, trousers aud shoss
are made from reindeer skin. stitched
with thread manufactured from the
nerves and sinews of the same beast.
Reindeer milk is the most important
item Of his diet. Out OF reindeer
horns are made most of the utensils
used in his domestic economy, and 1t
is the reindeer that carries his baggage
and drags his sledge. Moreover, %
! just An appreciation has tho creature
of what is due to his own merit. that
If his owne. seeks to tax him beyond
his strength, he not only becomes res
tive, but often actually turns upon
the inconsiderate jehu who has over.
driven him. When, therefore, LApp
is in great hurry. instead OF taking
to his sledge, he puts on . pair OF
skates twice as long as his own body,
and SO flies on the wings OF the wind.
Every Laplander. however, has his
dozen or two OF deer /; and tho 6ocks
of Lapp Croesus amount sometimes
to two thousand head. As soon q q
young lady is born-after having been
duly rolled in the snow-she 10 dow.
cred by her father with certain mum.
ber Of deer. which are immediately
lranded with her initials. and thence,
forth kept apart as her especial prop
erty. In proportion A. they incrsas>
and multiply does her chance improva
for making q desirable match In mar
riage.
Lapp courtships are conducted u
pretty much the same fashion - il
other parts OF the world. The aspisan'
tn lady's hand as soon - he disoov
ers that be has lost his heart. goes o,
in search of q friend and . bottle o
brandy. The friend enters the ten
of the fair rn&iden's parents and opens
simultaneously, the brandy snd hi
business, while the lover remains oui
side engaged in hewing wood or som
other menial employment II. afte
the brandy and proposal have bee
discussed, the eIoquenos Of the fEisn
prevails, the suitor - himself calls
into ,he inclosure, and the young Pee
pie ar. allowed 10 rub noses. II
bride 10 be then accepts from her sui,
or ths pressot 0! . faindeer tongu.
aud the espousals are considered col
cludei. The marriage does not tax
place for three years after.srd; an
during the interval the lover - obl,ga
TO labor in the servsce Of his fs4hs
in-la~ a. diligently IS did JACOB sss'
fox his long loved Rachel.