Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-12
REINDEER IN ALASKA.
Some Hitherto Untold Facts About IN In
teresting Experiment.

problem Of the Eskimo's daily meal,
and might prove as profitable to citi.
gems Of the United States as the de-
struction Of whales and seals. 1t was
none other than to introduce upon the
barren tundra the domssticated rein
deer Of Lapland, country which but
for the reindeer would be uninhabita-
BILE by man. 1t was thought that 1t
would be necessary to go to Lapland
for the deer. In Siberia, only across
the strait from Alaska, were Eskimos
possessing large herds Of reindeer. But
II was understood that the supersti-
tious Koriaks would not sell live rein
deer, deeming 1t bad luck;
and having hitherto supplied
the Alaskan Eskimos with deer
skins for clothing, they might also
consider IL bad policy to part with
them. Again, it was asked, would the
reindeer bear ship transportation?
Would there be sufficient food for
them? And would the Eskimo them
selves take kindly to the innovation?
Finally, even II all these questions
were settled satisfactorily, could the
native dogs be kept from molesting
the deerP To-day every question has
been answered. The steamer Bear,
after many days Of bargaining, and
only after the deer men had gone
through curious ceremony of pluck
ing hair from the deer and throwing it
to the winds, secured sixteen deer,
which were turned loose on one Of the
Aleutian islands after a successful
transportation Of thousand miles In
severe gales. The following year
these were found by the Bear to be in
good condition, with two fawns added
to their number. And as to food, it
was found that in the interior Of Alas
ka there was a great abundance of
grass, and especially Of the moss
which the deer particularly affect
A Siberian reindeer harness Is a sim
pie affair. A strap Of seal hide is
passed over the deer's shoulders, some
what after the manner Of a horses
breast strap, except instead Of having
trace on each side, one end Of the
strap is passed across the breast be-
tween the animals leg, and is fastened
to single tug on the righthand side.
When two deer thus harnessed are
driven side by side, as Is the usual Gus.
tom, it will be seen that one deer is d.
rectly in front Of the sled, while the
other is off to one side. Nobit is used.
Two straps are passed around the
head, one in front and one behind the
horns, and are connected by a short
strap. To the righthand side Of this
headstall single line Is attached,
having at the other end loop which
the driver secures about the wrists in
such n way that In case Of an upset,
about all he can do Is to hold on to the
lines and be dragged until the team is
winded. The deer are guided simply by
throwing the line to the right or left as
desired. The sled Is the same as the Eski-
modog sleds It's eighto ten feet long.
a foot and half wide, and foot high.
The runners are OF wood, shod with
whalebone, and there is a railing built
around to hold the passengers or ag-
gage in place. Frequently in Siberia
the platform Of the sled is built upon
arched reindeer horn The whole is
tied together, not nail being used
Sometimes a team OF dogs would at
tack deer team, but in that case the
driver needed only to run to the deers'
heads to give them confidence when
they would turn upon their assallants,
striking savaSely with their sharp fore
hoofs Sometimes the re att of IN at
tack would be mad chase III which
the dog teams were wln'e'l after se9-
cral miles Br certainty 'he dogs
were not 50 tro9ylN'oais I' the deer as
to sheep IN the IN trI mates which is
the more surFFl'ii-s' Us ''"re we're mp
ward OF there hHnlTed pro"llns'
snarlinS, yelplng, hungry wolf dogs
near the herd The gait OF
the reindeer is smooth, and
the animal makes better time
than it seems. 1t thrusts Its nose
out level with rs back, and trols
square, over'reac ing with It's long
hind legs, | rarely breaks into gal