The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-24
RENDERS OF SANTA CLAUS


of knowing that he is practically the only
man who ever succeeded in driving these
animals with good results. OF course this
does not mean that they are not driven.
From one end of the far northern coun-
try to the other they are the one animal
that is depended upon to get over the snow
covered ground, but as yet no one has been
able to fully master the art of driving them
The Laplanders, the residents of northern
Siberia and the Kamchatkans pride them
selves upon their ability to guide these an
imals from place to place, but those who
have studied this mode of conveyance are
satisfied that there is considerable room
for Improvement.
For instance the reindeer Is driven with
out reins the teams being guided by the
shouts of the driver AS might be ina gin
ed the deer do not work very harmoniously
and it is no uncommon thing to have one
half of the team dodge around one side of
the tree and the other half at the other
side, allowing the sled to bring up with
jerk exactly in the middle of the obstruc-
ton. The native drivers, however, do not
mind little thing like that. They prompt
ly disentangle the sled and go on their
journey, hoping that no such unfortunate
occurrence will again detan them.
Although Americans as a rule have very
indefinite idea as to what a reindeer is,
there is little reason why there should be
any ignorance in regard to the nature of
the animal. While the reindeer comes from
the various parts of the world where snow
and ice prevail it is is also possible to find
him on this continent. Here, however, he is
known as the caribou"
While there are certain specific differences
between the caribou and the reindeer of
Europe and northern Asia, to any but
expert these differences are slight-scarcely
greater, in fact, than those which may be
observed between the caribou herds in vari-
Gus parts of this country, and what little
difference there is is decidedly in favor of
the American animals Strange as the
statement may seem, it Is nevertheless a
fact that even the poorest of American
caribou are superior to the best epecimens
of imported reindeer.
The reindeer of America have been divid-
ed into two great classes. There are those
that live in the woodland and there are
others that make the barren ground their
habitation The caribou of the eastern part
of the continent all belong to the woodland
classes. Those found in Newfoundland are
the finest in the world, and there is no COM
parison between them and the Siberian or
Lapland animals.
1t is a surprising fact, however, that
while the Newfoundland reindeer are re-
markable for their great size and beauty,
those of the neighboring provinces of Nova
Scotia are among the smallest on the
American continent Their horns are also
less spreading, and their coats are darker
in color than those of the herds in the
island of the north. The reindeer of Lab
Iador differ slightly again from either OF
the two just mentioned. and are between
the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland ami
mails in size.
Few deer cross the Strait of Belle Isle.
between Newfoundland and Labrador and
thus the difference between the species
which live together is maintained
and perpetuated.
Another American species of reindeer,
however, is that of Alaska. Years ago these
animals were brought into this territory
from Siberia, but at that time the idea was
that they would provide excellent food
supply It was only within a comparat tive
ly short time that the idea of making them
beast of burden occurred to the authori-
ties. Now however, the reindeer of Alas 4
Ea are rapidly supplanting the dogs, and
their use as carriers of mail and other
ticles that require immediate delivery have
made them very popular.
Prominently they are the animals
adapted for the work of carrying in north
ern ATTITUDES. Travelling with dogs and
horses makes necessary the carrying of
food for them, but the reindeer, when turn
ed loose, forages for himself and manages
to obtain his living from the moss and
lichen no matter how frozen the ground
may be. In fact this ability of the animal
to find food is marvel to the unexperienc-
ed.
The thick, deep caribou moss upon which
they live may be buried ever so deep under
the snow but they will find It, They will
paw away the snow with their forefeet I'M
til they get down to the moss beneath.
Where herd of these deer have been feed
ing there will be great bare patches of
ground left, and they are even almost able
to climb trees in their eagerness to obtain
this nutritious moss. At times they will
stand on their hind legs and reach far upon
the trunk of the trees. scraping off the
moss and lichen which grows on the wood
with their clever forefeet.
Another advantage that the reindeer has
over other modes of conveyance that are
possible in the extreme north is that OF
speed The reindeer can travel from sixty
to ninety miles day without showing IA
tigue, while it is extremely unusual TOT
dog team to average more than thirty miles
in day. Besides this, they are more to
he depended upon and can be trusted TO go
through from point to point without break
ing down.
As has been said, the use of the reindeer
in Alaska is of comparatively recent GATE.
The success of the experiment, however
mas persuaded the government th2t the
scheme is a good one. and the importation
of deer is now regular event. AT present
there are several hundred of them scatter
ed about the country, and an eHorl Is pc
ing made to teach the natives TO drlve
them To do this several families OF Lap
landers, the best reindeer drivers In the
world have been brought TO Alaska, ana
they are finding plenty of assistance from
the Esquimau, so that 1t Will not De long
before there are as many skilled drivers in
the territory as can possibly be required.
Those who are acquainted with the REIN
deer however, have questioned the wisdom
of the government in importing all its ami
mails They claim that the splendid rein
deer to be found in great herds on our
own continent might better be used than
To spend so much time and money in the
importation of inferior animals from Eu-
rope and Asia. OF course such a scheme
would take time.
1t would necessitate the breaking and the
training of the deer, and that is something
that Is not done in day. The tanning must
be begun with the fawns when they are
not more than three or four months old,
and it would be at least two or three years
before they would be strong enough to be
put to the hard work of sledging. AS the |
deer that are important are brought here !