beaft difcovered by the herd, than the filly creatures, inftead of
running towards the tents, and putting themfelves under the fafe-
guard of men, fly towards the woods, where fome are overtaken
and killed by the wolf, who is obferved to ufe his utmoft endeavours
to keep betwixt them and the tents when he finds them,
feeding at a diftance. In this purfuit the wolf has the advantage
o f the rein-deer when they are running down hill, and he is fure
to overtake and feize i t : but it is not the fame up hill. I f the
wolf catch the rein-deer by the haunch, it often happens that the
deer efcapes ; and when he obtains his prey, it is generally by faf-
tening on its throat, by which means he ftrangles the poor animal
in a ihort time. The miffionary lays, he fawfix-at one time lying-
on the fnow, killed by wolves who had been driven away on the
alarm being given : upon examination of the carcafes, no wound
appeared to have been inflicted, fo dexteroufly had thefe deftruCtive
enemies effeCted their purpofe. I t is- obfervable, that the wolf
never devours his prey on the fpot where he kills it, but drags it
away to fome diftance; and it is further remarked, the miffionary
tells us, that in devouring it, he places the head towards the eaft ;
at leaft, he fays, the fkeletons are always found in the woods placed
in that pofition, I cannot fay that I give, entire credit to this report
: probably the good miffionary has been mifinformed. Whilft
the wolves are on the hunt for their prey, they appear always to be
accompanied by a number of crows and ravens, and the Laplanders
are commonly apprized of the wolf’s approach by the clamour of
thefe birds. It has been noticed, that fuch rein-deer as were faf*
tened
tened by ropes to a ftake have been fpared, whilft others th a t were
at liberty have been carried o f f : this m uft be owing to a fear conceived
by the wolf at the fight o f the animal’s tether, or to fome
fimilar caufe; for the like has not happened, when the deer has
broken loofe and betaken himfelf to flight.
The more readily to know his own deer, each Laplander puts a
particular mark upon thofe belonging to him, which generally con-
fifts of an incifion in the animal’s ear. In order to keep their herd
together and prevent their ftraying, the rein-deer are twice driven
out to feed, under proper attendance, and as many times brought
up to the tents every day ; and this method is conftantly followed
during the depth of winter, when the days are fhorteft, and the
nights fixteen hours long.
They who are but little acquainted with the folar fyftem will
be at no lofs to account for the reafon, why the fun in that climate
remains for feven weeks together beneath the horizon, and
loft in the lower hemifphere, leaving inftead of a clear day-light,
a twilight only of a few hours. It is not, however, fo dark, but
that when the iky is free from clouds a man may fee to write, or
do any common bufinefs in the fhorteft days, from ten in the forenoon
to one o’clock in the afternoon, without the help of a candle
: and as during, the winter fblftice the fun withdraws his light
for fuch a length of time, it may be readily conceived, that the
leffer luminaries, in thofe days that are fhorteft, muft fliine very
bright, and that the moon gives her light by day as well as night.
After the fpace of feven weeks is elapfed, the fun again makes his
appearance,