appearance, renewed in fplendour, and to common apprehefiiion
more brilliant. This happens about the firft of April, by which
time the days are fo far lengthened, that the fhades of an univerfal
night begin to difappear : and as the fun ceafes to illuminate the
land for fèven weeks in the winter, lb in the liimmer folftice he
makes the Laplander amends by appearing above the horizon, and
ihining night and day during the fame ipace of time ; wherein it
is to be obferved, that the night’s fun appears paler and lefs bright
than that of the day.
But to return to our rein-deer—When brought back to the tents
from feeding, thefe animals repofe themfelves, and form a circle
round the tents: while they are in feareh of the mofs which is
their food, they fpread widely over the country ; let the weather
be fair or foul, they are driven out to feed at the regular and ac-
cultorhed time ; and as the herdfmen, in order to lhelter them-
felvts from a fnow-ftorm, fometimes retire behind a hill o f fnow,
where they may be overtaken by fleep, it often happens that a
wolf carries off one of the herd which has ftraggled to a diftanee
from the reft. The office of tending the herds is in general performed
by the children and fervants ; but when the rein-deer are
the property of a family ju ft eitablifhed, without children or fervants,
in that cafe the w'ife takes the charge upon herfelf ; and if
fhe chance to have a young child, which Ihe fuckles, fhe takes the
child, in the cradle before defcribed, with her, and follows the
herd, however inclement the weather may be. In driving the reindeer,
the dogs which the Laplanders keep, and train for this purpofe,
pofe, are found o f the greateftufe ; and fo well are they broken-in,
that they obey the flighteft fignal: this feems to be communicated
with as much celerity by the dogs to the rein-deer, which, though
ever fo widely difperfed, foon colled: themfelves in a body. In the
winter, when the herd is returned to the tent, and laid down to
reft, the Laplander, or his wife, goes out and counts the number,
in order to afeertain if any be miffing, and become the prey o f the
wolf. The Laplanders feldom fail in difcovering when the herd
has fuftained a lofs o f the kind, although it would appear no eaiy
talk when the number is very confiderable, which is now and then
the cafe; for fome Laplanders are faid to poffefs from one to two
thoufand head of rein-deer.
I t has been ftated, that it is a rule with the mountain Laplander
to drive his herd of rein-dqer, by turns, twice to pafture, and
twice home to his tent in the courfe of a day. In the fummer,
however, the gelt rein-deer, and the hinds, or females, are fuffered
to range the woods wdthout a herdfman. In this feafon, likewife,
the hinds are for a certain time allowed to fuckle their fawns;
after which they are driven into an inclofure made with branches
of trees, at fome fmall diftanee from the tents, where the women,
whofe peculiar office it is, befmear the dugs of the hinds with
dung, in order that when they are fet at liberty again, the fawns,
may not fuck : after a proper time, the hinds are driven into the
■fame inclofure, when their dugs are found diftended, and; are
drained of their milk, being firft cleanfed from the foil. But thefe
animals do not readily fuffer themfelves to be milked, nor until a
2 rope