groundlefs. It fhould feem, that the Laplander’s wife confines
herfelf to the duties of her fituation, and is not ambitious, like
iome of her lex in other countries to the fouth of Lapland, to dif-
tinguiih herfelf by exercifes which are better adapted, and more
properly belong to the men.
Hares exift in great plenty in Lapland; they are white in winter,
b ut in fummer of the colour they are ufually found in other
places. The Laplanders fometimes ihoot them, but for the moft
part take them in fnares and traps.
Bears are common in Finmark, and different parts of Norway.
T h e rein-deer, by their fwiftnefs, are able to elude thofe enemies ;
but cows, iheep, and goats frequently become their preyi Befides
flelh, the bears are exceedingly fond of berries, infomuch, that
thefe owe their vernacular name to them ; the fame appellation in
the northern languages fignifying both. Of berries the bear finds
a fufficient iupply during the iummer in the woods; he eats herbs
and grafs likewife in that feafon; flelh therefore feems to be eaten
by him through neceffity, and the want of other food in winter.
The Laplanders generally affail the bears with their rifle g u n s;
but if they be not killed or difabled by the firft fhot, the hunter
flands in great jeopardy, for the wounded animal will then return
to the attack with the greateft fury. The bear is likewife en-
fnared by ftratagems of various kinds. It is a prevailing opinion
in the countries of northern Europe, that this animal fiipports
himfelf through the winter by a milky kind of moiiture that
exudes from his fore paws, and which he fucks, uttering at the
fame
fame time a ftrange kind of growling or murmur. However that
may be, it is pretty certain that the bear feeks his prey, in the
winter feafon, only in the night time. Now it often happens
that the Laplander, in fearch of very different game, by means of
his dogs, difcovers the retreat which the bear has chofen for his
winter quarters. Whenever this is the cafe, the Laplander prepares
to furprife him in his retirement; and in order to this, cuts
down from the neareft trees a number of branches, which he
plants and interweaves very flrongly about the entrance of his den,
leaving a fpace ju ft fufficient for him to thruil his head thro u g h :
this done, and being provided with a hatchet, the Laplander lets
about roufing the fleeping animal, who, provoked with the hunter’s
temerity and infults, advances with the utmoft rage towards
the opening; but no fooner does he put his head through the
wicket, which has been made for the purpofe, than the hunter
levels a ftroke with the hatchet, which, if it hit him below the
eyes, to a certainty brings the beail to the ground. In hunting
both the rein-deer and, bears, the Laplanders make great ufe of
their dogs. The greafe of the bear is in much requeft with the
inhabitants as a fovereign cure, in form of an unguent, for pains in
the limbs; but it is a prevailing opinion with them, that it mull
be applied according to the fex, the male bear’s greafe as a remedy
for the man’s ailments, and the female’s for thofe of the woman’s,
and that, when indifcriminately ufed, it can be of no fervice.
Few or no lynxes are feen in Finmark, but wol ves are very numerous
; and for thefe there are various names in different part?
of