The Lapps lead a semi-nomadic life. The settlements in which they live are called _pagosts_, each group of Lapps having its particular summer and winter _pagost_. The latter is usually inland near the forests, where they herd their deer in winter. In summer they wander nearer to the coasts and lakes for the sake of the fishing. The winter dwelling of the Lapp is called a _toopa_, a small smoky sod-covered hut, covering some 150 to 200 square feet; whereas in summer he lives in his _vieja_, a large wigwam resembling a Samoyede _choom_, but covered over, not with skins as with the Samoyedes, but with branches, tree-bark and turfs. The typical Lapp is dwarf-like and thick-set. He usually wears a grey cloth jacket, his head being encircled in a high woollen cap tapering to a tassel at the top, while his feet, wrapped up in rags, are then covered with big shoes. In general, his whole appearance, with his pointed beard, bears a striking resemblance to the familiar representations of "gnomes," as these denizens of the subterranean world are pictured to us in fairy books. Few of the Lapps, however, confine themselves to this characteristic type of Lapp costume, but wear whatever comes to their hands,--hats, caps, clothes "made in Germany" and so on. Among the women, especially the younger ones, some fairly pretty faces may be met with. Their dress is usually a calico _sarafan_, and generally speaking, there is nothing specially distinguishing about their apparel. The Lapp race is evidently dying out, or rather, is gradually intermingling with, and being absorbed by, the neighbouring races. With neither written memorials nor a historic past to cling to, nor any particular religious belief, they are all of the Orthodox Faith. In assuming the customs and civilization of the Russians, the Lapps often abandon their own tribe, and assimilate with the stronger race. I have often heard such sayings as the following from Lapps who have more or less settled down: "I'm not a Lapp at all, I'm a Russian now," or "He's a good man" (_i. e._, active, energetic) "and not a Lapp." So that they evidently have no particularly high opinion of themselves, and put no great value on their tribal individuality; and yet, as the free-born child of the broad and boundless _tundra_, the Lapp dearly loves his home and open roving life.