The Polar World: A popular description of man and nature in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the globeHartwig, G. (Georg)
History
The Polar World: A popular description of man and nature in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the globe
Hartwig, G. (Georg)
Antarctica; Arctic peoples; Arctic regions; Natural history
Another characteristic feature of a Lapp encampment is found in the
inclosures in which the reindeer are penned during the night or for
the purpose of milking. These are circus-like open places, each of a
diameter of about one hundred and fifty feet, and are formed by stumps
of trees and poles set upright on the ground, and linked together
by horizontal poles. Against the latter are reared birch poles and
branches of trees, varying from six to ten feet in height, without
the slightest attempt at neatness, the whole being as rude as well
can be--a sufficient security against the wolves being all that its
builders desire. The milking of a herd of reindeer presents a most
animated scene. When they have been driven within the inclosure, and
all outlets are secured, a Lapp, selecting a long thong or cord, takes
a turn of both ends round his left hand, and then gathers what sailors
call the bight in loose folds, held in his right. He now singles out a
reindeer, and throws the bight with unerring aim over the antlers of
the victim. Sometimes the latter makes no resistance, but in general
the moment it feels the touch of the thong it breaks away from the
spot, and is only secured by the most strenuous exertions. Every
minute may be seen an unusually powerful deer furiously dragging a
Lapp round and round the inclosure, and sometimes it fairly overcomes
the restraint of the thong, and leaves its antagonist prostrate on the
sod. This part of the scene is highly exciting, and it is impossible
not to admire the trained skill evinced by all the Lapps, women as
well as men. The resistance of the deer being overcome, the Lapp takes
a dexterous hitch of the thong round his muzzle and head, and then
fastens him to the trunk of a prostrate tree, many of which have been
brought within the level inclosure for that especial purpose. Men and
women are indiscriminately engaged both in singling out milch reins
and in milking them. Every one is fully occupied, for even the little
children are practising the throwing of the lasso, in which they evince
great dexterity, although their strength is insufficient to hold the
smallest doe.
When the pasture in the neighborhood is fully exhausted, which
generally takes place in about a fortnight, the encampment is broken
up, to be erected again on some other spot. In less than half an
hour the tent is taken to pieces, and packed with all the household
furniture upon the backs of reindeer, who by long training acquire
the capacity of serving as beasts of burden. On the journey they are
bound together, five and five, with thongs of leather, and led by the
women over the mountains, while the father of the family precedes the
march to select a proper place for the new encampment, and his sons or
servants follow with the remainder of the herd.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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