. The Arctic world: its plants, animals and natural phenomena [microform] : with a historical sketch of Arctic discovery down to the British Polar Expedition: 1875-76. British Polar Expedition, 1875-76; British Polar Expedition, 1875-76; Zoology; Zoologie. T TllAVELLlNCi IN 801 a long pole, which is provided with a round ball of wood near tho end, to ])rovent it fVoni sinking too deep into the snow. He is no less expert as a sledger. His vehicle, or pnlka, is fasliioned like a boat, with a convex bottom, so as to slip over the snow with all the jfreater ease; the prow is sliarp and p
. The Arctic world: its plants, animals and natural phenomena [microform] : with a historical sketch of Arctic discovery down to the British Polar Expedition: 1875-76. British Polar Expedition, 1875-76; British Polar Expedition, 1875-76; Zoology; Zoologie. T TllAVELLlNCi IN 801 a long pole, which is provided with a round ball of wood near tho end, to ])rovent it fVoni sinking too deep into the snow. He is no less expert as a sledger. His vehicle, or pnlka, is fasliioned like a boat, with a convex bottom, so as to slip over the snow with all the jfreater ease; the prow is sliarp and pointed, but the hind part flat. Perhaps it may better be compared to a punt than a boat. At all events, in this curious vehicle the Lapp is bound and swatlicd, like an infant in its cradle. To preserve its equilibrium, he trusts to the dexterity with which he moves his body to and fro, and from side to side, as may be needed; and he guides it by means of a stout pole. His steed, a reindeer, is fastened to it by traces attached to its collar, and connected with the fore part of the sledge ; the reins are twisted round its horns; and all about its trappings are hung a number of little bells, in the tintinnabulation of which the animal greatly delights. Thus accoutred, it will perfonn a journey of fifty or sixty miles a day; sometimes travelling fifty miles without pause, and with no other refreshment than an occasional mouthful of snow. With wonderful accuracy the Lapp will guide himself and his steed through a seemingly labyrinthine wilderness, when the usual signs and characters of the landscape are buried deep in snow. But his memor} is tenacious, and a bhghted tree, or a projecting crag, or a clump of firs, affords him a snflHcient indication of the correctness of his course. He frequently continues his rapid journey through- out the night, when the moon invests the gleaming plains with a strange brilliancy, or the aurora fills both earth and heaven with the reflection of its
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1876
