The principal employment of the Laplander, especially in the winter season, is hunting, in which he makes much use of traps and other snares, some of which are sufficient ly ingenious. In order to take partridges and ptarmigans, they form a low hedge or fence of brushwood in the thick ets, with small openings about a fathom from each other, just large enough to let the birds pass through them. In these, they place a forked birch twig, in such manner as to form a sort of arch, with the cleft stuck in the snow, and in this arch is suspended a noose of packthread, or horse hair, by which the birds are taken as they come running along, and attempt to pass through the open spaces. They frequently catch the pelicans, cormorants, and other sea fowl, on the rocks, by means of baited hooks fastened to topes. They take also in snares, foxes, hares, ermines, martens, Scc. ; and r yen the wild rein deer ate often caught by nooses suspended in the narrow passes, or by driving them into enclosed alleys. When the snow has fallen in large quantities, and the wild rein-deer, by sinking deep, are unable to run fast, the natives pursue them on foot in their snow shoes, and knock them on the head with clubs. But, in hunting, the Laplander makes much use also of the rifle gun ; with which, and the assistance of his dog, he rouses and shoots the wild deer even in the summer and autumn seasons. The hunting of the deer is attended with excessive fatigue, on account of the animal's acute percep tion and extreme shyness ; and the hunter, upon perceiving one at half a mile's distance, takes a circuit to leeward, creeping on his hands and feet till he comes within gunshot. In this way, a single hunter frequently assails the bear in open day, especially in the autumn, when the animal is more fearless, and is continually prowling about in quest of the berries which abound at that season. The Laplander, taking his dog, with a chord tied around its jaws to pre vent it barking, and holding the othe end in his hand, ad vances to the retreat of the bear, and endeavours to keep on the leeward side, that the animal may not discover his approach by the scent. Should he miss his aim, or only wound the beat-, his life is exposed to no small danger from the enraged animal. In his flight, however, he generally contrives to drop his knapsack, which the wild beast com monly seizes, and tears in pieces; so that the hunter either makes his escape in the mean time, or takes the opportu nity to fire a second shot, which usually proves effectual. At other times, when he has discovered the winter retreat of the bear, he covers the entrance of the den with branch es, interweaving them so thoroughly, as to leave only a sufficient space for the animal to thrust out his head. Armed with his hatchet, he proceeds to rouse and itri: tate the sleeping inhabitant, who generally advances in the utmost rage to the opening among the branches; but, as soon as he pushes forth his head, the hunter levels a blow with the axe, which rarely fails, if it strike him be low the eyes, to fell him to the ground. They form ca noes of thin planks, fastened together by means of cords, which are so light as to be easily carried on the back; and which they guide with surprising dexterity in the most rapid currents.
The maritime Laplanders are principally employed in fishing, and particularly during the summer season, when the Russian vessels are stationed on the coast, pursuing the same object, and purchasing the fish of the natives. At this busy period, they often lie out at sea in their boats for many weeks ; and by the disposal of their fish, procure meal for their support in winter. Their condition is, however, very inferior to that of the mountain or field Laplanders; and they are always eager to exchange their boats and earnings, for the greater freedom and better living of their pastoral neighbours. Their fish, train oil, and meal, is counted wretched poverty, in comparison with the fat broth and full repasts of rein-deer flesh enjoyed by the moun taineers. It is only when they are forced by necessity, in consequence of the deficiency of their herds, that they be take themselves to the watery element in quest of that sus tenance which they can no longer find among the mountains. With three hundred of these animals, they Nvt.uld be in a state of moderate prosperity; but would live very miser ably on the produce of one hundred. From their predi lection for the pastoral life, they rarely apply themselves to improve the benefits of the more stationary residence, which they might have on the coast Their huts, or gam ines, are only calculated for a few months duration ; and are changed at least twice, and sometimes three tunes in the year, for the sake of procuring pasturage for the few rein-deer, or milk cows, in their possession. Some of these
dwellings. which were seen by Baron Von Buch on the coast, were little calculated either for shelter or accommodation. They were not more than eight feet in diameter, and four in height, nearly resembling a baker's oven, with a square hole in the middle, to serve as window and chimney. They were constructed of branches, and covered on the outside : with grass, hut so carelessly put on as to admit the wind in every direction. In these, during the absence of the men at sea, are crowded together as one family, a mother, daugh ter, daughter-in-law, and servant maids; but even in the little circle which they occupy, all confusion is prevented, by an exact allotment to each of their own space and side of the dwelling. A great part of the Swedish Laplanders in Kemi Lapmark, and especially in the Forsamling of Enare, live principally by fishing, like those on the coast, and pos sess few rein-deer, but generally have ten or a dozen sheep. In summer, they subsist on fish from the lakes, and drink, as a luxurious draught, the water in which their fish has been boiled. In winter, their diet consists of dried fish, and soups made of water, fir bark, and reindeer tallow, with a little ewe milk, and a few mountain bramble berries. In the lakes and larger rivers, they take the salmon by means of nets, or by striking with the spear. This latter mode is practised chiefly during the night by means of lights or fires, and is described as singularly picturesque. On the front of the boat is an iron basket, or grate, fastened to the end of a long crooked stick, so that the burning wood which it contains stands far above the boat. Immediately behind the fire stands the fisher with his trident, which is a long spear, with five or six strong barbed points ; and be hind him sits the pilot, who moves the boat along with gen tle and imperceptible strokes. The salmon is attracted by the blaze of the fire, and, raising himself slowly to the stir haee of the water, conies within reach of the spear. The silence of the moving boats, the crossing of the fires as they advance in different directions, the immoveable figures of the, fishers hanging forward over the prow in readiness for the blow, and the sudden animation imparted to these seeming statues when the salmon is struck, render these fishing scenes peculiarly interesting to the eye of a specta tor. The dexterity with which the Laplanders guide their boats down the most rapid falls in the rivers is not less remarkable, and presents a spectacle as sublime as the last mentioned is beautiful. This, however, must be given in the words of an eye witness. Baron Von Buch thus de scribes his passage through the fall of Eianpaika, below luonianiska. " I heard the noise of the fall long before we approached it, while the river still glided on smoothly. Then followed several falls, which were not high nor long, but the stream became rough and agitated. Rocks began now to rise along both sides, and points to appear above the surface. The agitated water presses through between the closely approaching rocks. The waves began to rear themselves up, to foam, and dash over. They drove the boat with incredible rapidity clown the abyss ; they clash over in the most wild and alarming commotion ; the sky, rocks, and woods, all disappear ; and nothing is seen or heard but the foam and roaring of the water. The wave dashes the boat with one sweep against the rock ; but the bold pilot guides it with a strong and steady hand with still greater rapidity than the wave, as if in sport, from one side to the other ; and the next moment it is again floating on the no longer agitated current. The two men in the fore part of the boat have a most hightail appearance. Their fixed look, their eyes, which seem to start from their sockets, endeavour to read every thought of the pilot, whe ther they ought to row in the fall more rapidly or more slowly. Their own preservation depends on their cor rect undertstanding of the thoughts of the pilot. Every muscle is stretched in the highest degree, and the arms only are in motion." The boats are as strong as sea boats, and their huge helms seem made for large ships. In this way the natives proceed clown to Torneo with large bur dens of butter, tea, fish, and hides ; and drag the boat with incredible labour along the bank, when they conic to the fall in ascending the stream.