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THROUGH LAPLAND. 77
the relations of the damfel, and his own little wife. Thofe inci-
dents, however, are not regarded in the fame ferious light beyond,
as on this fide the polar circle. The matter was very amicably
fettled : the child died foon after it was born, and the fchool-
mafter’s wife felt more pride in her hufband’s fuccefSful courtfhip,
than mortification at his infidelity.
Before we leave Kautokeino, it may not be amifs to offer, for
the amufement of my readers, a few geographical and ftatiftical
obfervations on this part of the country. In the whole of the dif-
trict or parifh of Kautokeino, which is twenty-five Norwegian
miles in length, and twelve in breadth,* there are but two places
occupied by fettled Laplanders, which amount together to no
more than twelve families. The reft are all of the fhepherd, or
vagrant kind, who cannot be accurately numbered, becaufe they
are conftantly in motion, and not attached to any particular fpot.
In 1756 they reckoned ninety diftinét families; but it is poffible
that fome of thefe families may alfo have been counted among
thofe of other diftriéts. Thefe wandering Laplanders inhabit
during winter the mountainous tracts, and move from place to
place with their tents, and herds of rein-deer ; but in fummer
they draw towards the coaft for the benefit of fifhing. At Kauto-
keino there are fome very fine fields of meadow and arable land ;
the latter of which yield as much oats and barley as fupplies the
inhabitants for fix months. Horfes they have none: ail journeys
are performed on foot or in boats in fummer, and during winter,
* A Norwegian mile is about eight Englifh miles.
in
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